Just bought an Elac Discovery DAC/Streamer that operates with Roon Essentials - basically a limited version of Roon Server. This licence comes free (lifetime) with the device. No Roon fees. Anyway, some of the limitations are a 30,000 track limit and no DSD. It plays 192/24 files. The hardware has been MQA certified, but Elac has not announced full MQA support yet - I think it will come in a future update of Roon Essentials. The device sounds fantastic. I’ve added a number of Internet FLAC radio stations that sound great. The device has two analog outs and one digital out - either an SPDIF or Optical. So you can output to a better DAC. Tidal is part of the Roon Essentials - so I'm on a 30 day Tidal trial at the moment. Spotify also works well with the Discovery. Good deal at Best Buy - clearance sale.
Decent DAC/Streamer
My current system has two potential weak links.
The first is my DAC through which I play ripped CDs (my primary medium). It is a Schiit Modi 2 Uber. To be honest, I don't really perceive any issues with it. It approximates played CDs fairly well.
The second is my streaming set up. Currently Amazon Music (so no hi-rez) via Apple TV to the Schiit via optical. There are noticeable SQ issues here that I think have more to do with the Apple TV than the file size from Amazon.
So I'm wondering about a DAC/Streamer combo. The Node2i certainly comes to mind and if it is likely to be an improvement over Apple TV AND its DAC would be superior to the Schiit Modi them it would probably be the lowest price solution.
I've also seen the Oppo Sonica (now discontinued) for sale in the $850-$1000 range and wondering about its DAC and ease of use with an iphone or laptop.
Open to other ideas but would say my potential future budget (there are currently _zero_ funds available) would be under $1000.
The first is my DAC through which I play ripped CDs (my primary medium). It is a Schiit Modi 2 Uber. To be honest, I don't really perceive any issues with it. It approximates played CDs fairly well.
The second is my streaming set up. Currently Amazon Music (so no hi-rez) via Apple TV to the Schiit via optical. There are noticeable SQ issues here that I think have more to do with the Apple TV than the file size from Amazon.
So I'm wondering about a DAC/Streamer combo. The Node2i certainly comes to mind and if it is likely to be an improvement over Apple TV AND its DAC would be superior to the Schiit Modi them it would probably be the lowest price solution.
I've also seen the Oppo Sonica (now discontinued) for sale in the $850-$1000 range and wondering about its DAC and ease of use with an iphone or laptop.
Open to other ideas but would say my potential future budget (there are currently _zero_ funds available) would be under $1000.