Why are so many people spending so much money to build “perfect” streaming system?

Who cares about "perfect" when "good enough" is availble for around $600 with the new Bluesound Node (like others have mentioned) with the improved DAC. Then sign up for Qobuz. That’s literally enough. Easy peasy.

If you wanna add an outboard DAC, there are plenty of options. My favorite at around the $1000 price level is the Gustard X-26 Pro. It’s dual mono and sounds great for a delta sigma DAC.(Haven’t heard the

You can pick one up almost new or lightly used for $1150 or less. The options are endless.

I have 3 different streamers (NAD M50.2, Bluesound Node w/ Teddy Pardo LPS and an Audiolab 6000N) for 3 different rooms. Honestly, I find them all enjoyable...enough that I have not tried comparing them sound wise because I’m happy with each in the system they’re in.

@walkenfan2013 

What do you listen to now; vinyl, CDs?

If you don't have a DAC, the aforementioned Bluesound Node gets you streaming at an affordable price. Hook up the one component and you've got a streamer and a DAC.

@ghdprentice

I have read comments from listeners who stream via Wi-Fi and are as pleased as you appear to be. Conversely there are those who believe that Wi-Fi is inherently inferior to hard wired Ethernet cable. Have you used both or has it been Wi-Fi exclusively from the beginning of your audio streaming?

Curious about your experiences. I heard from a wireless Wi-Fi streamer user this past weekend who said he has done both and could hear no improvement with the Ethernet wired. I know there are obvious variables involved that inevitably influence the outcome. Some folks are adamant that Ethernet hard wired is unquestionably better. 

I appreciate a person’s genuine experiences but I don’t like dogma. Do you have a LAN cable connection between your Aurender server and Wi-Fi extender or is it completely wireless?

Charles

Someone starting from scratch can build a HiFi system optimized for streaming for no more (and probably less) than the cost of system optimized for vinyl.  Less than $2K or so probably can get you a decent set of used bookshelf speakers, an integrated amp, a Bluesound Node, cables, router/switch, and a media service subscription.  At that point you can access pretty much all the world's music. Searching for whatever you like is a breeze (usually). There's no messing around with dusty/warped/scratched records, worn needles, or stretched turntable belts. Setting up a streaming service isn't much more complicated than setting up a cable TV service.

On the other hand, if you're at that point with a record-player system, and truly just starting out, your biggest problem is that you have no music to play.  Building an LP collection could take you years of searching . Your library will ALWAYS be far more limited than what you could get immediately for about $20/month (about the price of 1 or 2 new vinyl albums per month, average eBay prices).  Unless, that is, you buy a receiver (integrated amp with radio tuner) and do all your listening to FM or satellite radio. That could be a pretty good way to go if you don't obsess about sound quality, you don't need to own what you play, and you are content with letting someone else choose the playlist.

Once they have such a starter system, whatever kind it is, why do some people obsess about better and better SQ?  You could ask the same question about all kinds of things. Food, clothes, etc.  

I started streaming with a Bluesound Vault 2i.  That machine literally changed my life...    Worth every penny.    Buy a Node if you don't need to rip CDs.  

I paired it with a DAC and three DACs later I pulled the trigger on an Aurender N200

Again,  worth the money as I stream 80% of the time now.    I think anyone would be hard pressed to tell where the files are coming from listening to my system.  

Rotel just released a streaming integrated amp, it looks pretty nice.  I think that is the direction amps and receivers are headed.