Recommended streamers/servers?

More and more Highend companies such as DCS, Bricasti,
and others have found ,by having the Dac, and streamer on a totally isolated streamer board ,by having several linear power supplies, pre,and post regulation and filtering it is a more direct 
signal path ,lower noise ,as well as 2 less cables when properly implemented  the latest in digital technologies,with more advancements to come , not cheap, but in many cases less mine

@Audionoobie I don't comment very often but I have to say, if you're not taking advantage of the fibre option on the X1 you're doing yourself a disservice. I've owned the X1 for a little over 2 years now after owning the T2 and in my system the difference is night and day. Compared to the Ether connection it's like listening at a higher resolution. In my opinion it's how the unit was intended to be operated.Though I do acknowledge that results may be system dependent as the X1 is only as good as the rest of the chain will allow.  

Lumin U1 mini streamer with Sbooster PS plus Schiit Yggdrasil DAC
sounds phenominal. Is within your budget. (U1 mini with Yggy sounds better than T2)

@efoo

I recommend looking at Aurender… I had a Auralic Aries G2 and my Aurenders are much better. Aurender makes streamers at many price points. Streamers make a huge difference! I have experience with streamers from $200 (PC, as well as separates) to $22,000. Also, actually Linn makes a good high end streamer. I now own a Aurender W20SE… and what at first looked like an exorbitant amount of money ($22K), instantly sounded like a cost effective deal when I heard it in my system.


You can see my systems if you click on my ID.

RaspberryPi w/upgrade power supply, RopieeXL for Roon, Wifi, USB out to Matrix Spidif 2, Denafrips DAC.

My journey has bin Bluesound Node, Bluesound Node 2i, LUMIN D2 and least but not last LUMIN T2 witch I will keep for a long time. (I will not be using the word endgame with a streamer/dac) Biggest improvement would be going from Node 2 to LUMIN D2, but most impressive leap wold be T2. 

I went with an Aurender N10 and never looked back.  Great sound, dead quiet and LOVE IT.

I purchased Aurender N10 based on many great reviews however at the end I was disappointed. I really wanted to keep it as it was a nice and convenient device and it did improved some sound properties (bigger stage, precision, details). To my ears Aurender N10 sounds too technical, yes precise but sterile and boring at the end. Still searching for the streamer which would sound more ‘organic’ and musical.

@marek28

What was your associated equipment? What you describe is not the sonic signature of Aurender. Was it more than two years old? They redesigned the power supply about a year and a half ago, although that by itself would not account for the sound you describe. Perhaps it was defective?  I own two Aurender streamers and heard several other models in good systems. 

Whoever tells you the streamer does not make a difference only the DAC has no clue what they are talking about or just can’t afford to test higher end streamers. It is a compelling argument that bits are bits and either they arrive or not. I have tried streamers from $500 to $5,000 and there is a huge difference between streamers assuming you have a resolving system. Which one will work best in a particular system is an individual choice but the Auralic Aries G1 changed everything for me so it deserves to be on anyone’s list for a test. If the price seems high the results are accordingly. The Aries Femto and Mini are outstanding values in the used market. While not quite as resolving as the G1 I could happily live with either one. 

make sure you use a powerful one.

I was skeptical at first but after trying a Innuos Zen Mk3, I am now a believer. With Innuos 2.0 fw, beats my dedicated NUC Roon setup.