Suggestions for a streamer only (I have a great DAC)

I tried dCS network bridge for a couple of weeks. It is good. A lot of details. I however went another path and invested in a Theoretica Applied Physics Bacch SP- Adio. It is in addition to a streamer, a DAC and a preamp and a 3D sound processor. Goes without saying it outperformed the dCS solution with 50% maybe more.

Good luck! 

I may add the dCS network bridge run on Mosaic, a software you are familiar with from your other dCS products. Mosaic was ok as a software. If I had the the dCS set up you have I would not look any further. There are still a few in stock here and there, although the model is dis-continued. You can probably pick up one in the 2nd hand market for an affordable price. 

@naperaudio 

I would really consider the dCS Network bridge. It is built like a tank, a no nonsense product, as ambitious as the rest of the dCS line. 

The reason it is dis-continued is dCS could not find economics in it, I was told. It is just to expensive to produce, and dCS struggles to have a product like that as an entry product (although that was the idea).

Now Bartok seem to be the entry level product and it comes with a DAC, but I was told the streaming tech in the Bartok is the same as the NB.

The reason there are not many around is probably people stick on to it. 

If you like the dCS sound (I believe it to be very British analytical, extremely detailed, with good separation) you should not be disappointed. 

I audited a black one, with stunning discrete looks. So maybe just wait for the right opportunity in the market :-). 

Now, the Bacch-SP Adio is a different animal as it addresses the long known issue of Cross-talk that most convectional stereo system battles with to a degree. For me it works well and I (my ears) benefit 100% of Cross-talk elimination. 

The Bacch make the stage significant deeper and wider, and it manages to in a very obvious way increase separation between instruments and vocals in the music. It also brings the sound stage from in between the speakers closer to your listening position and kind of wraps the music around you, and by that creates somewhat of a musical "halo effect".

An extra ordinary experience and to me very pleasant. This effect is what Theoetica Applied Physics refer to as true 3D. But basically the only thing it has done is to eliminate the Cross talk issue.  

Now the results varies with the musical material (dependent on skill and ambition in the recording studio) as such that you play through the Bacch. It can´t make bad recordings fantastic, but so far I have found it improves all recordings, some more then others. Pink Floyds "Time" and "Money" are good examples where it really excels. 

So my answer must be yes. The Bacch does not make a small change, it makes a significant change, easily auditable through a simple A-B test. Because of course it is fully possible to listen without the Cross Talk Elimination algorithms working their magic on the signal. 

In such case you will only benefit from the Bacch Adio´s super fast streaming capacity (Roon Core based computer anchored), its DAC and its inbuilt anti-jitter word clock.

But it might not be for everyone. A friend of mine tried it in his system with the high end MBLs omni-directional speakers and felt his MBLs basically created this effect by them self so opted not to implement it. But he agrees it opens up any conventional direct streaming system he have heard it play in. As reference his system is ca 250,000 USD as it stands.  

My system is more humble. I run the ML ESL 11 paired with the Bryston 4B3 and there is a Torus power conditioner and a few cords from Shunyata, Luna and Wireworld as foundation. It brings this system to another level (my humble opinion) and it was worth investing a considerable amount into it.  

@headphonedreams

+1 for the Metronome. I had that home for a weekend and tested it against the dCS. It is as well built as the dCS and very musical sounding. The dCS digs out more details do, I find. I also prefer Mosaic before M-connect (the generic software that Metronome use and many others).

Theoretica Applied Physics offer a few different configurations. The "Adio" for instance "doubles" as a streamer. However, as I use it, a PC or a MAC is needed in the network as a Roon core. It comes with a dedicated Mac 10.5inch Ipad from where music is operated via the Roon interface. It can however be configured to be a Roon core and end-point player and Tidal/Qobuz streamer, but I prefer to handle Roon outside of it.

In my case I was looking for a strong streamer solution foremost, but found the machine add additional features (Cross talk eliminated 3D sound) I today can not live without. As it comes with a good DAC and a pre-amp I sold most of my other gear to justify the purchase. And now I keep the signal path as simple as possible.

Power amplifier + Bacch + Speakers.