Anyone else feel like it’s the Wild Wild West?

That’s sad but expected at those bargain bin prices. That’s why it’s just as important to select a streamer / server that provides a good customer service support with a robust OS.

@lalitk Point taken.  Unfortunately budget largely dictated my choice, and I assumed a company the size of iFi would have at least some form of phone support.  I’ll definitely not make that painful mistake again.  Were I doing it over I probably would’ve bought a used Innuos Mini Mk3 and added their upgraded power supply later, and I would’ve had a server and been able to ditch my CD transport altogether as a bonus.  Live and learn I guess.  My takeaway — some things are just worth paying for. 

@juanmanuelfangioii

You completely missed the point of my post. I have no qualms about how anyone choose to spend their money or their personal preferences / priorities for vinyl or digital.

Peace!

@facten - Thank you!

@soix There is rep from Ifi who regularly contributes on headfi forum. I'd PM him at that forum, goes under moniker, IFIAudio.

I'd add vinyl is pretty much on par with streaming for complications or lack thereof. Streaming is different in that far more experimentation taking place at present, less mature technology.

Very astute observation by @blisshifi per ubs preferable when dac clock superior,  aes, coax if streamer/server superior clock. I'm expecting to explore this very thing with upcoming server/streamer audtions/purchases. Custom server in midst of being built and an off the shelf server will both have great adaptability in allowing all the above comparisons and additionally I2S, also ability for Roon and/or proprietary music software/player.

When a iFi Zen Stream has far more issues with operation and glitches than a $79 WiiM Mini streamer I think it is incumbent upon iFi to FIX their product or stop selling it to unsuspecting customers and wait until they can come out with a "MK. 2" version that works as it should. 

I keep looking at a Bluesound Node, but hate paying for a DAC I'll never use, even at the $600 price point.  Might look at the new Musical Fidelity MX - Stream as a solution in my budget for a streamer and the Denafrips Ares II as the DAC and call it a day. 

But the Ares II has been on the market now for a good while. Should I wait and see if any other DAC in the $1000 range would be better? 

@facten I use Bluesound, Denafrips Terminator Plus, Hegel 590, Wilson Sasha DAW. I am very happy. I have CD transport for CDs I owned for 30 years. Sound quality almost the same, very satisfying. Point is, no matter what your budget is, there is digital streaming system that can outperform a vinyl or CD listening experience. It is hard to beat top notch DACs with an invention from early 19th century. If you go to Chord Dave, dCS Vivaldi Apex, dCS Rossini, Weiss 501, presentation will beat any analog alternative.