For Spotify use—Chromecast Audio + Cambridge 851D or Auralic Vega G1?

Answers

• aznwonderboy Posts: 22

  September 2020

  I had the Cambridge 851N and used Tidal with it for a few weeks. Recently, I found a 851D for a good price and connected a Chromecast Audio device to it. I couldn’t detect any significant difference while listening to “master” songs on Tidal so I kept the cheaper set up. I understand that the DAC is the same in both units. Now I’m just wondering if the upgrading the DAC and streamer will yield any more improvement in streaming Spotify and Tidal.

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• audioluvr Posts: 3,182

  September 2020

  Could be other things downstream that are preventing your lack of differentiation on sources. Doesn't make a lot of sense to buy a $2,000+ DAC if you are using $50 lamp cord for speaker wire (for example).

  Cambridge Audio 851N Streamer/DAC
  Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
  B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
  Belles 350A Reference modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
  Polk SDA 1C's modded
  Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
  
  There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January.
  
  by Dr. Sardonicus

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• aznwonderboy Posts: 22

  September 2020

  Thank you. I’ll hold off upgrading the streamer/DAC until I can get my hands on better speaker cables (currently using blue jeans cables).

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• rooftop59 Posts: 7,066

  September 2020

  What are your speakers, interconnects, power cables? And what amp and preamp are you using?

  Living Room 2.1: Dynaudio Contour 1.3mkii; Martin Logan Grotto sub; Musical Fidelity A308; Marantz SA 14S1; Sony UBP-x1000es
  Game Room HT: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology SM450; Definitive Technology LCR2000; Definitive Technology StudioMonitor350; Mirage Nanasats; Sub - HSU VTF-2 MK5
  Master Bedroom
  Cambridge Azur 551r; Definitive Technology promonitor 800; ACI Titan Subwoofer

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• aznwonderboy Posts: 22

  September 2020

  IC: MIT shotgun S3 rca cable from Cambridge 851D DAC
  Integrated amp: Musical Fidelity M6si
  Speakers: polk Lsim707
  
  Stock power cables.

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• gyosa Posts: 580

  October 2020

  Biggest thing you could do to improve your sound quality is to ditch Spotify and go with either Tidal or Qobuz ...
  Spotify really sucks .....
  
  Bk

  Parasound A21 , Yamaha wxc-50 , Polk SDA 1c’s ( my first love .. ) , Kimber Kable 4TC, Sony 42” - BEDROOM
  
  B&K EX-442 ( it will go in my casket when I die ... ) , PS Audio 4.6 preamp ( old school , but it still jams on ... ) , Yamaha wxc-50 , Boston Acoustic voyager 7’s - POOL
  
  PS Audio Stellar S300 , Cambridge Audio 851n , Yamaha wxc-50 , Kimber Kable 4vs , Salk Supercharged Song towers ( difficult choice between these and my family if I had to choose ... 😩 ) , Sony XBR-A8F 65” OLED , Onkyo TX-RZ610 - DEN , MAIN RIG
  
  Onkyo TX-nr609 , Polk atrium 7 , Boston acoustic sound ware (4) , Boston acoustic sub , B&W center , Sharp 65” TV - PATIO
  
  DAYENS AMPINO ( thanks Verb ! ) , KEiiD streamer ( this was only 60 bucks ?? ) , Polk atrium 8SDi’s - KID’s BEDROOM
  
  
  

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