Amp Search and Upgrade

Since you have Dali loudspeakers, you might want to consider another Peter Lyngdorf brainchild, namely a Lyngdorf integrated amp. You'd be replacing the streamer, DAC, and integrated amp with a one-box solution. The TDAI-1120 and the pricier TDAI-3400 both come with room correction processors ("Room Perfect"). Room correction may make a much bigger difference to your system's sound quality than just buying a new amp (provided either of the Lyngdorfs deliver enough umph for your room and listening needs, for a price you're willing to pay).

The streamer is not going to improve anything....if it streams and does not drop out, that's it. Unless you need some ultra hi resolution capability, which is another can of worms....

@dadork Funny you don't like the looks of the Kinki.  It is highly complemented in reviews.  I certainly don't think I have good taste in what looks good so my opinion isn't very valuable but I like the simplicity.  It is generally referred to as a swiss look as is the sound. But I agree you shouldn't buy it if you don't like it.

I'm just saying you should realize that the pre is really going to hold back any amp.  I don't know how you can evaluate any amp with a bad preamp.  think of perfection as total clarity and every amp or pre removes some of it.  Lets use some numbers I'll pull out of my armpit:  suppose your great amp removes 2% and your pre 1% of the "goodness".   Now you've got a 97% signal.  Now put a peamp removing 30% of the goodness and it doesn't matter much waht the amp does.  It will be hard to tell a 2% amp from a 10% amp on my arbitrary scale. 

I retired my parasound system when I switched from inefficient speakers to efficient speakers.  However, I wanted the HT bypass function on the Parasound preamp so I tried it in front of my new tube amp that I would call a 97% amp on my arbitrary scale above.  It was like putting up a thin wall between me and the speakers.  My amp couldn't shine. Lasted 5 minutes.

Jerry

Having the Node 2i also but using a reference external DAC is not the issue at all.  We also have the Aurender and we will compare this week also using an external DAC.

You can upgrade the amp for not that much and see how you like something when you purchase new.

IMO having had a ton of amplifiers and also we build our own, find a nice BEL SS power amp.  Musical, not that expensive, etc. These amps sound fantastic even the old early models.  They are also easy to upgrade when the time comes.  Other than that for SS you have the HK Citation power amps that are excellent and not very expensive.

Happy Listening.

You should get good money for your integrated, use that as part of your funds…I’ve got the anthem 225mk2, it’ll put out 400 w at 4 ohms and is very clean. I use the NAD C658 preamp / streamer / DAC and it’ll give you a great DAC plus nice preamp combo. Sound wonderful with MQA source tidal tracks on my Martin Logan EM-ESL’s.   Those two together are roughly $4k.