Another person going digital and full of questions

Hifi Rose RS150B

I think comparing the cost of good to exceptional digital components vs. good to exceptional analog components is something to take note of.

I would think spending $5K to $6K on an analog system would get someone good to exceptional sound that will not be outclassed down the road 10-15 years.

But I think spending $5K to $6K on a digital system will only give good to exceptional sounding for 5 years at best ....before it will be outclassed and out performed by better chips and designed audio gear.

About 2005 the Benchmark DAC1 was a great DAC for about $1K. By 2011 Chord, Weiss, Audio Note, Cambridge Audio, Lampizator and many other companies came out with exceptional sound DACs.

The Chinese gear that is coming out now, I think ,is proving that quality digital sound is changing fast IMHO.

@hilde45 ,

Though the guts of DAC's and streamers are pretty much the same, the difference between them is the software driving them.

I have no experience with Orchard, so I cannot comment on it's performance, but I will say that if you do compare your DAC paired with a BS Node, Aurender or Innuos, you will hear a difference in sound reproduction. Whether this is 'better or worse' will depend upon your taste.

Bob

In my system I have tried the micro rendu, for 3 years until really tired of drop outs, if you are very computer savvy this may suit, of course you need a computer hooked up to stream. Being frustrated I have tried the Bluesound Node, nice interface, internal DAC not great but I have several external DAC's including a denafrips ares 2, overall OK. Next was Lumin U1 mini, OK with Ares 2 but expensive and no linear power supply. Then Link Stack this sounded best, to me, but interface was a total disaster, do not buy if you are a mac user as you need a computer to set it up. Lastly has been a Lindemann Limetree Bridge 1 (not 2) virtually nil drop outs, those I get are 1 - 2 seconds and mostly likely due to my modem, I may get 1 every 100 hours, mR was several a session, it sounds really nice, totally ignore ASR review as all negative comments are based on a high distortion figure, which is actually at a level and frequency you will never hear, the interface is good probably ranks with Bluesound OS but a little behind Audirvana, of course this is personal, many people swear by Roon for instance, I have spent too many hours of my life swearing at Roon. If you like your existing DAC why waste money on another.

The current Node has an upgraded DAC that sounded pretty impressive when I heard it for an extended audition.  Bluesound stuff is far from perfect but it checks some boxes for being a good entry into streaming.  As @djones51 mentioned the UI is critical to the experience and Bluesound has one of the better ones, in addition to adding every streaming service imaginable.  It plays high resolution recordings and is good enough, especially when paired with a really good external DAC, that many people feel it is all they need.  And if doesn’t fit the bill, you haven’t blown the budget.  For people unsure about streaming, it remains a go to recommendation