I currently have a Roon Nucleus connected to an Innuos Phoenix Net switch. Also connected to the switch is a Melco N1Z/2EX where I store my music. The dedicated player port on the Melco connects to my EMM Labs DA2i network player/DAC via Ethernet. Rather than add a linear power supply for my Nucleus, I’m looking at replacing both the Nucleus and Melco with a K41 or K22. My question is whether to get the K41 and continue using the EMM Labs as both my player and DAC or the get the K22 and just use the EMM Labs as a stand alone DAC. The EMM Labs is a top tier unit so I’m leaning towards the K41 but would love your thoughts.
I’m sorry to say that only audition will resolve this. I had a K22 with a Bricasti DAC/player and the K22 definitely brought a tonal richness I appreciated (AES). But on changing to a Weiss Helios DAC/player I found the Helios player preferable to the K22 and moved to a K41 and am as satisfied as a congenitally insatiable audiophile can be… (hmm, what would an Oladra sound like…)
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It is very dangerous to wonder such things, FugueState. Once you hear it, you can’t go back to anything else!
(Sorry, Cam, I can’t comment on the EMM from experience)
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Given that the Helios converts all input to the same sampling frequency (195.312) I wonder if the Oladra would make any significant difference.
Beautiful unit @FugueState. I have a Weiss 501 and I wonder "hmmm, what would the Helios sound like…
I’ll be honest, I had to look up congenitally.
But if you get around to hearing the Oladra, I would be keen to hear your comparisons between the Oladra as server only into the Helios via ethernet, vs the Oladra as server and player into the Helios via AES.
Did the k41 significantly improve the sound of the Weiss?
It’s a good question and in truth I can’t answer, The K41 unites an excellent server for quite a large collection of music, with a Roon core, as well as a Minim server enabling use of JPlay. So it’s a very practical device. I had added it to the K21 when I had the Bricasti, and retained it with the Helios. Otherwise I’d have needed an NAS and a Roon core. Maybe one day Audirvana will arrive too… I could always attach the K41 to the switch (Network Audio Tempus) rather than using ethernet throughput, in order to answer the question, but I’m now superstitious about footling around with what sounds great.
@Cam, interesting quality setup. From the stellar reputation of the EMM Labs DA2i network player, whatever you decide I would be keeping this latest model EMM component in the chain.
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Thanks Anthony! I’m leaning towards just getting a K41 to start and using my DA2i as both player and dac.