And people are concerned about the high price for dedicated "audiophile" streamers? Geez.
@mclinnguy I don’t disagree with your point. This PC example was meant to be anecdotal and not a recommendation. In fact, you could build a very similar machine around a HD Plex case for probably $3-4K.
At the upper end of the price spectrum, according to this exhaustive review, the revered Taiko Extreme streamer is built around a Asus WS C621E server board and a pair of Intel Xeons running Windows. Taiko’s website does not try to hide the fact that the Extreme is a PC, so thumbs up to them for showing an honesty and openness that are often too rare in this industry.
The Extreme is an exquisitely well crafted machine (unlike many sub-$15K streamers that look like low-cost Chinese power supplies with front panels inscribed in goofy fonts). I certainly would not criticize an audiophile for spending $30,000 on a Taiko Extreme; I would probably own one myself if I were at a stage of my audio journey where it makes sense to spend that kind of money on a component.
Artistry, design and craftsmanship usually come a distant second, if at all, in Hi-Fi discussions, but sometimes they serve to make a price that would otherwise seem absurd, palatable.