Best Audiophile desktop for under $2500?

@quantos - Thanks for sharing your list of components.   Fully agree with that type of build.  Is it safe to assume one could shave off some cost by going with 1 SSD vs. the three listed on your example?

Try iphone. In my case, streaming iphone renders better sound quality than my windown-based laptop and MacBook Air. I don't wish to provoke another debate but try yourself if interested.

jheppe815

thanks for the information and link to JCAT web site..

better sound, no fan sounds like it's for me.

Someone else mentioned a Beelink mini pc, which is a good idea for someone who may not be in neck deep measuring PC hardware.

- Get a AMD Ryzen based Beelink mini pc. The idea is to get a higher performance 6 or 8 core ones that are barely alive, at 1 or 2 % when you're streaming or playing music In other words, don't get a goofy low perf cpu and overwork it.

- Put it on a high quality linear power supply. Keces makes high quality ones, for example.

- Undervolt cpu/apu whilst maintaining stable operation (if pc hardware noob, skip this step)

- Disable Bluetooth, disable wifi. Use a ifi Ethernet filter before plugging in Ethernet cable

- Introduce a Audioquest jitterbug or one those chifi holo alternatives on the USB output.

- Plug in the dac. Install DAC driver. Enable ASIO always.

There is your audiophile PC streamer transport.