Higher End DACs

Given the rapid pace of change of both DACs and streamers I’d be hesitant to combine the two, especially at the higher end where budget is less of a constraint. Find the right DAC based on your tastes/system and then add a good streamer. I’d recommend looking at Innuos and Lumin for a streamer among others and then start a hi-res Qobuz subscription for 15 bucks/month. As someone who recently took the plunge, definitely enter the world of streaming asap. It will change your music-listening life dramatically for the better.

As for DACs, as mentioned above things are moving fast so if you haven’t done so I’d recommend reading reviews of the various models that interest you as well as the various DAC technologies (Delta Sigma, R2R, OS vs. NOS, tube vs SS, etc.) and their respective sonic traits to see which ones most do what you’re looking for and go from there.  Best of luck.

Ayre QX-5 /twenty or QX/8  depending on budget deserve consideration.
A little pricey but QX/5 was a game changer for me.

DCS has very well respected DACs  and priced accordingly.

thanks for these thoughts.  I had started to come across streamer brands like Ayre and Innuos.

I guess some additional points/context of where I am coming from and sorting though from a cross forum posting:

In general, it looks like there are 3-4 potential price points that I am looking at (+/- 5k, 10k, 20k, 20-30k). I am fairly comfortable up to the 20k point, assuming meaningful benefit over the lower price points. I suppose if there really was a marked difference in getting a true game changer at 20k+ or so that could be done, as well. I was just going to do a D1100 to fit with the rest of my system...but I am just hesitant about it. Not sure digital is the brands forte, the specs look decidedly less than other brands (even at significantly lower price points), not thrilled with some of the functional implementation (e.g. muting, popping, etc).

I should also add, the higher the price point the more interested I may become in getting a streamer/dac combination - again, unless the SQ benefits just dictate worrying about the streamer separately...in which case, i might be inclined to take a longer acquisition path (ie more expensive standalone DAC, interim streamer solution, upgrade streamer at later point, etc.).

I am not positive at what price points diminishing returns truly kick in, what point the context of my system would dictate not being worth going higher, and/or just given the rapid evolution of the segment it doesn’t make sense to outlay more.

These are some of the current thoughts running through my head (ie system context, meaningful gains in SQ, at least a decent period of time to ward off obsolescence).

Nice kit so far...  You probably owe it to yourself to hear a Chord Dave and the Hugo M scaler...  And have a look at the Lumin U1 or U1 Mini as a streamer...