My streamer doesn't have a good fantom centerDSP

@lanx0003 

That is what Stereophile says... that it is by performance category, I don’t know why, it is absolutely not true. I have proven this countless time over the last 40 years by comparing different class A or B. I don’t care that they say... it is "for the money". Never has the $1K class A performance even remotely came close to a $10K class A or for that matter has a $10K class B outperformed a $10K Class A. They may be from different sound groups, but performance is well evaluated in general... but within pricing tiers.

Where did you quote this from, @ghdprentice ?  I quoted mine  from https://www.stereophile.com/content/recommended-components-fall-2025-edition.  Why would Stereophile say something contradicting themselves?  

That is what Stereophile says... that it is by performance category, I don’t know why, it is absolutely not true. I have proven this countless time over the last 40 years by comparing different class A or B. I don’t care that they say... it is "for the money". Never has the $1K class A performance even remotely came close to a $10K class A or for that matter has a $10K class B outperformed a $10K Class A. They may be from different sound groups, but performance is well evaluated in general... but within pricing tiers.

I think TAS said something that hurt your pride in owning that $38k combo. If that’s not the case, the best way to clear this up is to pick up a Node Icon yourself, listen, and compare. Then you can judge firsthand whether the Node is really that good.

@lanx0003 the point of diminishing returns in digital one box solutions doesn’t strike at $499. I’m puzzled as to why you’ve decided to battle this out but I can tell you from experience that better dacs, streamers or dac/streamer combos get significantly better the higher up the chain you go. That’s just how it is. 
A honda civic can never compete with a BMW 7 series. This Cambridge can’t compete with the likes of even lower end Aurender and Lumin. The OP’s system is case in point - it’s lacking in comparison to his analog sources. When he acquires a used, even single box unit, in a $2,000 price point he’ll realize what he’s been missing. We shall wait and see. 
 

As to stereophile, I’ve owned several of their Class A rated components and they are rated accordingly within their performance category and that includes price. 

Again, @audphile1, you’re judging performance based on price. I’m honestly puzzled by how stubborn you’re being about this. If you want to argue, take it up with TAS. Why are you ignoring what they said — that the $38k combo sounds only slightly better than the $1k Node Icon?  Don't just be picky on the $499 MXN10.

@lanx0003 I’m being realistic. 
In a rating for MXN10 there’s a $$$ next to it. That signifies that it punches above its wait considering a retail price. 
 

With Stereophile and other publications you need to be able to read between the lines. Also, anyone who assigns percentage of improvement is full of 💩 as far as I’m concerned. In this hobby there are no absolutes.