The Dark Side; Digital audio equipment recommendations and setup.

Jbraswell said:
I am poking around at cheap DAC's to see if I want to upgrade to the newer Node models.

I was today years old when I found out swapping chips is the new tube rolling.

Does anyone have experience with the Fosi ZD3 DAC?

View attachment 221386
Click to expand...
I have a Geshelli Labs J2S AKM4499 w/ Sparkos 3602 OpAmps. It’s an excellent DAC. Soundstage, detailed, warm leaning.

I plan on picking up some Burson Op Amps to try, but I’m very happy with the Sparkos setup and haven’t been that motivated yet. I’m still spending money on tubes. But that’s for a different post.
 
Middle Earth said:
DACs and op-amps are both subject to controversy.
I am more digital and vinyl adjacent as I sold my record collection from the 60s/70s/early 80s and went to CDs and now added streaming and back to some vinyl.
Let’s just say I am old and I have seen a lot of change in my life.


Is my $1,200 Holo Cyan 2 R2R DAC better than my Geshelli J2 AKM 4499 DAC ?
I, and many/most others would say yes.
Is a $26k Playback Designs MPD-8 Dream DAC better than my Cyan 2 I expect it is and it is highly regarded.
The differences in DACs from a $10 cell phone dongle to $100k plus DAC is a matter of degrees and some, not me, say there is little to no difference.
My expectation is that you would appreciate an external DAC in your digital chain with your Node or other streamer.
I am on a budget but my end-game DAC will be $3k or less and right now my favorite DAC cost me $850.
Fosi is unrelated to Sparkos and the closest relationship would be Sparkos and Geshelli in the DAC world both being from the USA.
Get the DAC that best serves your budget obviously.
Click to expand...
Which is your favorite DAC ($850) at the moment?

I want to try and R2R DAC and have been considering the Cyan 2 or the Ares 15 or Pontus.
 
Middle Earth said:
Most people just use this

I have some SS3602 op-amps that I would send you
If you use RCA like me you need one
If you used balanced you would need two
Just give me a head’s up if you order a ZD3 and I will get the the Sparkos
And I did see Andrew’s letter attesting to the fact that Fosi is an official distributor of Sparkos op-amps
Run your Node into the Fosi and it should sound really nice
Will be interested to see if you can notice a difference when you swap in the Sparkos
Click to expand...
I ended up grabbing a ZD3 on USAM.
Comes with these $130 delivered.

Happy to swap a few op-amps with you on the Sparkos if that is of interest to you. I don't need the extra for balanced out.

image0.jpeg
 
Jbraswell said:
I ended up grabbing a ZD3 on USAM.
Comes with these $130 delivered.

Happy to swap a few op-amps with you on the Sparkos if that is of interest to you. I don't need the extra for balanced out.

View attachment 221450
Click to expand...
I got nine of them sitting around so I would be glad to give you one.
Shoot me a DM or this is a link to my BandCamp account that has my email listed and you can email me.
bandcamp.com

Middle Earth's collection | Bandcamp

Missouri • Metal • 1957 collection items • 344 followers
bandcamp.com bandcamp.com
Whatever works best for you.
I will be interested to see if you can hear a difference.
Not to offend you, but make sure you orient it correctly.
There are videos and it is a simple process
I expect you will be very happy with that DAC
 
Was having a frustrating time with my digital files, and worked out the reason was my NAS only having 1GB of RAM. Upgraded it to 8GB, and it's made a huge difference. What used to not connect at all, or connect really slowly, is now working at a normal speed. I did break one of the SODIM clips on the NAS installing it, so I was worried that it wouldn't work.

I had been considering getting a new NAS and using my current one as a backup, so that might have to happen in 2025. I think I might use that as an excuse to refresh my library - I now have a bunch of MP3 files that I'm never going to listen to, and live bootlegs that I don't listen to often (or at all). I may start from scratch and keep only the stuff I'm actually going to listen to on the new drive.
 
Thackeraye said:
I had been considering getting a new NAS and using my current one as a backup, so that might have to happen in 2025. I think I might use that as an excuse to refresh my library - I now have a bunch of MP3 files that I'm never going to listen to, and live bootlegs that I don't listen to often (or at all). I may start from scratch and keep only the stuff I'm actually going to listen to on the new drive.
Click to expand...
There are “special” websites to help you upgrade those MP3s ;)
 
One thing the RAM upgrade hasnt fixed is that LSX II’s now refuse to find my Plex server. Not sure if I need to change a setting, but it isn’t clear. The Linn is finding the server fine, so it should work!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top