Do you have a perfect digital marriage?

DC-powered 2016 Mac Mini -> Pi2AES streamer -> Doge 7 DAC.  Big, 3D analogue sound.  Sounds pretty good to me, and my listening buddies agree.  The Pi2AES is $199, plus $80 for a Raspberry Pi 4 and $80 for Gentooplayer operating system.  Same with the Doge, which I got on sale four years ago for $1000.  Sabre DAC with all-tube output, no op amps, built like the proverbial tank.

I'd like to hear some newer DACs with I2S input, like a Holo or Denafrips, but I'm not in a hurry.  The Doge uses the coax from the Pi2AES.  I might try to borrow something from a friend at some point.

I have a happy marriage but I have a problem with monogamy.  I’ve dated a lot of streamers and DACs over the years.  I’m now in a committed relationship with my Innuos Zen Mk3 streamer with a Pine Tree Audio USB cable connected to my Holo Audio Cyan 2 DAC.
 

It’s very quiet and revealing without any sibilance.   A wide soundstage with good width and depth and instrument separation.  I like describing music the way people talk about wine.  It’s a playful little system with transparent highs, lows and mids with just a touch of warmth where needed.  Pair it with Qobuz and hard rock and enjoy with your favorite adult beverage.  A marriage made in musical heaven.  

Innuos Pulsar -Mola Mola Tambaqui

I like it

My DAC journey started with a Griffin iMic, then on to various budget units like Roland UA-1G, Apogee Duet… the plan was to digitize all my vinyl. Ha! I’ve had an LP12 since 1983, so I decided to listen to records and treat digital as a separate if not equal source. The Duet had a really nice sound, but I started to sample iFi products. Their Zen Signature was very listenable until I recently decided to buy one piece of kit and purchased a Linn Akurate DSM/3. Their now outdated Katalyst DAC sounds really good and I’ve decided that this is the sweet spot for me. A one-box solution makes sense in my little living room/listening room, and allows me to have vinyl, streaming and my own digital library available painlessly.

Linn Akurate DSM/3>Linn AV5125 Aktiv>Linn Keilidhs  Linn LP12 

Qobuz & Digital thru CAT5 from Mac Mini M1 Roon Core

Roon is easier, but the Linn app is pretty functional too.

NAS via LAN to WinPC/Jriver/DiracLive.

WinPC/Jriver/DiracLive via LAN(Ravenna) to Merging Hapi II D/A

Pristine.