Why spend $4k when you can get maybe a better solution for $400, a used Sonore microRendu. I use the microRendu for the last 4+ years. This device is a Ethernet-2-USB converter. So you hook up the device to your network by Ethernet and then the output of the device by USB to your DAC. You can use your computer in any room to control the device. I use ROON client to run my streaming since the microRendu is ROON READY. There are many other streaming client options with the Rendu lineup. You have many options to get wired Ehternet to the room where your audio system resides (if interested, PM me for ideas).
https://www.audiogon.com/listings?q=sonore
(nothing in the $400 range yet but they do show up).
Why is this so amazing? You can have even a low quality computer in another room and the noise on that machine will not get to your DAC. Well almost no noise. I have been told that there is some analog noise that travels in the RJ45 Ethernet wire and gets to the device which then gets into you DAC. However, as someone who uses the microRendu for years I would say that this noise is very low. If you system is not that resolving I wonder if it is even an issue.
There area few ways way to mitigate this noise on the RJ45 Ethernet wire so that it does not get to the DAC. Sonore has solutions for that which take the price up. I may upgrade to that newer solution using mostly (or all) network optical wire as opposed to RJ45 Ethernet (what you are likely using). Anyway, this is a more complicated solution and if you are interested PM me and I can send you some more info via links.
My decision to upgrade up the Sonore line will be determined by the streaming capabilities on the next DAC I get. Unless I get the Lumin X1 DAC I have a feeling the Sonore Rendu lineup would be the way to go when a computer is involved.
BTW - do not let anyone tell you a computer in the audio chain is old school and you need a dedicated audiophile server. You do not need a dedicated server to get amazing quality streaming.
https://www.audiogon.com/listings?q=sonore
(nothing in the $400 range yet but they do show up).
Why is this so amazing? You can have even a low quality computer in another room and the noise on that machine will not get to your DAC. Well almost no noise. I have been told that there is some analog noise that travels in the RJ45 Ethernet wire and gets to the device which then gets into you DAC. However, as someone who uses the microRendu for years I would say that this noise is very low. If you system is not that resolving I wonder if it is even an issue.
There area few ways way to mitigate this noise on the RJ45 Ethernet wire so that it does not get to the DAC. Sonore has solutions for that which take the price up. I may upgrade to that newer solution using mostly (or all) network optical wire as opposed to RJ45 Ethernet (what you are likely using). Anyway, this is a more complicated solution and if you are interested PM me and I can send you some more info via links.
My decision to upgrade up the Sonore line will be determined by the streaming capabilities on the next DAC I get. Unless I get the Lumin X1 DAC I have a feeling the Sonore Rendu lineup would be the way to go when a computer is involved.
BTW - do not let anyone tell you a computer in the audio chain is old school and you need a dedicated audiophile server. You do not need a dedicated server to get amazing quality streaming.