DCS Network Bridge? Aqua LinQ Streamer?

Thanks for the information. For interested parties, I also received the following report from someone selling their Innous Zenith on usam:

"The [DCS Network] Bridge is awesome. It's very neutral and an excellent renderer/player. It's easy to use and has Spdif out. The clock in and outs are very disappointing because they are not standard SPDIF so that was annoying. I wish I could use my master clock with it. The Innuos has a warmer, denser tone to the Bridge which I like but I am ultimately for neutrality. They are both great and I wouldn't rate one over the other except Innuos only does USB."

Hi guys, i'm looking at Aqua Formula xHD + LinQ as a possible option for my digital.I am very familiar with Totaldac but not Aqua yet.Any idea if Aqua flagship combo would outperform Totaldac d1-direct + d1-streamer ?A guy told me he prefered the Aqua combo over Totaldac Twelve mk2 + d1-streamer, that's pretty surprising considering the difference in price.

Thanks for the introduction to the totaldac streamer... looks interesting.

Here's a review where they compare it to the dcs network bridge: https://twitteringmachines.com/review-totaldac-d1-streamer/

@cal3713  d1-streamer is really made to work with d1-direct or d1-Twelve mk2.I would not purchase this streamer if not going full Totaldac all the way.Totaldac is the most analogue sounding DACs i've ever heard and i have heard MSB Select 2 and DCs Vivaldi stack.I would love to hear the Aqua combo.

Late reply but for what it's worth - I have heard the TotalDAC D1-Twelve many times and it is a stellar DAC. At the time I first purchased a Aqua Formula the TotalDAC was clearly better (more robust sound with further detail, more effortless). However I have had the Formula upgraded 2x with the analog PSU + digital upgrade + I purchased the LinQ along with the HQP module and I would surmise that it's significantly closer now. I haven't heard the TotalDAC twelve in a while due to COVID but my gut makes me think (especially when I get the latest HQplayer Core module for the Linq) that it will be more about preference than which is best. Net is - the Formula + LinQ are a better bang for your $ IMO.