Hi, from router I go into a telegartner switch then into Dual pink faun ultra servers with a usb output into a skogrand usb cable into pro usb then a 20mtr fiber optic to the select digital director, it’s great having the flexibility to have the servers in another room to avoid clutter.
Hello,
For my streaming from Qobuz and Tidal, i have from the internet service provider’s fiber cable connection to home Router to Intel NUC-11 (with Roon Rock installed for Roon server and player) via a Jorma Reference Ethernet cable, then from USB output via Jorma Reference USB cable to MSB Pro USB module, then 25 metres of fiber optic cable to the Pro ISL module on the Cascade Digital Director in the listening room. The Intel NUC-11 mini computer server/player is located in a closet behind the listening room where the home router and electricity breaker box is situated.
I have been using this streamer/server setup for my previous Premier DAC, then Reference DAC.
I’m using first gen Sonore gear (I’ve had it before purchasing my wonderful Premier DAC): Sonictransporter i5 streamer ethernet to the optical converter fiber optic to the opticalrendu connected to the Pro USB with a Cardas Clear USB cable.
The existing set up has two conversions to optical which I’m not sure is necessary and am looking to simplify and upgrade. I’ve been looking at the latest versions of the Sonore gear (opticalrendu deluxe and sonictransporter i7 from Small Green Computer and the Auralic Aries G2.2. Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated!
Hi Daniel,
my local music is stored in an Antipodes Oladra music server and I use Roon ( lifetime subscription ) as the server software and squeeze as player software. When I started with an Antipodes server a few years ago, this Roon - Squeeze combination sounds better to me than Roon server with roon player.
The connection to my Reference Digital Director is done by a Stealth USB-T Select cable which feeds into a ProUSB input.
When I stream music ( Qobuz ) my router is a good but normal router of AVM ( Fritzbox ), followed by a WLAN bridge to an AVM repeater in the upper floor. From there a 3 m Refine Audio ethernet cable towards an Innuos switch PhoenixNET and then with an AB-Tech REN - Ethernet Isolator into the Antipodes Oladra.
Before introducing the Digital Director into my system ( december 2023 ) my opinion was that streamed files might sound a little bit less good as files locally stored in the Antipodes Oladra.
But with the Digital Director it is very hard to distinguish whether the music is streamed or played from local files.
I had a somewhat similar experience as you. I was using an ANtipodes K50 G4 into my Premier DAC and really liked the uptick in sound it brought over running Roon straight from my regular PC.
But once I inserted the Digital Director in the chain, I A/Bed extensively with and without the Antipodes (and also Pro USB vs Renderer V2) I could not hear any differences between all combos, the DD equalized all my sources and inputs.
So in the end I sold the Antipodes and now just use my PC through the DD to the Premier. End result couldn’t’ sound any better and as an added bonus I don’t have to worry about upgrading my server in the future…
Agreed, much of what we have done with the DD is to make streaming technology sound on the same level as local. Streamers have always been too noisy network wise and the DD helps eliminate that contamination into the analog domain.