streaming and audiophile stereo

I'm using a Lindemann Limetree Bridge II streaming Qobuz into my Denafrips Pontus II DAC and on to my Ayon Scorpio EL34 tube amp.  Tekton Perfect Set 2-10 speakers.

The sound is absolutely sublime!

@ghasley I run an HP laptop I got off of Craigslist for $200. I swapped in a 1TB SSD, which cost me another $100. I run Ubuntu Linux on it with JRiver for Linux, which cost me about $30. I run a Peachtree DAC iT.

I had some friends over for a shootout a while ago against a Schitt Yiggy and a PS Audio DirectStream. Most who were there felt that the Peachtree was the most musical. I like the DirectStream a tad better, but not $6000 better (or even the $3000 you’d pay today for one).

Hi-end DACs are your very, very worst investment as the market believes that the technology is rapidly evolving, so anything a few years old can’t be adequate by "today’s standards." Today’s $5000 wonder DAC is tomorrows $1800 White Elephant.

Why do I go on about "bits is bits"? That’s because digital information is transferred from one device to another, and either it is correct or it is not. That’s what hand shaking information transfer protocols are all about. If you don’t trust computers to accurately transfer digital information, then realize that’s where your money is. Banks store everything electronically and you depend upon the accurate transfer of digital information from device to device, over thousands of miles of cable, none of which is certified to audiophile standards.

How many streamers come with a graphical interface on a 17" screen? And that’s just the laptop I use. I could use an Intel fanless NUC box with a monitor of whatever size I choose to get more screen real estate should I choose. Any computer can stream from any on-line source, as well as YouTube and "Internet Radio".

Beyond that, I backup my music data to two different computers I have on-site as well as a machine I have off-site, so I have four full copies of my music data. One on-site machine is my desktop box which is 11 years old, but being that it has 32 G of system memory, running Linux it still flies. My other local backup machine is a Raspberry Pi with a large drive hanging off of it. The off-site machine is also a Raspberry Pi with a large drive hanging off of it.

Does your dedicated streamer allow you to do a daily backup to multiple other sites, locally and remotely over the Internet?

Variability of posts on this thread point to the complexity of streaming, so many paths to quality sound. I agree, don't worry about MQA, plenty of high quality streams available without it.

Its been my experience streamer is most important component in streaming chain, this followed by dac, then network. I consider streamer and dac combo analogous to amp/speaker as far as integration concerned. You want streamer's most optimal out/rendering port to match with dac's optimal in port, ie, if usb is streamer optimal port, usb should be dac's optimal input. This info can be found in manufacture literature and reviews, generally looking for optimal clocking and noise reduction on both streamer and dac ports.

What constitutes a streamer nowadays can be very confusing. Basically, a streamer stores music player library, processes music player software and renders an output to dac. Some streamers add things like on board storage for local files, dacs, preamp. Streamers can also be used as servers only, in this case a second streamer is added, first streamer only stores music player library, process music player software, second streamer does the rendering. 

Determining best streamer for one's need is wholly subjective, for instance, if one doesn't have large collection of cds for ripping, local storage superfluous. same goes for dac and preamp capabilities.

@russbutton, you have a pretty decent analog rig.  If you are happy with your digital setup, then no one can argue that.  When you compare various digital devices in your system and conclude none are better than what you have, then that should be qualified with the statement, in your system.

Bits is bits is a greatly oversimplified viewpoint for digital audio.  Most of the posters on these forums have found digital audio to be a much more complex and sometimes bewildering hobby.  It's better to keep an open mind but still be somewhat skeptical when someone is trying to sell you something.  Meanwhile, many of us are hobbyists eager to share our knowledge.

As for the depreciation of expensive audio gear- pick your poison.  Expensive cars depreciate 15% per year on average- well, so do cheap cars.  Expensive wine is worth nothing once you drink it.  High end audio gear tends to hold its value after its initial depreciation.  If you are focused only on cost then great sound will continue to elude you.

@russbutton congrats on putting together a satisfying system with an equally satisfying digital setup and doing so for very reasonable money. Sometimes I wish I had never ventured down the digital rabbit hole. There is amazing sound to be found down said hole but I can sure imagine the small vacation home I could have owned had I not. Best wishes and thanks for the reply.