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Streaming Transport without DAC- few choices

I already have a very good DAC. I already have a very good preamp. There seems to be a dearth of streaming transports under $2000 which noes not include a DAC, does not include preamp function or does not include both. 
So tempted to just get a Mac mini and use that as a dedicated transport/server, played through audirvana 


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hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,974 posts
 
If I didn't have a Blusound Node, I'd do a Raspberry Pi. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fX7NSaAKYU&ab_channel=TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel

https://darko.audio/2020/01/raspberry-pi-audio-streaming-101/
arafiq's avatar
arafiq
1,649 posts
 
Sonore opticalRendu or ultraRendu

Lumin U1 Mini — most dealers will discount and bring it under 2k


melvinjames
416 posts
 
iFi just released their new ZEN Stream which looks nicely done for $399 .. WiFi & ethernet connections, USB & SPDIF out, and sans DAC to name a few features.

https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-stream/
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,576 posts
 
If you're interested in Roon, they have a Nucleus which hosts their software and acts as a streamer for $1500.
welcher's avatar
welcher
111 posts
 
At one point in time I had a mac mini with audirvana feeding a Berkeley alpha usb which was feeding a Berkeley alpha dac. Out of boredom I purchased a Raspberry PI and installed Roppieexl to try streaming. I then compared the direct Mac connection with the Mac streaming to the Raspberry pi connected to the Berkely. I found minimal sound differences between the two setups.
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