Bob, I'm gettin The Memory Player by Sam Laufer's company. You can get it with or without the DAC built in. I'll have the DAC built directly into it as they do it properly so everything is shielded and isolated properly. They have totally separate power supplies for the player and the DAC. They have a built in transport for easy ripping etc... It is one of, if not the best server/streamer in the world. Constant upgrades included etc...
You have been over and seen my system. My end game (if I can get there) would be the new Vandersteen mono blocks with HRS footers, a 'best' volume control and then The Memory Player. I have my Apple TV and cable box going directly into my TV. I'd then do an optical out into The Memory Player or into my Synchro Mesh reclocker first and then into TMP. Then go balanced out into a volume control or take the high output RCA from TMP into the Lightspeed control. That would then to into the mono blocks. Much cleaner system with fewer boxes, cords etc... not quite a high end lifestyle system, but not far away. All I'd have in my rack/tv stand would be TMP and a small box for the remote volume control. TMP is controlled by an app on a touchscreen or from my TV and the volume would be from the TV remote (an all in one remote) so I'd only need one remote control out and then use the phone or the pad or the TV. Just versatile and simple. Also Sam has total remote control into TMP so he can reset fix and install anything whenever it's needed.
Bob, if you want to talk, I am selling my Ayre QX5/20 that is a complete digital hub with 10 inputs and streamer built in. You've heard it. It's a SICK unit. The volume control on it is as good as any pre I've heard under about 4k or so. It's not quite as good as my Ayre integrated pre as that's in the range of a 10k preamp, lol. The DAC is silly good. We had it up against DAC's in teh 20k range and it's a SMIDGE below, but not that much. It actually has a bit more detail than the great Brinkmann Nyquist DAC (love this DAC), but not quiet as much bloom, but close.
I also use the balanced outputs on the QX5 headphone amp and it's as good as any of the Woo headphone amps I've used. sorry for the long post.
Here's a link to The Memory Player: https://www.thememoryplayer.net
You have been over and seen my system. My end game (if I can get there) would be the new Vandersteen mono blocks with HRS footers, a 'best' volume control and then The Memory Player. I have my Apple TV and cable box going directly into my TV. I'd then do an optical out into The Memory Player or into my Synchro Mesh reclocker first and then into TMP. Then go balanced out into a volume control or take the high output RCA from TMP into the Lightspeed control. That would then to into the mono blocks. Much cleaner system with fewer boxes, cords etc... not quite a high end lifestyle system, but not far away. All I'd have in my rack/tv stand would be TMP and a small box for the remote volume control. TMP is controlled by an app on a touchscreen or from my TV and the volume would be from the TV remote (an all in one remote) so I'd only need one remote control out and then use the phone or the pad or the TV. Just versatile and simple. Also Sam has total remote control into TMP so he can reset fix and install anything whenever it's needed.
Bob, if you want to talk, I am selling my Ayre QX5/20 that is a complete digital hub with 10 inputs and streamer built in. You've heard it. It's a SICK unit. The volume control on it is as good as any pre I've heard under about 4k or so. It's not quite as good as my Ayre integrated pre as that's in the range of a 10k preamp, lol. The DAC is silly good. We had it up against DAC's in teh 20k range and it's a SMIDGE below, but not that much. It actually has a bit more detail than the great Brinkmann Nyquist DAC (love this DAC), but not quiet as much bloom, but close.
I also use the balanced outputs on the QX5 headphone amp and it's as good as any of the Woo headphone amps I've used. sorry for the long post.
Here's a link to The Memory Player: https://www.thememoryplayer.net