Your listening preferences and the type of DAC you are attracted to are the real deciding factor here. It would be wise to try a few things if you can; you can do a 30 day trial with the Transporter and your local dealer should offer at least a week-end courtesy with other products. Listen to a few options and make comments here about what you did or did not like and ask for feedback. We all have our preferences and tastes, it helps to know a little more about yours.
I did a side by side comparison with a stock Transporter against my Sonos network and PC Audio running FLAC files. I ran the Sonos through the Transporter to get a feel for it's DAC ('Miracle DAC') and then all three through my PS Audio DAC 3 for side by side comparison. The PS Audio DAC was much 'livelier' muscular at the bottom end but also had more 'digititis' at the high end. A good part of that may have been jitter, but I'm just reporting what I heard. The Transporter had the least 'offensive' sound here, but seemed to lack depth and dynamic when leaving the comfort of it's own DAC.
I ended up returning the Transporter since I didn't have a spare computer to put on the network (required for running SqueezeServer). I also have since moded both the Sonos box and the PS Audio DAC through Cullen Circuits. The mod really opened up the DAC's dynamics and staging and the Sonos is a lot cleaner and less 'glaring' now, but it's still a very 'aggressive' sound compared to the Transporter. The PC sound through the moded DAC is fairly comparable in range to the Sonos though not as good with staging and nowhere near as convenient.
All things considered, I will likely transition to the Transporter when I can pick up a computer or a software compliant NAS (very expensive). The stock Transporter provided the more analog and 'easy on the ears' sound I am looking for - and the possibility of the ModWright version could take it that much higher.
Hope that helps you understand some of the components you are looking at a little better. Listen to a few things and make some comments. It will help to if you mention the types of music you listen to, what you like about it, and what other components you will be using with your (eventual) chosen solution.
I did a side by side comparison with a stock Transporter against my Sonos network and PC Audio running FLAC files. I ran the Sonos through the Transporter to get a feel for it's DAC ('Miracle DAC') and then all three through my PS Audio DAC 3 for side by side comparison. The PS Audio DAC was much 'livelier' muscular at the bottom end but also had more 'digititis' at the high end. A good part of that may have been jitter, but I'm just reporting what I heard. The Transporter had the least 'offensive' sound here, but seemed to lack depth and dynamic when leaving the comfort of it's own DAC.
I ended up returning the Transporter since I didn't have a spare computer to put on the network (required for running SqueezeServer). I also have since moded both the Sonos box and the PS Audio DAC through Cullen Circuits. The mod really opened up the DAC's dynamics and staging and the Sonos is a lot cleaner and less 'glaring' now, but it's still a very 'aggressive' sound compared to the Transporter. The PC sound through the moded DAC is fairly comparable in range to the Sonos though not as good with staging and nowhere near as convenient.
All things considered, I will likely transition to the Transporter when I can pick up a computer or a software compliant NAS (very expensive). The stock Transporter provided the more analog and 'easy on the ears' sound I am looking for - and the possibility of the ModWright version could take it that much higher.
Hope that helps you understand some of the components you are looking at a little better. Listen to a few things and make some comments. It will help to if you mention the types of music you listen to, what you like about it, and what other components you will be using with your (eventual) chosen solution.