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I have heard so much about how wonderful Naim's DAC is, so I am rather looking forward to trying one. And it can stream almost anything.
To be honest, I am probably not blessed with audiophile ears. Would I hear a difference? Probably not.
Also, I like the Marantz SA10, should I connect it as a streamer to any DAC if I get one?
Dac/streamer is the way to go although the sound differences between the various brands are really subtle and unlikely to be noticed unless in a concentrated AB comparison.
I will make the move when someone comes up with a UI that I can get on with although Roon is the closest at the moment but it still has a lack of features that forces me back to using a phone/iPad outside of their system.
There are many skilled people at B&O, someone should make a grand DAC with a streamer. Now their best solution is a black round thing with only optical and a few other things. I might be missing something.
Disclaimer! Sorry for being a ‘non-audiophile-gear-proponent‘ in this matter.
But why would you need a DAC, when you are planning ro use the 50’s/90’?
They already have a ‘DAC’ built-in.....means no matter how you feed it, the ‘sound’ will be processed there.
All you need is something that lets you transport the sound (= the digital stream) into the speakers.
Using the digital/optical output of a Chromecast Audio device could do that - it could even function as a Roon endpoint, if you are into the possibilities of Roon and its gui.
This Darko video gives a bit of background for Chromecast and Roon Ready:
If you want to take that a step further (which I would do), get a Beosound Core and use the digital/optical output there to connect to the 50’s/90’s.
The built-in Chromecast support can serve as an endpoint for Roon....in addition to the Airplay, Spotify Connect and TuneIn options there.
If you want a handy volume control, just use an Essence Remote or - even better - the new Halo remote.
No need to go grazy on ‘audiophile gear’, when B&O offers all you need.
You could even connect a turntable to the Core....if you are into that, too.
Darko was mentioned earlier. He recently made a video about the Naim’s Uniti Atom. You can read it here (do watch the video too).
However you won’t need the DAC, the amplifier and the display built-in there and you don’t need to pay that much.
Why go over the water after water, when B&O already offers, what you’d need.
For desert......those of you, who have a Chromecast dongle connected to their BV or built-in AND are interested in Roon, please watch this video;
MM
Location: Flensborg————Danmark
There are many skilled people at B&O, someone should make a grand DAC with a streamer. Now their best solution is a black round thing with only optical and a few other things. I might be missing something.
Yes you might!
Watch out for my take on this - my post (once again) went into moderation ;-(
MM
Location: Flensborg————Danmark
I think I could spend hours at a dealer, but COVID-19 makes a trip a bit more serious as a ministry here is against travels unless it is work related. If I somehow can make it just that...
The skilled people at B&O have put what must be a decent DAC into each Beolab 50 / 90 speaker. If I were in your position, I would get a streamer that can feed a digital signal to the speakers and listen to them “natively” first, to see whether I needed to invest further in a DAC.There are many skilled people at B&O, someone should make a grand DAC with a streamer. Now their best solution is a black round thing with only optical and a few other things. I might be missing something.
If it were me (or should I say, when it comes my time to be in the same position you’re in), I would ask myself a few questions:
1. Do I care about particular formats? For example, MQA? If I care about full MQA decoding because I use TIDAL, then that limits your options, which honestly, makes this all easier.
2. I would probably want a streamer with no DAC so as to allow the BL50 or 90 to handle all the decoding and processing.
3. I would ensure whatever streamer I purchase has digital outputs that pass 24/192, so as to maximize the speakers’ potential. The Node 2i, for instance, can only output 24/192 on its RCA outputs, not Toslink, which may conflict with (2) above, then, if you care. I would only care to use the digital outputs on the streamer.
4. If this is your only source to the BeoLabs, then consider if you find Bluetooth, Airplay or chromecast important features for occasional, casual use.
5. My own personal feeling is I wouldn’t buy a Naim Uniti Atom or anything else with an amplifier in it because it’s redundant with our active speakers. You’re probably paying for components you wouldn’t use that can at best, have a neutral effect on the signal and at worst, degrade it.
Unfortunately the Core only serves 24/96, so while integration is good but the software kind of stinks, it’s also limited on the resolution side for BL50 and 90.
My research points me, one day, towards an Auralic Aries and a Qobuz subscription. To each their own! Let us know what you choose!
Curly, thank you.
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