wanting to take a digital step


hello, more lately I have been discovering artists on Bandcamp and elsewhere who don't put things out on vinyl. More often new things I have bought on vinyl don't always sound that great.  so with that I want to try a cheap set up of some kind to listen from my laptop connected to my system. I did have some cheap $10 interconnects that did the job, barely. just wondering what some digital vets would suggest. Any simple decent solutions for say <500 that would be ok? I have tried looking on different threads and it got confusing. Do I get a cheap CD player or some kind of better set of interconnects to listen from a laptop. I just don't know.  thank you.

128x128fourwnds

Node used or open box.... to get the music from your computer to the node I just copy it to a USB thumb drive or a large "backup" drive and plug it into the Bluesound (Playlists in the root directory).   You will then have easy, fast access to all your music.  Or you could set up an NAS, but that seems like a bit of work.  

However, the real beauty is access to high quality music from Tidal, Qobuz and Amazon (also others like Paradise Radio).  

I have 2 streaming systems in 2 different systems in my home.   One is wired and the other uses a WiFi extender wired to the streamer.  Both systems use very high end streamers, Aurender W20SE (wired) and the Grimm Audio MU1 (WiFi extender).  I also have excellent network switches in front of each streamer.  For the W20SE, I have an Etherregen with OCXO clock and a Sonore Optical Module Deluxe.  For the MU1, I have a Innous PhoenixNet network switch.

Both systems sound great streaming Tidal and Qobuz.  I'm really not sure which is better but they're both in the same league. Here's what the rest of each system looks like:

Aurender W20SE > Holo May KTE > Audio By Van Alstine FET Valve CF tube preamp > Enleum 23R (used as a power amp) > Klipsch Cornwall IV speakers

Grimm MU1 > Bricasti M1SE > Holo Serene KTE preamp or Woo Audio W23 (used as preamp/headphone amp) > McIntosh MC452 amp > Harbeth M40.1 speakers

Guys,

Thanks so much again for all the info it is a lot to digest, I have been really digging into this and starting to make sense of it. I really am a digital and technology doofus.  On a fun note I just figured how to airplay send videos from phone of my son do his bmx racing and dirt jumping thing to the TV for large screen post race debrief sessions and showing what he's up to with the mrs.

@smatsui, I would be interested in how your Enleum and CW4’s play together?
I am considering that combination myself.  If you’d rather message me directly that would be fine.  Thanks.