STREAMER - WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

You definitely don't want to use the built-in DAC with that streamer. I had one and found it no better than using a Mac Mini as a streamer. The T8 I think is supposed to be superior but I haven't tried that one. 

I almost always agree with Soix but in this case he's just not accurate when he implies that no streamer with a screen can be considered top-notch. The HiFi Rose RS130 is a fantastic streamer and has probably the biggest screen available. I LOVE that screen, even though I use an ipad, too. It's like having album art on constant view but with a progress bar that can be viewed from my listening position. Or you can switch the display to a wide assortment of meters if you like, though I prefer the default screen. You can also turn the screen completely off if you want to listen in the dark. It's the first streaming product I've tried that produced a significantly better sound than anything I had tried before it. It also has every type of output you could want, which is super convenient. 

I am positive that the other "top" brands also sound excellent but the RS130 is the bargain of premium streamers. It's so good that I've never even been tempted to try to upgrade from it. 

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@hifihandyman It’s good to see another with one of the BAT unicorns.  Your combination with RS130 is near the top of my list.  In the (very) short run, I’ll use my A8 to stream.

@soix – Ditch the screen?  Ugggh, that’s a tough one even though I know that I can use a tablet to control the device.  One of the features of my Eversolo is that don’t like is that the screen is hard for me to read. 

@audphile1, @mattmiller – The N20 is on my list, but not sure that it’s 2x the money over the RS130.  Especially, since that savings would go a long way towards the Sonus Faber Amati’s that I have my eyes on.   

@8TH-note wrote, “I seriously doubt you will hear a difference between the BAT DAC and the DAC in the Eversolo”

RESPONSE:  Interesting.  I had a different experience during a blind test.  The Eversolo is a good, mid-grade device. I’ve owned one since they first came out.  I was not a believer, but what I heard when auditioning BAT is that it and A8 do not share the same universe. (If they did, I would not be looking for a streamer)

@ericrhodes1  -  Yup, I’ve discovered the price spread across the units.  Based on what I read, the Eversolo T8, while a good value, is probably not a contender. . .not to throw shade on the T8, but I’m looking for my end game transport.  My list includes the RS130, the N20, and the Grimm MU1 and perhaps an Esoteric and I want to look at @fire_water’s suggestion, the Innuos Pulsar.   I hope to audition all in my system.

@cbowie88 wrote “I'd keep the Eversolo and add a DAC.”

QUESTION:  I’m curious, please explain why you would not upgrade from the Eversolo to a standalone streamer.

@shooter41 – Yes, the RS-130 display is hard to beat at any price point. . .It’s important.  I want to see the cover art and the other screens.  I miss the old VU meter on classic amps. . . . .and, yes, the T8 is a step up from the DMP-A8, but from what I read, it’s still a mid-tier unit.

@audphile, @soix – both wrote that the AES interconnect is the best path between streamer and the BAT DAC. 

RESPONSE:  Actually, USB is the best input for the BAT REX 3 DAC because of how BAT engineered the digital architecture inside the unit. The REX 3 is not a symmetric DAC where all inputs are equal—its internal clocking, galvanic isolation, and digital receiver topology are optimized around asynchronous USB, and the other inputs (AES, SPDIF) are secondary paths.

That is one nice DAC. Maybe I’m being a snob, but I would not have an eversolo nor a Hifi rose to mate with. Take a look at these guys. It’s what all the cool kids are using. Lol. https://innuos.com/
 

I started down the same path as you where the eversolo was my starting foray into digital audio as I built my 2 channel audio setup.  After replacing interconnects, speaker wire and power I first changed my dac to a Weiss dac501mk2 and used the a8 as a steamer.  It worked well enough but I also thought I was missing something.  I had remembered my local audio shop was going to begin carrying lumin so I went in for a demo.  I ended up purchasing the lumin U2 and it has been a huge upgrade.

Since you mentioned Grimm as an option I’m using the MU2 and the SQ is just outstanding.