DAC + Preamp + Room Correction, NAD C658 / MiniDSP SHD / ?

No streaming but other features are there.


https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9ea13-anthem-str-preamplifier-dac-solid-state

been thinking about this quite a bit meself...
#1. I was really interested in the NAD C658 but the unit has not been reviewed very well regarding SQ, generally. I do see a few folks that are happy. Dirac Live should make a difference.

#2. This is my favorite... the TEAC NT-505 at a whopping 2K USD. This kit has all kinds of electrical mojo and power torroidal bits with OP amps so good you can eat them, or at the very least become aroused by opening the box for a gander. I don't need the streamer though as I am using my MacBook Pro to Audirvana to Balanced XLR to powered Monitors...

#3. Today the nice lads at MassDrop have informed me of the Topping D70 with dual AKM4497 chips and balanced outputs for $425 USD. There is no MQA which I really want, but this unit can be turned into a streamer with some voodoo doodad and pressed into Television-HT duty at a later date... and all 4 outputs can be be used at the same time.

whatever I get I will probably buy a UMIX mic and either use REW or the Room EQ (100 bux USD) AU plugin that is directly integrated into Audirvana. The miniDSP SHD is cool but the DACs are older and I am not gonna buy the box just for an XLR balanced connection and Dirac Live + another outboard DAC. 

Two thumbs up, way up, for the minidsp SHD. In the past I have not been satisfied with the integration of my 2 open baffle Rythmik subwoofers with my German Physiks Carbon speakers. The SHD performs this function flawlessly. In addition the Dirac room correction is amazing. The unit is dead quiet with absolutely no speaker hiss.

while I am certain that the miniDSP SHD is a fine bit of kit and sounds great... it uses AKM 4490 chips while most current HiRez boxes are at 4497 chip line. I do not see that it will decode DSD natively. No MQA.
If you just want PCM and Dirac it will be outstanding. This is one box that I am very interested in hearing.

@canibefrank: In your consideration of MQA, I suggest you review the history of another lossy, proprietary codec that once was the darling of the audio magazines:  HDCD.  Today, it's lost in the dustbin of audio history; yet when new, purple prose came from the audio writers (in particular, one Robert Harley) of a volume and pitch not seen again until MQA came on the scene.

Like everyone, you will (and of course should) make up your own mind. It never hurts to revisit audio history.