Think ill just go with a lumin

I have had the U-1 mini, D2, A1 and X1 from Lumin all purchased from Dave Lalin aka AudioTroy in New Jersey and I live in Arizona.  Lumin is a wonderful DAC / Streamer and the APp is super easy to use.  I would highly recommend Lumin and AudioTroy.  My advice is that each step I took the sound just got better.  Reach as far as you can.

Copied from another forum…..

In the latest The Absolute Sound the $399 IFi Zen Stream is co Music Server of the year with the $39,000 Linn Klimax DSM/3.

Of the Zen Stream they say “may well be the most hassle-free, flexible, and high-quality music streamer currently available…”

Can’t say that I’m less confused, but at least I know a lot more about the components.  
 

I really am not married to specific audio sources.  My cds are not sacd quality so don’t care about them that much. Apple Music has been a go to, but adding a qobuz or tidal at $20/ month is not an issue.  Really a clean slate, with streaming from a good monthly service provider and phono my end goal.  
 

This conversation has made separate components more interesting, if anything at lower $$s, mistakes are less costly.  
 

thanks again all. 

Ok. On reading professional reviews. This confused me early on,  a long time ago. But reviews should say, “for the money”. So, if you see an A rated $1.5 K component and a $10K component grouped in the same category.. you can be sure the $10K will blow away the cheaper one. For the money is always implied. I have heard and owned many in the same categories.

As far as choices. Only streaming and vinyl is appropriate in 2021. Do Qubuz… most audiophiles choose for best sound quality and largest selection of hi Rez streaming. As far as components. You have to put something together to start with. Get yourself a reference. Then you can read about the components you have and see if you want to upgrade and how.

Nothing wrong with starting with an integrated… you can always upgrade the DAC and use as a streamer… until you can upgrade the streamer. Make sure you like the MAC sound, it is very well liked… but to me is best for rock music only. Provided you like the sound, good choice. If you are unsure then go listen to an all MAC system somewhere, see what you think. I personally love the sound of Audio Reserach, but that is why there are different brands.

Overall, good approach. Did I see the speakers? These will be really important choices in a small room.

It’s a great choice, from many angles.  And when after a few months or a year you start to wonder if there is something better sounding, there may be but it’s not worth it.  The T2 is awesome for a ‘modest’ system.  I’ve had about 10 DACs/streamers since I had the T2, and I could easily go back to it.  The big question is the preamp and you mentioned a turntable - a bit more expensive but you might want to look at something like the Mytek Manhattan, which can do those too ands sounds good.  And headphones….  But even after a few years on the market I think the Lumin is still at the front of the pack for quality, features, reliability, etc., and at the price.