STREAMER - WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

I think @helomech is simply saying that generally speaking, tube gear is noisier than solid state, and therefore the benefits of spending more on streamers are diminished, given that the sonic difference across streamers are about noise levels.  There are some exceptions in tube amps and preamps, cases where their signal to noise ratios exceed 110 db for example, but it’s a good question to consider.  To substantialy oversimplify the point, if the difference between 2 streamers is that one has a 120 db snr and the other has a 115 db and, you will almost certainly not hear the difference between the two if your preamp has an snr of 95 db. Not a criticism, btw, as all 3 of my quality systems are tube-based.

@ted_b wrote "Given your recent DAC purchase and comments, you might consider Innuos’ track record in designing streamers with emphasis upon USB as the primary mode of digital transmission - a realm in which Innuos’ engineering excels. "

RESPONSE:  That’s EXACTLY what I’ve been saying.  If I purchased the N20 and ran it through the Rex DAC using AES,  then I would have paid for tech in the Rex that’s only available through USB.  Which is why the Innuos and the RS130 are the two DACs that I’m considering. 

@mdalton wrote "@helomech is simply saying that generally speaking, tube gear is noisier than solid state, and therefore the benefits of spending more on streamers are diminished, given that the sonic difference across streamers are about noise levels. "  

RESPONSE - Tubes are not as quiet as solid state.  No, secret there.  Where I don’t make the leap with him is when @helomech wrote but as long as he’s using the tube amps and BAT DAC, there is absolutely no way he is going to hear differences in streamer quality.  

@marco1 wrote ". . .you’re placing to much stock in that your DAC needs an asynchronous usb only streamer. "  

RESPONSE - No, I’m not.  The Rex doesn’t need USB.  USB is the input through which it performs best because the its architecture is built around Asynchronous USB clocking, Internal master clock control, low‑noise USB receiver stage, optimized USB power isolation and it offers the shortest signal path inside the DAC.  The DAC controls the clock --not the transport and the DAC’s clock is better than the streamer’s clock.    AES is only available on the Rex for compatibility, not performance.  USB Allows the REX 3 to run in Its Lowest‑Noise Mode.

---

I hear all of the enthusiasm for the N20 (and other streamers). I get it. I'm agnostic on all of the streamer suggestions to the extent that they are USB first, a top performer and meet my aesthetic requirements.

(BTW,I really appreciate everyone's responses.  Especially those that compel me to step back, research, and better understand this nuanced topic)

But he may be right.  The logic is sound.  Look at that thread I linked to before, and look at the SNR numbers - the SNR limit is the DAC, not the streamer.  The highest possible SNR using the AQ DAC is 104, regardless of whether you use a $200 streamer or a $30k streamer.  Is the leap you’re not sure of specific to your BAT gear?  If so, here are a couple data points:

1) In 2015, Stereophile measured the Rex SNR at less than 80 db snr (A weighted).

2) Today, BAT publishes an SNR, unweighted at greater than 100 db.

Those are two wildly different numbers.  If BAT’s numbers are right, they’ve really lowered noise quite a lot in the last 10 years.

to be clear, the BAT SNRs quoted above were for the 2015 and 2025 Rex preamps specifically.  Hifi news did a review of your DAC, and their A-weighted SNR measurements was 95 db:

hifi news rex 3 dac review

@mdalton The leap that I can't make with @helomech is the one that suggests thar "there is absolutely no way he is going to hear differences in streamer quality." 

With regard to SNR specs, we already know that tubes are noisier than solid state, but not sure how much that impacts my system's ability to express differences between two streamers.  SNR is one of the least relevant factors when comparing streamers in revealing systems.  

Here's what I've learned:  The differences between two streamers comes from  noise entering the DAC through the USB ground (Rex's quietest path), clock stability, Power‑supply noise inside the streamer (which someone mentioned earlier), and network isolation.  The BAT DAC has 3 noise control layers: 

1. Galvanic

2. Asynchronous clocking which reduces RF, ground noise and packet-timing variance.  

3. Local power regulation that places voltage‑regulating components close to the circuit blocks they power.

Its analog stage sets the noise flow through having balanced topology. zero global feedback, high‑current discrete analog output stage, and massive power supply reserves.  All of this means black backgrounds, stable imaging, and clarity.   Once I select a new streamer, what I hear using the A8 should be much improved.