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

One technical point on the Plink / nagra link between the Playback streamer and the Nagra DAC. It’s not 100% compatible out of the box, a tweak needs to be implemented. Just saying this to manage expectations and to correct the record (if you read the excellent Hifi Advice review of the streamer, the reviewer says that’s it’s perfectly compatible, which isn’t quite true)

It wasn’t clear to me that the proprietary link was significantly better than AES, using my preferred reference level aes cable. The main advantage with the proprietary link is, I was able to get great sound without investing in a multi thousand dollar digital cable…the proprietary cable is “free” with the streamer.

@essrand 

One other slightly off topic observation (please forgive me in advance as I know you didn’t ask for this input):  I love your system.  It has a simple, classic elegance to it that i imagine must be very satisfying.  (As in the opposite of fussy.) I’ve never heard the Accuphase, though I’ve heard much positive about it.  At the same time, with the efficiency of those Devores, have you played at all with any lower power alternatives, including perhaps tubes?  Would love to hear your experiences if you have.

@metaldetektor Thanks for the heads up on the plink/nagralink compatibility and sonic expectations. Will keep that in mind.

@mdalton I have always preferred and used low power tube amps (Coincident 300b set amp, Nagra 300b push pull amp) with my Devores. The Accuphase was the exception. I say "was" because I am in the midst of trying to sell the Accuphase E-650 to fund a Shindo pre/power combo (which as you must know is all low power tubes).

@essrand 

oh, nice!   To me, Shindo is like climbing the mountain to meet buddha.  my other buddha is a Koetsu on a Garrard, which I have.  Please keep us apprised.

I received the Antipodes K50 yesterday.  It got delayed due to the bad weather.  Set-up was a breeze using their dashboard layout.  Since it has separate processors I can use Roon on the server and Squeeze for the player.  That lets me use the Roon app on my iPad.  I can also select Squeeze for the server too but I’ll try that later.  Right now I’m comfortable using Roon on my iPad.

The K50 needs 400 hours to full break-in.  At 27 hours I am already spellbound by the sound of this AC Hele’ne DAC/K50 combo.  I don’t understand how a streamer can make such a difference.  It’s hard to believe what’s possible until you hear it.