STREAMER - WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

Just get a decent (e.g. Cardas Clear) USB cable.  Keep the A8.

The A8 has wide options, it support essentially every streaming service, internet radio (sometimes useful for NPR), Apple Airplay - better sound from You Tubes - etc.

If you have CDs to rip, you can add an SSD and a cheap USB drive from Staples - or you can play CDs.

When you use USB the data is buffered in the DAC and the DAC's clock is in control, avoiding distortions caused by jitter in the source.

See @mclinnguy he summarizes it well

I can happily second the recommendation of the Grimm MU2 if that is on your list of considerations. It has been truly revelatory for me and I cannot believe the quality of sound I get from a simple one box solution, connected to my active ATC speakers.

@rsure  I envy anyone with ATC active spkrs! spkften thought about selling everything and buying the active 100s but it's so hard to demo anything 

@fire_water I have the 50 ASLs which I bought after having heard the 150 ASLs. I went through a long process of auditioning multiple speakers and just when I thought I had found THE ones (was between Audio Note and Devore O96s) I heard the ATCs and while different sounding they seemed to handle every genre of music much more effortlessly. The option to just simplify everything with just the MU2 and the active ATCs and save me a world of decisions with streamer/dac/pre/power/ICs etc. was enough for me to pull the trigger. Do try and audition a pair when you can!

@patrickalston 

RESPONSE:  Of course, I agree with you on taking my own advice.  I’m only saying that my research tell me that an AES optimized DAC will not allow the BAT to perform to its potential.  I’m sure the N20 is great, it’s just not the best for for the BAT because the BAT REX 3 DAC is a USB‑first, asynchronous DAC the DAC’s internal clock becomes the master clock and the N20’s biggest engineering advantage (its clock) does not apply to USB.  So, if I selected the N20 and connected using USB, then I’ve wasted money paying for technology (the N20’s master clock) because the BAT’s clock controls the audio stream.  

Am I missing something?

Sorry if this has been mentioned before,  from personal experience, the USB output is quite good on the N20.  You’re really not sacrificing anything on that end.  I do see your point about not spending money on something that you won’t use, unless the BAT DAC has an AES input? We carry many of the brands listed in this thread, they all have their own strengths and weaknesses, but you can really go wrong with Innuos, Aurender , Grimm or Antipodes

Cheers

James