I will be on vacation for a few days here, not sure about my internet access, so I will spend your 10 grand here.
First, my experience with Melco is limited to the past few weeks, but I am very impressed. I also didn’t expect it to be recognized as a NAS by the other streamers in the home, but it is, and therefore potentially makes my Synology NAS redundant. The Melco sounds superb connected to my Bryston DAC3 by usb. What the Melco 100 doesn’t offer is streaming Qobuz or Internet Radio, but my understanding is that future editions will do that. Melco will also try to sell you a CD ripper for 4 figures. I am using the Apple Optical Ripper with fine results, but the Melco ripper can be used as a high end CD transport. So figure 3 grand max here.
For DAC would get the Mytek Manhattan or the Bryston DAC3, each of which I have owned and can vouch for. Figure five grand here, tops.
Cables-I’m not a cable/power cord guy, but there should be enough left in the budget to indulge
First, my experience with Melco is limited to the past few weeks, but I am very impressed. I also didn’t expect it to be recognized as a NAS by the other streamers in the home, but it is, and therefore potentially makes my Synology NAS redundant. The Melco sounds superb connected to my Bryston DAC3 by usb. What the Melco 100 doesn’t offer is streaming Qobuz or Internet Radio, but my understanding is that future editions will do that. Melco will also try to sell you a CD ripper for 4 figures. I am using the Apple Optical Ripper with fine results, but the Melco ripper can be used as a high end CD transport. So figure 3 grand max here.
For DAC would get the Mytek Manhattan or the Bryston DAC3, each of which I have owned and can vouch for. Figure five grand here, tops.
Cables-I’m not a cable/power cord guy, but there should be enough left in the budget to indulge