That's a pretty long list of requirements!
A couple of points sort of contradict each other; #4 & #7. Output will be digital to a dac or the unit will include a dac and then it would have analog outputs. There's no way to have analog outputs without first converting the signal to analog within the unit.
The Aurelic Aries Mini for $549 gets close to what you're after. It's got the dac built in but also digital out to use with a better dac. There is a path to later upgrade the power supply which reportedly makes a big difference too. The nicest thing is that it uses the same Lightning DS app as the more expensive Aurelic players, so you get the development support that is for a larger community including those who bought the pricier models. (That would give me a little more comfort).
If you can live with USB digital output instead of coax, that will affect how many products meet your needs. Most are focusing on USB output.
Personally, I am more excited about tackling this problem with the approach used by Sonore in their Sonicorbiter SE and the pending microRendu. Basically small single-purpose linux-based computer 2" cube with ethernet input, small psu, USB & optical or USB output. You store your music on any NAS connected to your router. The $299 Sonicorbiter SE is based on Cubox. The $640 microRendu is new custom hardware that is basically a specialized USB output including Regen type tech designed by John Swenson. Both can be used in 5 different modes that allow control from tons of software including Squeezebox, Lumin, Linn Kazoo, HQ Player(computer needed for that one) and many others. Check out threads on computeraudiophile for the details if you are interested. Just too much detail to explain it all.
I have no interest in these, I'm just a future customer on the waiting list to get the microRendu when it's released in the next month or so. These products are potentially gamechangers in computer audio and have many folks a lot smarter than me very excited. cheers,
Spencer
A couple of points sort of contradict each other; #4 & #7. Output will be digital to a dac or the unit will include a dac and then it would have analog outputs. There's no way to have analog outputs without first converting the signal to analog within the unit.
The Aurelic Aries Mini for $549 gets close to what you're after. It's got the dac built in but also digital out to use with a better dac. There is a path to later upgrade the power supply which reportedly makes a big difference too. The nicest thing is that it uses the same Lightning DS app as the more expensive Aurelic players, so you get the development support that is for a larger community including those who bought the pricier models. (That would give me a little more comfort).
If you can live with USB digital output instead of coax, that will affect how many products meet your needs. Most are focusing on USB output.
Personally, I am more excited about tackling this problem with the approach used by Sonore in their Sonicorbiter SE and the pending microRendu. Basically small single-purpose linux-based computer 2" cube with ethernet input, small psu, USB & optical or USB output. You store your music on any NAS connected to your router. The $299 Sonicorbiter SE is based on Cubox. The $640 microRendu is new custom hardware that is basically a specialized USB output including Regen type tech designed by John Swenson. Both can be used in 5 different modes that allow control from tons of software including Squeezebox, Lumin, Linn Kazoo, HQ Player(computer needed for that one) and many others. Check out threads on computeraudiophile for the details if you are interested. Just too much detail to explain it all.
I have no interest in these, I'm just a future customer on the waiting list to get the microRendu when it's released in the next month or so. These products are potentially gamechangers in computer audio and have many folks a lot smarter than me very excited. cheers,
Spencer