Point of diminishing returns for a Network Streamers?

Having tried every portable device, PC, and Mac I can say with certainty, depending on your other components, the returns are exceptional to at or above your average component cost. [I do not mean blindly using cost as a proxy for sound quality and compatibility at any given cost level… you must due the work to find the very best component]. So, for instance $5K streamer is probably going to be well worth it if your DAC is $5K and you preamp is worth around $5K…etc. This is a generality to point out how very important they are. I could easily see a $12K streamer very appropriate for some systems with an average $5K component level.  Anyway, they are really important.

My most expensive (other than speakers) is my streamer (it does not have a DAC). It cost $22K and I feel was one of the best investments/ value for the money in my system. I have not tried and more expensive streamers, I can confirm no diminishing returns up to here. My streamer produces sound quality at the same level as my analog end and CD player.

+1 @lalitk 

@aberyclark what DAC are you using?

@erik_squires, yea a Pi running Roon + iFi power supply makes for a good sounding streamer for the $ at least.   I have two in the house with SPDIF boards on them.    I did swap out the one in my main system for a more expensive Bricasti M5 and have to admit the difference in sound quality was more than I expected when also using SPDIF.   Relatively speaking I thought it was well worth the difference in cost.    The iFi Zen would be interesting to compare with the Pi.

I just purchased a Meitner MA3 with an integrated Ethernet/Roon streamer and I unfortunately still prefer the M5 running Roon using AES into the DAC.   I was assuming I could sell the M5 when I purchased the MA3, so it screws up my planned net purchase price :(    I really DO wish all the streamers sound the same...

I have a network connection at my system. So the streamer would not be connected to the computer. The mac would, for now, be the Roon Core only and be discoverable on my netwrok.