What are you using as a streamer? Constructive feedback please.

I took my Intel NUC, which has a custom analog power supply to RMAF one year. An Aurender was used at the show, but the system was set up using my NUC. Aurender lost big time, but it really had no chance. I use my NUC in an engineering and a recording/playback system besides using it as a streamer for my personal stereo.

I have been using computers in my engineering, recording, and playback systems for years (Kleinbeck Engineering), 40 years to be exact. That was before IBM sold their first "PC's" and Sony made the first CD player. It makes analysis of the results much easier and much more reliable because I calibrate my systems to a known standards.

However, simplicity does have its rewards. Not a computer nerd and an engineer, maybe commercial streamer is a better choice for you. I have used a system running ROON in the past several times for long periods of time and I prefer their product over most other commercial streamers.

+1 for Cambridge CXN V2.

‘Big improvement over Node2, plus many nice features.

Different approach. Your ethernet signal needs sprucing up with fantastic results. I had a Lumin T2 and now have a X1. First I should have cleaned up the signal using the EtherRegen and better ethernet cables. Now they tell me.

If using Roon, then their Nucleus / SBooster (on my system) bested using a computer even my yawning spouse agreed before beating it out of the listening room.

I found the high end streamer with built in DAC to be (or not to be, that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles...) a bit more resolving but again cleaning up the signal was the most significant thing ever done to my system.

Roon interfaced to the miniDSP SHD, which is now Roon Ready certified, provides convenient access to streaming and stored music sources and presents them in a pure digital environment for Dirac Live processing using your choice of DACs.

Used Auralic Aries (circa 2015) sounds great and comes with a massive external linear power supply, ususally available for $7-800. Very versatile either with it's own Lightning software or Roon.