DCS Network Bridge? Aqua LinQ Streamer?

@sbonamo 

It seems that you rely heavily on your modded PC as a part of this system. As I have really no experience or understanding of the difference how would you rate the LinQ if its role were to be a standalone solution for streaming?

if you would- please describe what role the PC plays in this and how it boosts the overall quality of your setup As you can tell- I’m not in the streaming business.

@designsfx  Yes i also still have my LinQ - Formula Rev 2 combo.

I use them paired with a fanless Roon Rock NUC powered by a Farad Super 3 LPS.

What's new in my system well i sold my Gryphon Diablo 300 and replaced it by a Vitus SIA-025 Mk2.

My speakers just didn't like the Diablo 300.

Otherwise i added a FMC and a Sonore Optical Module between my PP Quad Switch and LinQ, this was a great upgrade.

I'm also in the process of upgrading most of my LAN cables except the PP ones.

I now have a Pink Faun LAN cable and ordered 2 more to replace my 2 Mad Scientist Black Magic.

Also ordered many Isoacoustics footers and 2 more Artesania Dampers.

A friend of mine has ordered the Farad Super 10 to drive his Roon Nucleus therefore i should be able to make a shootout in my system against the Super 3 and see if that brings something for my streaming.

Anyway still very happy with my LinQ-Formula combo.

I would be curious to try and make a shootout between my Formula DAC and the Totaldac D1-Direct + External Clock.

@sbonamo Did you get the Totaldac gear on loan from Vincent for like 2 weeks and returned it ?

@thieliste Yes, you're correct, I did get the TD gear on loan from Vincent and returned it. 

@designsfx WRT the LinQ stand - alone which in my case was employing the HQPlayer core, it sounded excellent and on par with my at the time music server. I was one of the first to try the LinQ core and I ended up returning it because it could not do upsampling via its low powered / low performance processor.  Whether there have been improvements in since, I don't know but again, it was pretty much indistinguishable versus my server at that time in terms of sound quality (excellent IMO).

WRT my PC's role - it acts as an HQPlayer and ROON server. In either situation I output to the LinQ via an HQplayer stream (local files or streaming).  Also, and I think I mentioned previously (apologies if I'm repeating myself) my DIY server outpaced the Innuos statement in this capacity. And my Music PC + LinQ further outpaced the Statement when feeding my DAC. I hope this helps.

@sbonamo 

What were you using to interface the LinQ and since you mentioned returning the HQ Player core I’d the LinQ now only interfacing with your PC via your network?

I use a Naim Uniti Core as a server for CD rips and a MacBook Pro directly to my Dac for DSD. I was wondering what the best configuration would be as far as add on modules for the LinQ should I decide to use one in combination with my La Scala Dac.

I’m still of the mindset that the best sound I’m going to achieve is via CD rip but would like to get more enjoyment from streaming. Not sure if it could take its place.