Guys - wow, really appreciate all the thoughts and perspectives here!
just a couple points to clarify:
- i don’t have any (and don’t really anticipate having) ripped music files...so, as fat as i understand it, don’t have the need to get into NAS/server mediums?
- i fear this may open a whole other can of worms...but what are folks’ thoughts on SQ of playing cd thru a high quality transport vs streaming high rez through something like Tidal? I know the spec is potentially better thru DSD/MQA but also not sure how much of that spec is theoretical vs discernible thru human ears?
- reason i ask about cd SQ vs streaming is one of the brands I am heavily interested in is Esoteric...and I suspect the best bang for the buck there may be going with one of their cd players (i know they have the N line - but i view their strength and differentiator is thru the cd transport and associated DAC?)
i don’t have a current collection of cds...and was originally not even thinking along those lines, as i figured if wanted to play a physical disc it would be vinyl...however, im wonder if i should keep vinyl as more a niche thing for myself (given less availability and my focus on particular pressings which lowers availability even more).
so, perhaps i should think about cd or is that just silly at this point in the evolution of things?
- obviously, if i don’t go the cd route im going internet streaming.
- i need to narrow my focus so that i can try working with dealers to get some demos...of course, there are a ton of brands but im going to focus on 2...
esoteric (for the cdp/dac combination) OR
esoteric (for the streamer/DAC) and DCS (for the network streamer/DAC and/or DAC only)...
any fatal flaws with focusing on these 2 for the purposes above - im hoping they are both mature, stable, quality enough that it wouldn’t be a bad choice going with either of these and can just let my ears decide?