Point of diminishing return for a DAC

Just my 2c.

I've had the Yggy, Holo 2 KTE, and now the Rockna base model.  I've been able to compare them all back to back and the Rockna is the clear winner.  

From an MSRP standpoint - the Rockna is ~ 2.5x the price of the other two.  Is it 2.5x as good ? No.  So there are definitely diminishing returns at this level.    

That said, the Rockna is objectively better than the other two when you compare each quality/category individually (i.e. bass, staging etc.).  All of the minor % point gains in each category add up to a more complete listening experience in my system. 

More satisfying listening = less listening to the system, more listening to the music. 

So to me - totally worth it.  

As an aside - adding a quality streamer is a more juicy vein to mine relative to moving up from a 2k DAC to 4k+.  

So, a few have commented about the noise from the Mac.  Unsure what you mean...mechanical noise?  It’s dead silent from a mechanical perspective.  The fan very seldom evens spins up.  My mini is the latest iteration with an ssd.  There is nothing on the SSD except OS, Roon Quobuz...I can pause the music at a very loud volume, and again no noise....I don’t hear noise while playing music.  Please elaborate...

Stowaway noise on the ride out.

Interesting article...

https://www.pro-tools-expert.com/production-expert-1/2019/2/27/apple-mac-mini-2018-tested-for-audio-...

I'm a firm believer in spending a good chunk of your budget on the digital front end.

Good clocks + reduced jitter + w/e other mumbo jumbo is happening = improvements in PRaT, low end tonality, reduced sibilance, better staging, holographic imaging, blacker backgrounds and just a sense of ease/liquidity. 

It's effectively replacing a CD player.