Upgrading from Holo Red, need i2s, external clock input & HQplayer NAA

@jbuddha882 The Holo Red is a very well engineered device and provides solid quality and ample capabilities at its price point. That being said, its compact footprint and low price carry limitations in aspects like power supply and clocking platform (when I2S or SPDIF outputs are used). I am also an HQP 6 user, but not using a Red.

If you have the budget for the Matrix Audio NT-1, I would take that route without reservation. This streamer is a big step upward in performance, and others who have made this same upgrade report clear improvements, no doubt due to the NT-1’s excellent power and noise architecture and superior onboard clocking platform (I2S). Matrix supports HQP NAA, so it should be a hassle-free swap. 

Danny Richie from GR Research is suppose to do a series about streaming.  He just mentioned it in a previous video.  From what he mentioned some friends of his went down a rabbit hole and compared a bunch of less expensive equipment with some more expensive equipment and found some ways to get great sound inexpensively.

You are headed down the same path I am.  I was deciding between the Red and the NT-1.  Currently using the streamer/NAA in the Gustard R30 in the interim from my M4 via Ethernet.  Will be following this thread to see what you end up with.  Have you looked at the Eversolo T10?  I've not had a chance to deep dive on it yet.  

@greatdivide71 I have decided not to risk the eversolo route, I’ve heard it has a great app, but every other aspect of sound and build components are cheaper. I’m going to save for the Matrix NT-1. I’m very invested in externally clocked components, and i2s, so this is the most logical no-brainer. It’s a wonder to me how the Red performs so well, over i2s without any ext clock. Is this FPGA black magic? Anyhow that’s a great DAC, and there may be a sound increase from you having less cable paths.? But Paul from PS Audio is clear that the Mac is phenomenal with a program like HQP or Bitperfect. He personally used one for years. Now I just need to see if the update from HQPlayer 5 -> 6, that was just released (I’ve only done one session of testing) is going to fix the connection and drop out issues. 
Running the Mac mini headless, with a HDMI ghost display port adapter, I still have to pull out a keyboard and mouse 1/3 of the times I choose to start playing music, cuz Roon and HQP have some sort of connection problem or another. Both are hard wired Ethernet to my AfterDark NetONE switch

@jbuddha882 Good point on the simpler signal path going directly to the R30 and it also uses the R30's clock.  I am interested in the improvement of I2S & USB over my current signal path (if any).  For I2S I was definitely leaning towards the NT-1 over the Red for multiple reasons.  

My M4 is headless as well with an HDMI ghost display adapter and I use screen sharing from my MacBook to log in when needed.  It has been fairly stable.  Maybe because Roon is on he same M4?  The only issue I've had is with the R30 struggling with DSD512.  I get a loud hiss even with DSD Direct/NOS.  So I use DSD256 and that works great for me.  With DSD upsampling and some of the filters I was using, processing was running around 1x for 24-bit/48 kHz tracks which caused issues so another reason for me to use DSD256.  I just downloaded 6 but not sure there is anything helpful for the M4 based on what I've read.  Hopefully it helps with stability for you.