Streaming 102

One option if you decided to move on from the Esoteric is one of the Bryston BDP products.  In addition to Streaming Tidal/Qobuz is attaching an external DVD drive and playing or ripping your CDs to external storage.  Then your digital stream and CD library is all under one interface control.  I have been going to the library and checking out jazz and classical CDs and ripping those to local storage ,a small Terabyte flash the hangs off my BDP.

The BDP series stuff ain’t cheap but a used BDP-2 can be had for about $1.5k.  But this investment its a platform you can build on.   I found a BDP -pi for less than $600 but that model is discontinued along with the 1 and 2 series but they still support them and there is an active community over on audiocircle. Manic Moose interface is widely panned but it works and those units are all Roon Ready endpoints.   

I went through a few phases of this. I cannot say enough how both do matter.  A bad streamer can send noise to DAC. 
 

I can also say tons of deals out there used. Hunt and find and save a ton. I got a Sonore Rendu Signature SE and PSAudio Directstream DAC for almost exactly $5000 off Facebook and eBay. They go for about $10k new. Amazing sound. 
 

I am a true believer in the Sonore line. DACs i have only owned a few so not much help other than a recommendation for PSAudio. You will be much happier with the Sound quality by splitting your funds and upgrading both. 

Let’s not forget the Innuos line of streamers.

I had a Lumin T2. Wanted a 1 box solution. But my Lumin U1 mini through my Schitt Yggdrasil sounded way better. So I sold the T2. Also ran the T2 through the Yggdrasil and it sounded better that way. It's the difference between an R2R DAC and a Delta Sigma DAC, if nothing else. U1 mini plus Yggdrassil is about same cost as a T2.  Am using an SBooster PS with the mini. That helps also. I am of the opinion that the combo Lumin U1 mini, Schiit Yggdrasil, SBooster likely the best sound for the buck you're gonna be able to find.

I am just adding a post since i just unboxed and set up a Bluesound Node (2021 version). Perfect for desktop application. Sounds sophisticated and surprisingly clear. Now if i can get use to streaming music from BlueOS/Roon versus Tidal. A big plus is being able to change songs without clicking, just reach and the arrows light up, also stop or pause. I even managed to get Roon working so some progress on that front.