Streaming - getting set up

I agree with @patrickalston directionally, but i don’t think it is accurate to say that the Aurender platform is USB optimized across the board. There is a case to be made that the N200 might be better using the USB output because it doesn’t have the OCXO clock for the S/PDIF and AES/EBU outputs, but the N20 does, and I generally prefer the non-USB output when using the N20. 

And of course, yes, the Matrix NT-1 is a *lot* cheaper than the N20.

@kirkwallace like I said, I'm just a stranger on the web. Nobody need listen to me My bigger point is that the suggestions offered by others may not be the best solutions to exploit the OP's DAC.  I think that if the op asks AI the questions I suggested, he'll be better prepared to make a good choice.  Too many folks throw out a suggestion without explaining why it's the correct one for its intended use.

 For example, that someone suggested the OP could do better than his current reference-level machine simply by spending $3k is nuts.

@patrickalston I understand. And I said i agree with you directionally. 

@bobheinatz 

The best streamer you could get for that player is Playback's own MPS-X. 

The reason it will outperform Aurender, Innuos and all others is because it outputs Playback's proprietary Plink optical connection to your MPS-5. 

Pretty much bang on your budget for this one unit, but you don't need an expensive USB or AES cable, you just need the Plink optical. 

mps-x review

https://www.playbackdesigns.com/docs/productsheets/PlaybackDesigns_Edelweiss_MPS-X_ProductBrief.pdf

And in the future if you wanted to upgrade your MPS-5 to a 8 series dream player or DAC the streamer will still be compatible, relevant, and world class.