To Stream or not to Stream

I am paralyzed. There are so many options, reviews, recommendations... I am truly frozen, unable to choose. Wish it were easy to try things at home before you buy, and by try I mean AB. I'm sure anything I select in this range will sound nice because there is nothing to compare it to.

Unless it is streaming through my integrated and Focals, I will have no idea what it will really sound like until it's home. My answer could be to not compare, get something and never know the difference, but again, what is that one something? I think I've already researched too much and will always be second guessing unless I've heard 'em all... ugh.  

I need a break... two nights of restless sleep with every model and review looping in my head. I suspect I'm not alone experiencing this type of paralysis?

@lalitk The only thing that makes me balk at the ACS100 is what Aurender's site says about it:

best sound quality is achieved when using an N100H, N100C, N100SC, N10, A100, A10, A30 or W20SE Aurender music server / streamer as the main player

They pretty much say the same about the ACS10:

However, the highest audio performance is realized when using the ACS10 mated with models A10, N10 or W20

...which I'm just reading now. This is what I mean by paralysis. Just when I'm about ready to make a purchase another detail derails me. In writing, Aurender is admitting you will not get the best sound unless you pair it with one of their dedicated streamers. Seriously wtf? Transparency is nice, but now off to a deeper dive on the competition. There must be at least one offering that covers all bases? If the only way to achieve this is to spend far north of my target...ugh. This quest was fun up until now. It is far from straight forward.

I need a Baskin-Robbins...

Paralyzed again... there are SO many flavors! I could be in this line forever! ...honestly, you had me at "ice cream". Heath bar crunch all day!

Just spent the last hour reading reviews, specs and watching videos [drum roll] I'm seriously considering the HiFi Rose RS150. The DAC seems impressive, which will allow me to AB vs the DA2. Talk about features, upgradability, build... and I can attach an external drive and rip my CDs. I know it's just north of my range, but the features! lol  You can toggle all inputs / outputs on or off so your actual connections are more isolated. Don't know if it really translates, but wow, seriously thoughtful engineering. I can't not see this thing pushing the current envelope. Anyone own this kit?

@lalitk Very helpful. Advice and further reading keep bringing me back to Aurender. I would love the ACS10. There are two being offered here, but besides storage capacity, is there a difference in sound? If yes, I may spend more than I want and go with the 10 over 100. The ACS is in my top 5, especially if I want to rip the 200 or so CDs I haven’t used since the 90’s.

Side question - how do modern rippers deal with scratched discs? Do they report ripping issues / artifacts? Would be sweet to learn that they do, so I don’t discover such things through listening.

As for the McIntosh DA2... there is so little out there. I guess I’ll have to hear it. If other DA2 users went with alternatives after giving the DA2 a chance, I would love to hear about it.

I will be going to Qobuz. My Tidal Masters trial will be up soon. I was only worried about DSD because the McIntosh literature speaks to supporting it. I want to experience the "best" quality the DA2 supports and have that as my base for as you said, exploring other DACs in the future.

@surfcat I do like what I’ve seen online for the Roon and Conductor UIs. I agree that when going the digital route that software is important. I can’t believe how many new artists I’ve discovered from recent AB’ing at local shops using these apps. Discovery is one of the things I’m looking forward to the most! Thank you so much for the suggestions. Such suggestions are welcome and have joined my growing list of tracks to listen to once my system is ready.

@millercarbon @jjss49 @cleeds Thank you for the legit LOLs.

@david_ten I did not get into my backstory, but I grew up in a music loving home with my Audiophile uncle next door as well. I was raised on vinyl and 8-track. Fast forward more years than I care to count and I'm finally in a good place financially and with the backing of my wife. I've been revving my engine for a long time and the light just turned green at the end of June. I am eager to remember what I have in my CD collection and to discover new artists. I may not rip all of them but definitely want to try it and see what my ears think vs paid-service streams. What I have so far has been an emotional experience. It's like I'm hearing music for the first time. The right kit for you really does makes a difference.

I am loving it, trying to be patient, but this aspect has not been easy, especially because I've already had to return speakers (B&W), two integrated amps (Sim Audio & NAD), a power conditioner, and now have to sell my brand new, week-old Node. Almost forgot, I also purchased a VTI BL304SC rack that will not fit my MA-9000 (my fault) and it cannot be returned because I opened the box! This is why I'm having trouble and so thankful for everyone's help and humor!

@ricred1 Nice stuff. I see it's another offering where you have to buy the separate PSU 

to deliver considerably better audio performance.

a re-clocker if you want even better SQ. Add and a ripper if you want to rip. It's an unexpected education / learning of how something that seemed like a lay-up (before I knew better) is turning out to be the most difficult part of my journey. The funny part is Antipodes has a photo with all 4 components together and they look like a single, normal sized component. Maybe besides the benefit of isolation it makes sense to piecemeal a solution because instead of one very expensive box, you can buy each over time to "get there"? It is something to consider.

@audioman58 You brought up something I had not mentioned - I have the Netgear Orbi WiFi 6. One of the satellites is the rack so I'm able to connect via cat6. I am getting close to 1Gbps, so I'm not worried about throughput, however, you've introduced yet another expensive component I need to consider - an ethernet switch? Where does it end?!  haha The Rockna gear looks solid.

@builder3 The Lumina was on my short list before I started thinking a ripper would be nice. 

@audioman58 Understood. The McIntosh DAC may not be good and being new I thought for the reputation and price that it had to be decent. I could be dead wrong. I get it. I'm now leaning toward a streamer with a good DAC. A streamer that can interface with a ripper. The HiFi Rose seems to fit the bill again. 

Speaking of the Rose - I could save money by buying it outside the US, but will the power will be different and unusable in the US? The UK for example has far better pricing than the US.

@itsjustme Funny, I found Hans a few days ago on YouTube and have watched at least 9 of his videos. After midnight here... more ground covered, knowledge tucked-away, closer to something. Tomorrow, actually later today I have consulting phone call planned where I hope to have a number of other questions answered as well as some follow-ups on what I've learned here. Goodnight everyone..

@lalitk +1 question to @itsjustme. Would love to know the configuration.

@griff69 The Auralic is also on my list. Thank you.

[ Warning: niave question ahead! ]

I like the idea of leveraging currency exchange rates to either pay less (Canada, Australia, etc) or purchase a solution from another country. My fear is with the power cord / supply. Is this a risk that I will have to have a solution to work in my Massachusetts home???

@ronboco I don't think I ever said I didn't like it? I love and HIGHLY recommend it. It is the best integrated amp I've heard to-date. Period. It's just that at its price point I wanted more in terms of features and the McIntosh integrated had it all. What I've learned after the fact is that is that I may not end up using much of the McIntosh. I'm not going to invest in vinyl, headphones, etc. I may also end up with a discrete DAC. So my basic thinking at the time was $14k for the MOON and then have to shop for a DAC, or spend the $11k I did for an "all in one", with a dac, display, meters, etc. I can't say I regret my choice and I have an MA-12000 on the way, but I cannot argue that I may have been better off having separate components for everything. I hope you get to hear the MOON, and I'm talking about the 700i. I did demo the 600 at home and it is NOT close to the 700. It is entirely different and I didn't like it, especially after hearing the 700i. Please let me know if you get it? I would love to hear about it.

@itsjustme (G) Thank you for taking the time to respond in such detail. Absolutely helps to understand. : )  I hope your fingers have recovered!

I am on vacation and will be reading more on this topic, but thanks to everyone's responses and a special thanks to a private helping hand, I am in a really good place mentally to take the next steps over the coming weeks. 

Joining this forum was a good move and something I think can be included as a component in many of our systems - the audio loving community - you.

Best,
J