I can only speak about the streamers that I have heard, and they range in price from a $200 (Logitech, SHM) to $3500 (Bryston).
I currently use a second Generation Node in two mid Fi systems, and in my 2 channel system, a Melco N100 and CA CXN2. The DAC in the 2 channel system is a Bryston DAC3 and every streamer mentioned has been paired with it at some time. I also have played files using the Network Function of an Oppo 105 and 203 in all systems.
The cheapest of the streamers sounded a little thin compared to the pricier ones. I can honestly say the Melco and the CA sound as good as the Bryston (they all sound really good, the Bryston OS was terrible). The Node was perhaps 3/4 of the way closer to the pricier streamers. I heard the current Node at a dealer a few months ago and it was very impressive.
I haven’t heard Auralic, Innous, Naim, dCS….
So my conclusion based on my experience is that into the same DAC, the point of diminishing return was around $1200, roughly what Paid for the Melco and the CA. Any can do whatever they want to do with their money, but for me, the only way I would buy a new streamer is if it had some feature that comes down the pike in the future that can’t be added by a software upgrade.
I currently use a second Generation Node in two mid Fi systems, and in my 2 channel system, a Melco N100 and CA CXN2. The DAC in the 2 channel system is a Bryston DAC3 and every streamer mentioned has been paired with it at some time. I also have played files using the Network Function of an Oppo 105 and 203 in all systems.
The cheapest of the streamers sounded a little thin compared to the pricier ones. I can honestly say the Melco and the CA sound as good as the Bryston (they all sound really good, the Bryston OS was terrible). The Node was perhaps 3/4 of the way closer to the pricier streamers. I heard the current Node at a dealer a few months ago and it was very impressive.
I haven’t heard Auralic, Innous, Naim, dCS….
So my conclusion based on my experience is that into the same DAC, the point of diminishing return was around $1200, roughly what Paid for the Melco and the CA. Any can do whatever they want to do with their money, but for me, the only way I would buy a new streamer is if it had some feature that comes down the pike in the future that can’t be added by a software upgrade.