Donnie,

   I don't have the CXN V2 as yet...due to arrive this next week. As I understand it from some research, the CXN V2 can access media from UPnP/DNLA servers...which seems to infer it can access a music library as in Example A and C. If it can indeed, then the CXN v2 would serve as a preamp for all options? Am I misunderstanding this? Again, this is all new to me so I'm still learning.  Dao

Dao,
Congrats on you choice of Pontus II DAC!  You have multiple inputs for the Pontus DAC.  With the CXN V2 streamer/DAC, you would primarily use with Roon/Spotify/Tidal...I suppose using an optical cable.  I use my Pontus for Roon/spotify/Tidal using AES/EBU and I2S and CD playback via optical or coax.  For FLAC stored in hard drive, I suppose you can use the USB input. The Pontus II gives you the flexibility to use multiple sources.
HTH

Geno, Great info.  I will confess, I had to look up the acronym YMMV. LOL

I wonder why Wi-Fi sounded the best of the various methods to connect.  Having my FLAC files on my computer and doing Wi-Fi from there to the CXNV2 would probably be the most convenient since they’re going to be downloaded to the computer anyway. I don’t have an NAS yet but will have very soon so I can do back ups.  I already have one of those little SanDisk Extreme portable drives so I was thinking the best quality would have come from it being connected via USB to the CXNV2.  I’ll get to experiment with it sometime this next week and I will post what I hear.

Again, thank you for everyone’s responses.  Dao

I love down-tempo.
I listen to it at night all the time.

I use an external hard drive, western digital, with 8TB storage, connected via USB. 7TB of FLAC files inhabit it so far.

Piezomam,

  7TB of music!!?? Holy cow!!! That’s a lot,  what was the single major source of all of those megabytes?  Did you rip CDs or download??

One of the great things about this hobby is there are always options.  I'm really happy with two watts I just got more efficient speakers and I can shake the table in the kitchen with them much to my wife's dismay.

Piezoman,

  Interesting point. I actually used to have a Craig PowerPlay 8-track in my first car. I seem to recall listening to “Fly Like an Eagle” by Steve Miller band. LOL

UPDATE: By tomorrow evening, I’ll have my CXN V2 and my Reisong A10, so I’ll finally be able to begin connecting things together. The Reisong will fill in until my UFO2’s arrive....many months down the road. I ordered my Pontus II on the 10th and Vinshineaudio just contacted me today to say it is now shipping via FEDEX. I’m going to start with run of the mill interconnects and zero room treatments. One at a time, I’ll make changes and see what it does. I don’t want to move ahead blindly. I want to learn. I’ll try to snap some pics soon.

I was very pleasantly surprised this morning to see my Pontus II DAC was out for delivery on the FEDEX truck. From China to the remote Ozarks of Arkansas in just under 5 days. Just WOW!!! So now, I have my Fortes, Reisong A10 amp (just a temp), my Pontus II DAC and my CXN V2 in the house. Sadly to say, the DAC did not ship with ANYTHING...no power cord, no cables, no documentation of any kind. Before I can hook it all up, I'll have to take a trip to the store for some cables. Pics coming...

Reisong A10 (gotta have something while I'm waiting for my UFO2s)  :P

GroovySauce,

  Thanks for the tips. I'm always looking for more artists to try. Do you have any downtempo artist recommendations for audition? Two sources of music truly changed my tastes over the years. One, was a woman I dated that introduced me to Supreme Beings of Leisure, Portishead and a few others. The second, was Pandora. I can't count the number of new tracks I was introduced to on there. Once I had a large catalog of THUMBS UP tracks, I took that and started buying.

If I can piggyback on the building a system question, next week I am scheduled to meet with Steve as I have questions.  One of those questions  I hope participants of this thread might offer some thoughts.  I have narrowed down my purchase choice to Rachael with Anniversary Mods.  From there in one scenario I add a CSP3 and the other scenario I do not. Going without the CSP3 give me enough left in my budget to add the Pontus II or Aries II.  Currently I have the Cambridge CXN v2.  Randy's Open Baffle speakers.  One more addition: ZRock2.   At this time all my listening is through streaming. All your thoughts are welcomed as I am starting to get a little dizzy with so many choices, and may be missing something obvious.  Much appreciated.

Tony,

I do a lot of streaming as well.  I use my ZSTAGE with my Torii MKIV and I am happy with the results….especially for the price.  I’m sure the CSP3 would really be a serious kick in the teeth, but for the time being I’d rather save the money and use it elsewhere .  I plan to buy a ZROCK2 this fall, so I’ll report back after it’s incorporated into my system.  

I must say though… that when I swapped out the stock 12AU7 in the ZSTAGE to the NOS Amperex Holland D-Foil Gettef 7062 Pinched Waist, it woke up th ZSTAGE and the sound was so much more alive.  Lon turned me on to this tube…..I like it so much that I bought 2 extra tubes to use in my future ZROCK2.

Just some food for thought.

Dom

Thanks Guys, my agenda with Steve on Tuesday is taking shape.  I have more options to choose from if I put off CSP3 for another time.  I had not even thought of Zstage.

Dao,
With regards to the Denafrips power cables and interconnects, I remember Alvin notifying me that it does not come with a power cable prior to the shipment and to purchase them and even provided a recommendation.

The Pontus benefits from having a quality power cord such as the DHC-1 from Decware. You will easily hear the difference over a stock power cord.

Quote from ArtMan:

"The Pontus benefits from having a quality power cord such as the DHC-1 from Decware. You will easily hear the difference over a stock power cord."

ArtMan,

  I will put that to the test, as I will room treatments and other cables but it may take me some time. I'm a bit of a Doubting Thomas about some of these things...though not all. Are you saying EASY as in ALL the time...low volumes, mid volumes and high? And can you describe the change that you heard? Although I may have some doubt, I never discount anything.

I'm still waiting on cables and have yet to hear my system.  :'(

Well, I finally cabled up my current system which is comprised of an external SSD with some FLAC files, the CXN V2 Streamer, Pontus II DAC, Reisong A10 Integrated Amp and the Klipsch Forte IVs. See diagram. I used regular power cables, Metra Ethereal coax digital cable, AudioQuest Evergreen RCA cables and some decent speaker cables I had lying around. I'm happy to report everything worked upon startup and configuration was a breeze. Using the Stream Magic app, I played some familiar songs from QOBUZ...a fair amount of down tempo with female vocals and the occasional Dubstep/Electronic tune and then a couple of rock classics...and a couple of Jazz hits. I was somewhat pleased, but felt the sound lacking as well. My room definitely needs some room treatments and the system could probably benefit from high end cables, but overall I get the impression I may not be satisfied with a tube amp. For instance, to this day, I recall being 18 years old and listening to the tune "Dragon Attack" by Queen, using my Kenwood Amp, Denon turntable and BETA 045s (Heresy clones). I recall getting punched by the music, hearing the snap and force of the drum beats, the bass, the clarity and breathtaking soundstage. It was as if I was right there at a concert or darn close. I will admit I'm hearing a very sweet sound from the Reisong A10, but there's no force there...NOT VISCERAL in any way shape or form. I'll probably keep the A10 and look forward to the UFO2's coming in, but I think I may want to try a really nice SS amp in the mean time. Any recommendations? Dao

Well, I know there is no perfect system, nor perfect component, but I know I need more impact and detail. I just find it hard to believe my old solid-state 90w/ch Kenwood KA-9100 made those Beta 045s (Heresy clones) sing. I will certainly confess the Reisong A10 sounds nice in many ways...but just a bit afraid the Decware amps won't provide what I'm looking for. either Right now, I'm listening to several Phutureprimitive songs that have nice female vocals mixed with punchy electronic rifts. The female vocals are nice, but the instruments are muffled.

Songs - Phutureprimitive: Enemy, Passes Away, Falling

Without tons of volume, those rifts should conjure up images of chainsaws...that raw ripping sensation. I'm pretty sure the Klipsch Fortes are up for it, but they need the right amp.

I don't want to lose the nice vocals and open sound stage, but I need more...

I also just listened to some Herbie Hancock, and the soundstage was open, but again instruments seemed veiled, lacked detail.

I'll go ahead and start with some high end cables and see what that brings to the table. It may be a good idea to also hit up some other forums and put forth my situation and see what everyone recommends.

For those that have the UFO2, UFO25 or TORIIs, etc...can those amps provide the visceral impact contained in the Phutureprimitive albums; Kinetik and Searching for Beauty in the Darkest Places 1 & 2?

I'm hoping so.

Dao,
Allow burn-in of your Denafrips and your Reisong A10.  Possibly tube roll your Reisong as well.  I had similar experience with the Denafrips but after some burn in, it opened up!
Bob

Thank you for everyone’s encouragement and advice. I will try to burn in the system, then start adding better cables. I may try to rotate the speakers (entire setup) 90 degrees CCW so the speakers are firing towards the kitchen.  We haven’t had the custom bookshelves installed yet so I thought I’d give this a try to see how this changes the sound as well.

Yeah dao sounds like your in the groove now. Decware will make the soundstage so much larger!

John