It all comes down to tradeoffs and picking your poison. One box solutions provide elegant simplicity for a use case at a point in time. Separates sacrifice some of that simplicity for flexibility as your needs or technology changes.
When dealing with the same questions I found that separate NAS for file storage, separate linear power supply & optical isolation for the streamer/network player and separate DAC all were significant factors in the level of sound quality at any given price point. That and the control software UX that keeps it a joy vs. burden is where the rubber meets the road.
IMHO, the research phase you're in now is most of the pain you'll get pursuing separates. Once you have them, it won't be an issue.
Network stability, interference, software updates from Apple,etc. messing up what worked great yesterday, etc. are where you're find your aggravation.
Cheers,
Spencer
When dealing with the same questions I found that separate NAS for file storage, separate linear power supply & optical isolation for the streamer/network player and separate DAC all were significant factors in the level of sound quality at any given price point. That and the control software UX that keeps it a joy vs. burden is where the rubber meets the road.
IMHO, the research phase you're in now is most of the pain you'll get pursuing separates. Once you have them, it won't be an issue.
Network stability, interference, software updates from Apple,etc. messing up what worked great yesterday, etc. are where you're find your aggravation.
Cheers,
Spencer