STREAMER - WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

@retiredaudioguy wrote "I'll repeat: Try the USB connection from your A8 to your streamer."

RESPONSE - That's all I can do until I find a replacement.  

@grannyring wrote "send your Eversolo into John Tucker of eXemplar Audio and he will install a very nice external power supply that will make you smile.  Just a huge sonic upgrade.  Find a nice separate dac and you are done." 

RESPONSE:  An interesting suggestion; however, although it's a good performer, the A8 is not a keeper for me.  I want a larger screen, larger physical size and better performance out of the box.  It's screen is too small for me.  If it was an end game transsport, then I'd consider mods.  Its future is the auction block or a move to a garage system.  

. . .and my DAC can't get any more done.  

Other than an easy-to-read screen and balanced outputs, what features should I look for in an endgame streamer that will deliver a significant performance boost? 

Which is more important: 

• Screen 
• Endgame streamer 

I think most people feel they are mutually exclusive. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. 

AFAIK, there are only 2 "high end" streamers with a screen, and these links may be of interest: 

https://www.audioshark.org/threads/critical-listening-mode.20302/

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/aurender-n20-music-server/

Oops, sorry, I didn’t answer one of your questions/claims:

4) You claimed: “FACT:  Jitter does not transfer from a USB‑oriented streamer to an asynchronous DAC.  Not timing jitter. Not clock jitter. Not transport jitter.
It is blocked by design. (MY FACE IS BLUE)”. And you had previously attempted to refute actual evidence I provided that showed otherwise, and claimed that the Dragonfly used adaptive, not asynchronous, usb.  You then never responded to my counter that the Dragonfly was indeed asynchronous, so the jitter numbers from Paul Miller’s tests demonstrated that you were incorrect, that a streamer using asynchronous usb can indeed introduce additional jitter to a dac.  Here’s the blurb from Audioquest regarding the Dragonfly:

“AudioQuest worked with Gordon Rankin on the design for the original DragonFly. Gordon is a heavyweight in the audio world and worthy of a Google search. He’s the founder of Wavelength Audio, a brilliant designer, and the first to properly develop asynchronous USB for high-end audio. His company improved computer audio when it released the Wavelength Audio Cosecant at CES in 2004. All the DragonFly models have featured Gordon’s designs.”

And here’s another cut and paste from my previous post that you just ignored:

“why some measurements show streamer differences even with asynchronous USB—the explanation involves RF noise coupling into DAC clocks, which surprises a lot of engineers.”

@mclinnguy asked "Which is more important: Screen or Endgame streamer" 

RESPONSE:  Yes.  

Fortunately, I don't need to make a choice.  The more I think about this matter and the experience that I want to have with my endgame streamer, it's important to me to have a big chassis, easy-to-read screen, physical dimensions that are visually proportionate to the rest of my system, and great performance.  I believe that the Innuos Pulsar may be the better sonic performer than the rs130 based upon what I read, but there's no screen and I don't want to be limited to a tablet or phone.  I don't seek "Absolute Sound." 

The reality is, I don't believe that the differences between the RS130 and the Pulsar (and I've listened to neither) are significant enough to forego the screen. At this level, for a casual listener like me, I don't need to worry about being overly critical about two fantastic streamers.  I've made good equipment choices.  I want to get away from my system-building focus, enjoy the music and interact with the streamer in a way that works for me. 

I agree with @mclinnguy 

The most highly regarded separate streamers on the market appear to be:

Taiko Extreme and Olympus

Pink Faun Ultra

Innous Nazare

Antipodes Oladra

XACT S1 Evo

They all have one thing in common - no screen on the unit. Aurender is a notable exception. The screen interface is a tablet used as a control device. It appears to be an intentional design choice. Of course, it’s not likely a huge compromise, but it’s worth noting I personally find my gear too far away to see anything anyway so the lack of a screen is entirely immaterial to me. Just thought I’d mention it.

Best,