Another post about a streamer upgrade

@2psyop 

IMO the two most important factors in sound quality with regard to streaming has been the quality of the external DAC I have used and the quality of the original recording being streamed. 

This strikes me as correct. Many people tout expensive streamers but what is really driving that? In other words, I'd like to know if those who advocate for more expensive streamers (such as @ghdprentice ) did careful streamer vs. streamer tests so that they were certain that the differences they heard were due to the streamer alone and not, e.g., to other factors such as the ones mentioned by @2psyop. 

I posed this question -- roughly, "Is it the streamer or the DAC that makes the greatest sound quality difference?" -- and some very experienced members such as @jjss49 testified (if I remember correctly) that the streamer does make a difference but that is minimal compared to getting a good DAC. For both streamer and DAC, an external power supply also helps more than the differences delivered by the streamer alone.

Of course, the above is just about sound quality, not about interface, company reliability, etc.

Cambridge Audio CXN 60 fits your budget and should be an upgrade.  It is great with Internet Radio and Chromecast/AirPlay.

Hello If using the pulse mini, for sure upgrade to get the linear power supply 

a no brainer sounds much better still and use good quality after market power cords .  Thungs left out but essential , most router- modem combos are 12 v just look on them or bottom or router , the wall wart is Horribly noisy 

on Audiogon  Linear Tube Audio - exceptional LPS power supply $50 off $700 use a decent power cord ,the $200 Pangea sig mk2 awg14 is a excellent low cost power cord ,I even use the synergistic purple fuse 20 mm 5 amp ,slow blow fuse 

all these little things add up. Wall warts for any gear is an Audio sin they are noise and grunge .

is a great upgrade , I even upgraded the router modem combo to a Motorola 8702 

that has docsis 3.1meaning much faster processor, and much bigger buffer 

it works great, even streaming WiFi with TV better picture, and is 12v  around 4 amps , the LTA  LPS goes up to 8 amp , and can be ordered up to 19 v.

I suspect that there should be quite a few used Innuoss  pulse mini available Because if you were impressed as I was, you saved up and just got the PULSE and traded in the mini. 

Thanks for all the suggestions 

there actually aren’t a lot of pulse minis second hand … I think they get snatched up pretty quickly.  There was a Pulse (non mini) for sale on one of the sites recently at a great price but it went fast. 
I’m now considering an N150 or a Pulse Mini unless I see something used from higher up the line.

but with a budget of less than $2k, it’s going to be tricky. 
I haven't really considered the Eversolo … perhaps I should 

I’m not a fan of huge screens and again, the app is of critical importance to me.

I’m also considering the Cambridge but I think the purpose built environment of Innuos or Aurender is a better move