This seems like an inversion of the “budget is the limiting factor” issue so many of us run into. Here, the issue is the budget is higher than it needs to be and the options are limited.
I asked a question about DACless streamers last week and got some good advice
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/looking-for-a-basic-streamer-without-a-dac-preamp-storage-and-all-tha?utm_campaign=website&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email
One of the suggestions I got was this device which is slightly more than I want to spend but it was recommended with the advice that more than $1k doesn’t get you better sound quality.
https://magnahifi.com/nl/mano-ultra-music-streamer-high-res/
This lack of better sound quality at higher prices was supported by a few hours of reading about fancy streamers by PS Audio and Aurelic. Tons more money for the privilege of ownership but not for sound quality. Lots of mythology by the companies but not a lot of demonstrable “betterness”.
So it’d seem there’s no need to spend $5k-$6k on a solution to the “problem”, especially with a Nucleus in the chain already.
OP could spend $500-$1000 on a device that would sound great (though admittedly wouldn’t have the glow of “I spent 10x more than that so it simply must be better”) and use the $5000-$5500 he’d save on some serious and impactful charitable giving this year. Think of all the WiFi hotspots that could be donated to kids in need, all the PPE that could buy a hospital, or how well that could stock a food bank at this time of year!!!
I asked a question about DACless streamers last week and got some good advice
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/looking-for-a-basic-streamer-without-a-dac-preamp-storage-and-all-tha?utm_campaign=website&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email
One of the suggestions I got was this device which is slightly more than I want to spend but it was recommended with the advice that more than $1k doesn’t get you better sound quality.
https://magnahifi.com/nl/mano-ultra-music-streamer-high-res/
This lack of better sound quality at higher prices was supported by a few hours of reading about fancy streamers by PS Audio and Aurelic. Tons more money for the privilege of ownership but not for sound quality. Lots of mythology by the companies but not a lot of demonstrable “betterness”.
So it’d seem there’s no need to spend $5k-$6k on a solution to the “problem”, especially with a Nucleus in the chain already.
OP could spend $500-$1000 on a device that would sound great (though admittedly wouldn’t have the glow of “I spent 10x more than that so it simply must be better”) and use the $5000-$5500 he’d save on some serious and impactful charitable giving this year. Think of all the WiFi hotspots that could be donated to kids in need, all the PPE that could buy a hospital, or how well that could stock a food bank at this time of year!!!