Music streamers

I really like my BlueSound Node 2i.  I added a DAC and sold it on Audiogon.  I thought the BlueSound DAC sounded much better.  Wonder if an expensive streamer sounds SIGNIFICANTLY better?  If so, what do you hear?

I listen to limited English songs. Mainly my regional songs which u would not be aware of. I’ll attach my Spotify playlist of old English numbers to give a taste. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/43N2jKRZKUsNT9btbPtNxZ?si=lm3dLd4wT6adgY72Gh0VuA

Sound Quality and simplicity go with:

Small Green Computer SonicTransporter

You can build a system around it. No DAC included but you don’t want one in your server / media provider. This way you can improve bit by bit as you learn and your system grows. This approach allows for incremental upgrades all along the way if you so choose.

Everything is going Ethernet today. Why? Because It sounds the best. Sure tons of people still use USB or SPDI/F via BNC or RCA or AES to good effect but they are all obsolete.

Whatever you chose. Make sure it is Ethernet based. That way you can grow around it.

Mine goes like this

Small Green Computer SonicTransporter (Gen1) running Roon Core with hi-res library music stored via USB connected 2TB SSD.

FYI Note: Gen1 is slower and not as good at up-convert this or that - that all the kids are doing these days but that is the point. I don’t want any of that.

I want the cleanest and lowest power needed. The Gen1 processor only take 10 watts. Lowest power requirements equals lowest noise and that of course in theory equals best sound. It’s not as quick with Roon search and other features etc but the trade off is that I am willing to make for its lower power requirements. The current model you would buy solves this hence my recommendation.
Mine system to give you a thumbnail sketch goes like below:

SGC SonicTransporter Gen1 is powered via the excellent UpTone Audio JS2 Linear Power Supply (2 rails to power 2 devices) via Ghent custom dc cables (Canare cable and Oyaide connectors). The SonicTransporter runs Roon core and sends music signal over Ethernet to my Ethernet switch.

Ethernet switch is the all new Uptone Audio EtherRegen Ethernet switch powered by the 2nd rail of UpTone Audio JS2 LPS.

Then Ethernet cable from EtherRegen is then sent to a DJM Electronics GigaFOILv4 - Ethernet Fiber-optic Filter via premium Audioquest Ethernet cables. It takes the Ethernet cable signal and converts to a Fiber-optic signal (Fiber-Optic is light so it cuts the actual electrical signal to remove any residual noice) and then converts back to a clean electrical Ethernet signal then feeds this scrubbed signal to my Ethernet based DAC.

My DAC is the Bricasti M1SE DAC with Ethernet input that is Roon Ready.
The idea is to send the lowest noise Ethernet signal into the DAC. The Ethernet signal goes into my Bricasti and then my DAC internally takes the Ethernet signal and right in front of the DAC chips it gets buffered and reclocked and converted to an IS2 signal right at the DAC chip.

This sounds like a lot but I improved each part along the way.
The goal is to start with an Ethernet based signal so you can improve it along the way.

Thought to share to help you and those that may want to hear from someone that spent a lot of time, energy and resources to get what I think is the most ideal way to marry a media service with a DAC.

Spotify as low resolution source....does it even matter what OP goes with? Raspberry Pi or anything else under $1K, he is unlikely to hear any discernible differences in sound quality. 

Hi  @fsmithjack, just curious if you have tried running fiber into the EtherREGEN instead of adding another box after the EtherREGEN to do a copper-fiber-copper conversion?   That way the EtherREGEN fiber-copper conversion is the last thing being done before hitting your DAC.