@bhvf
I have 3 systems in my house, main room (music+hometheater hybrid setup), music room (dedicated 2 channel music), bed room (dedicated 2 channel music).
Single Synology DS220j NAS (170 bucks)+ Seagate IronWolf NAS Drive 4TB (100 bucks) serves all music files to all 3 rooms. Also serves all my movie blu ray rips to entertainment room.
Main Room: NAS ---> Yamaha WXC-50 streamer transport ---> Musician Pegasus R2R DAC (1100 bucks)
Music Room: NAS ---> Yamaha WXC-50 streamer transport ---> Denafrips Venus R2R DAC (~3000 bucks USD)
Bedroom: NAS ---> Technics ST-C700D (Networkplayer/streamer+DAC)
- The Yamaha WXC-50 streamer transport is a tiny and EXCELLENT streamer transport with excellent/max features that retails for 350 bucks. It can often be purchased on sale for 200 bucks. For a transport only, diminishing returns max out on the Yamaha. Built in DAC on it is no good. Use it as a TRANSPORT ONLY (intended design).
- Musician Pegasus and Denafrips Venus (with slightly different flavors) are the peak of R2R DACs for 99.99% of golden ear bats out there. Diminishing Returns max out after this. Kiss goodbye to all the MSB and Vermeer snakeoil DACs that cost as much as your car. Had them/Sold them.
- The Technics ST-C700D network player/streamerhas a unusallly good DAC implementation, sounds very much like the R2R Dacs i listed. Hence, It nullified the need for a standalone DAC in my bedroom. I am completely jawdropped by the value offered through the trickledown tech in this unit from their reference gear.