Takedown of pricey servers, streamers OCD HiFi guy

Despite having mostly the same ingredients, some meals will be pedestrian, while others will be orgasmic. 

Allo Digione, RPi 3b+ Transport. Galvanic isolation, super low jitter, many software options, flexible platform. $250. Sounds amazing.  

"...buy an analog front end and you bypass all the format wars..."

There is no format war. We all agree that cassette is much better than LP.

The audio hobby is largely a fetish, one in which I admittedly indulge. Over the years I have concluded that there is little relation between price and sound quality. People tend to pay megabucks for a very minor return in audible improvements. But the stuff is cool and gratifies our irrational urge. Getting a new component that is unusual and well made is a big thrill. It’s just like the big cable controversy where people claim to hear all sorts of subtle differences and think they break in. Personally I prefer my $25 Beldens over my $600 Wireworlds, but so what? It’s all harmless if one can afford it.