750$ Intel NUC vs $6000 Aurender N200: I don't hear the difference

@musiclover1 Im using an Audioquest cinnamon I think.

@audphile1 you make a really good point.  It’s still a valid comparison, in the sense that one combination sounds better than another, but not in the context of this discussion.  Easy with the keyboard warrior tough guy nonsense though, please.  I made an honest mistake with respect to comparing dac to dac or streamer to streamer.  Some constructive criticism is always welcome.  I know just enough to know I don’t know much and I have plenty to learn.  We all make mistakes.

@audphile1 Thanks!  It’s labor of love, I suppose, like everyone else on here.  Slowly learning about things, what I like and trying different components.  

I’ve had a similar experience, although not with components that are as expensive.  My current setup of a MacBook Pro streaming via Tidal or Qobuz native apps into a Denafrips Hermes and Pontus II sounds better than the HiFi Rose 250a they replaced.  The Pontus by itself outperformed the dedicated streamer.  I just recently added the Hermes.

@audphile1 I did get your point and I appreciate you making the distinction. In my haste to add something to the conversation I forgot that the HiFi Rose is an all in one unit and, to your point, all I did was confirm that I like one component stack better than another and did not compare dac to dac or streamer to streamer. I got rid of the HiFi Rose before I got the Denafrips, but that would have been an interesting experiment to run though. Another reminder to think before speaking or, in this case, typing! By the way, I like your system!