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@charles1dad @happystreamer
Here’s another recent review of the Mano ULTRA mkIII Farad Music Streamer:-
https://www.audioenzo.nl/mano-ultra-mkiii-farad-music-streamer/
I have a Innuos Zenith and the Phoenix Network and USB on my main system. For my secondary system, I am strongly tempted to not try other streamers where the connection to the DAC is via I2S, and not as expensive as devices on the Innuos ecosystem.
The Holo Audio Red streamer is another option. It can serve as a DDC or a streamer.
Any updates on your end as to where you are now on your streamer journey? It sure is going to be a long journey ... LOL.
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Hi @dcpillai : in the meantime I had read some nice things about the ifi Zen Stream (powered by an external lineair power supply) connected via usb to the denafrips ares2 DAC. So I decided to give it a try and bought a secondhand external power supply (for EUR 80,-) and secondhand ifi Zen stream (EUR 230). This again was a big step up (20%) as compared to the upgraded Blueosound Node2 with external shanti power supply connected via Atlas Coax to the denafrips2 DAC :-)
So for now, my setup is: English Electric switch ==> ifi Zen stream (via USB) ==> Denafrips Ares 2 ==> Kinki Studio EX M1+ (with Sparkos opamps upgrade) ==>Focal Kanta 2
Both the English Electric switch and the Ifi Zen Stream have external lineair power supplies which do make a audible difference! Very happy for now and the upgrade virus seems to be dormant at the time ;-)