Next step up on the streaming food chain?


I’ve been enjoying my Auralic Aries G1 for nearly 3 years now. If I wanted to explore a significant step up in my streaming quality, and not a small incremental increase in quality, what devices should be on my short list? Aries G2.2? Grimm MU1? Something else? The G1 is awfully good, however, I still perceive an extra layer of dimensionality and roundness with my analogs set up (see profile for details) that I would love too achieve in the digital realm. Or am I barking up the wrong tree, and should I focus on my DAC, a Bricasti M1, and try as non-oversampling R2R dac? FWIW, I think the Bricasti is excellent- it was the first DAC I ever heard that made me say- "that sounds terrific" instead of saying "that sounds great for digital"

128x128zavato

I owned the G1.1 and G2.1, both excellent units. However, I now use an Aurender A20. In a different league with this gear. 

@jasonbourne71 

indeed - the notion of stereo music reproduction is an illusion, aka, a figment of the imagination. None the less, we try to achieve goals. Those goals may differ person to person. 
 

Let’s just say I prioritize the illusion of roundness and dimensionality 

Playback Designs Edelweiss Streamer MPS-X. Thew penultimate streamer. You can do no better. 

@Carlsbad2 said

Edit to add:  I don't think Auralic does Roon.  Grimm does not work without roon.  so it may not be a good choice for you.

Auralic are Roon certified Endpoints