DCS Network Bridge? Aqua LinQ Streamer?

@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.

Hi @designsfx, 

The LinQ is a modular design and there are 2 modules for use with HQPlayer: The HQPlayer NAA module whereby you can feed it a stream using a Music server which acts as the HQPlayer Core or you can install both the HQPlayer NAA module + the HQPlayer core module in the LinQ. With both modules you can stream directly to the LinQ, no music server required. Both sounded pretty much identical. However, as far as I recall, you can't connect external storage not can it access a NAS, so it's for streaming - only and not local or network drive file playback.  

@sbonamo 

Thank you for defining those two differences- it was definitely clearer than reading Aqua’s website. So for me the question would be how best to incorporate NAS for digital file purchases in addition to streaming.