Help settle a streaming argument!

polkalover, Yes, I did answer your question with examples. What “killer DAC”? I don’t know if my MHDT modified Orchid DAC is killer but it’s what I have settled on. Had the 2i in front of it, replaced it with the Zen. No contest, not even close. 

Well have you done it? I’ve been messing around with entry level streamers over the last few months, the Node 2i, all three Wiim products and a Zen Stream. The Zen came out on top but it’s not user friendly. Keep my Node 2i. I started researching higher end streamers and decided to purchase a used one thinking if it didn’t make a difference in sound quality I could probably make my money back selling it. I purchased an Innuos Zen Mk 3. It’s staying in my system. Completely blows away the above streamers and I had no expectations that it would. Totally transformed my system. Smooth, organic is the word I keep using to describe it. Everything increased- sound stage, depth, blacker back ground, full. Great tone. I think in goes back to the source being very important as Linn says. I added LPS’s to my streaming front end. I say get the best streamer you can afford, add a decent DAC and when you get the upgrade bug move into a better DAC. 

OP - I upgraded my 2i with the PD Creative board and added a LPS. Was the out come better than a stock 2i, yes it was. I used the 2i as a steamer only. For years I’ve done a lot of sideways moves with gear and recently decided to bite the bullet actually upgrade my digital front end. After weeks of research I concluded that the streamer would be the first piece to upgrade. Seriously, the Zen Mk 3 completely trounces my 2i/LPS. It really feels like an end game piece of gear for me. No reason to move my DAC out. Stop with the word games and honestly at this point I could care less what you believe. Do the work yourself, you haven’t put enough time into it. Buy a used higher end streamer and try it. If you don’t hear a difference sell it you might lose a little bit of coin or even break even then report back to us. It might be ear opening!

curiousjim- I don’t have an answer for you. I don’t have NAS and I'm just storing the ripped CD’s in the Innuos.