Music Server Recommendation

I am very skeptical about the toslink converter idea. 

@marktomaras understandable.  < $60 to fid out and compare though

 The guys at PS audio tech-support are awesome. I would give them a call and chat them up. They will be happy to give you 20 minutes of free advice. Their machine will handle USB , toslink,  ethernet etc. so it’s good to hear the opinion of the manufacture sometimes. 

@mitch2 the Metrum Ambre looks like an interesting product. If I’m understanding it correctly it would go between a server like the Innuos and a DAC (via Ethernet) but provide multiple output options to the DAC. Intrigued by having the ability to output USB/Toslink/AES/I2s. With some sort of improved handling of the signal. Curious to hear your impressions. Not crazy about adding another box unless it makes the chain significantly better

@marktomaras agree. Have talked to them in the past. Might be worth another call

Thanks guys

Things are sounding really good now.  I have two Roon endpoints here to compare against each other when run from my Antipodes DX as the Roon core.

A few weeks ago, I received the SOtM triad (three boxes) consisting of SOtM's sPS-200ultra (Roon endpoint), tx-USBultra (USB reclocker), and sPS-500 (power supply for both).  This week, I received Metrum's Ambre one-box endpoint. 

The thing that interested me in the Ambre is that I own Metrum's Pavane Level 3 DAC (which is the same as their flagship Adagio except without the volume control - I owned and compared both DACs directly and liked the sound of the Pavane through my preamp better than the Adagio).  Metrum sent along their I2S board, which is a drop-in replacement for their USB board.  The Ambre outputs I2S so when using the Ambre I am able to ditch the USB cable altogether.  For the comparison, I am using a USB cable from the  SOtM tx-USBultra to the Pavane and from the Amber I am using I2S into the Pavane.  The DX has a second Ethernet output that I can use to connect as the input with either endpoint. Separating the Roon endpoint from the DX box may be the optimal way to use the DX. Those starting out might want to consider Antipodes' CX as the Roon server then they would have a variety of endpoint options including but not limited to Antipodes' own EX.  

Out of the box, both endpoints sound great so my guess is there will be no losers here.  However, the two endpoints do sound somewhat different from each other.  Both are dynamic as all get out.  The differences are subtle with the SOtM boxes sounding just a touch beefier and maybe thicker while the Metrum has a bit more sparkle on top.  Bass is excellent from both.  I will share more observations after the Ambre breaks in a bit.....since it has only been playing for a couple of hours.