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Fairly new to streaming. Where to start?

$2k & under budget

Aralic Vega has streamer  and DAC. May be the easiest start?
Then there is Schiit...Yiggy or Gumby...which streamer?
Ladder NOS dac? Or Chip? I'm old. maybe I'll like the old school DAC?
Then there is  Benchmark DAC 3...I think it has streamer?
Then
Exasound E32
Audio Mirror?
Metrum
MHDT Orchid
Border Patrol?
Musical Paradise?
Whats a newbie to do? I am a classic rock fan with lots of FLAC & M4a files. I like detail & PRaT. Love a good bass line. I also play some 70's jazz. I have a Theta Miles CD player from the 1900's & play a lot of vinyl too. But I need to come into the 21st century.  Besides, I will probably become tired of the vinyl ritual and work at some point as I get older. I think I have done enough homework to be somewhat confused. Maybe the biggest question in light of how fast digital changes is the question of streamer with DAC or separate Streamer and DAC. One other question is the streamer & bridge the same thing? OK Thanks!! 
128x128artemus_5
tom8999
153 posts
 
Artemis- I went digital 5 years ago - bought a LUMIN D 1 and never looked back. Please go hard wired only to a LUMIN from your router - the quality will amaze you - I stream Tidal Hi Fi with MQA. Cost $25 per month . Sound is amazing - I retired my turntable. Music selection is amazing - discovering new music all the time. Just upgraded to the LUMIN T2 - a definite step up in quality. The difference from the D1 /D2 to the T2 is the DAC ( wolfson vs Sabre)  and the T2 has better Streamer / DAC interface. The software interface with LUMIN is very easy to use. Save the headaches and go with a Streamer and DAC integrated in one  unit.

just my 2 cents

Happy Listening!
sobieski28
2 posts
 
I built a Raspberry Pie as streamer, using volumio software, stream Tidal into a Shiit Modi 3. Sounds great. 
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,591 posts
 
I recommend a Mano
https://www.magnahifi.com/en/webshop/mh-he-pi2s
~$750 delivered.
They finally got long awaited cases from China on Thursday and have some units available.
This gives you a SPDIF AND a i2s output.
Some other brands require MacOS for control. Be aware.
Then you have plenty room for a DAC choice. You should get one that sounds great to you, not only to some one else.
Start here and then listen: 
https://darko.audio/the-darko-dac-index/
Audition with your system for synergy.
A $70 S.M.S.L. DAC sounds better in my system than the internal BluNode DAC.
But of course both streamers bloom through my FPGA.
Then get a 1T portable SSD ($110) for local files to plug into it. This is quicker loading than my Synology server which requires foldersort for each file update.
I recommend Qobuz for $12 to $15/no depending on sales.
chilli42
111 posts
 
I have been happy with the Mytek Brooklyn Bridge.  DAC (good quality), streamer, phono preamp (MC and MM), headphone output).  Worth a look. 
headphonedreams
527 posts
 
Here is another option for a good streamer to start with. Pair it with any dac för $1500 to jeep your budget. 

https://volumio.org/product/volumio-primo/
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