I can't comment on DACs, as I haven't ventured into the world of streaming. If / when I do, my bias toward Ayre will show as I love the sound of my CX-7e(mp) CD player. I'll consider the CODEX or the QB-9 w/ the Twenty Upgrade, but that's because my entire stack is Ayre (and I'm not a mix-n-match-n-hope-for-the-best kind of guy). The CODEX does give you a headphone option (which is reason alone for some to choose the CODEX). That being said, if your full chain isn't differential-balanced, you may not hear the full potential of a CODEX and a different circuit topology may give you a bigger bang for the buck.