Help me pick one of four music servers/streamersreqi


Sorry about the sloppy title; can't edit it, fat fingers.

On a tight budget, but looking to take my digital playback chain up a notch.

Current system is Vortexbox appliance to router via ethernet, wifi to Squeezebox Touch to older modded Beresford DAC (max 96/24) via S/PDIF coax, RCA analog out to preamp. Sounds very good, all things considered, but I know I can do better and modernize. Plus will soon bump up against the 1 TB hard drive capacity in the VB appliance. I use dBPoweramp on a networked laptop to rip CDs, and a network attached Sweetvinyl Sugarcube SC-2 to rip vinyl. I also plan on subscribing to Roon. Since I will not run an ethernet cable from my router, I will be using a powerline extender to provide the ethernet connection. I hope it will be sufficient; it works fine with the Sugarcube. I am not really interested in any resolutions beyond 24/192. I have a Qoboz subscription, and want to add a radio function to it (still can’t believe it doesn’t have one). Roon will do that, I believe.

Here are the top contenders, all under $3000, with some pros and cons. Some of these options will necessitate the purchase of a USB-capable DAC. For that, aside from the $3K max, I am looking at a Schitt Gungnir (opinions on the DAC welcome as well, but the $1300 price is my absolute max). This must be a turnkey solution, as I am at the ink and quill level technologically.

1. Roon Nucleus with 4TB ~$2250

Pros: Well-regarded, Roon core, silent, affordable. Drive is SSD, can output to a USB DAC directly

Cons: No DAC, no internal CD ripper. Not sure if I can rip files to the internal storage drive via my networked laptop.

2. Innuos ZenMini Mk3 with 4TB with LPS power supply ~ $2550

Pros: Internal DAC (not sure of quality), Roon Core, carried by a local, trusted B&M dealer

Cons: Reputation for drop outs and frequent required restarts, internal drive is a less reliable spinning HDD (I have heard the difference a SSD can make for file playback), Gapless playback through analog out?

3. Lumin D2 - no internal drive - $2300

Pros: Good reputation for Sound Quality, Internal DAC, Gapless playback, can use with current backup HDD until I need to move to a larger one.

Cons: No internal hard drive, not sure it is a Roon Core, will have to purchase external SSD for file storage when I get near 1TB.

4. Melco N100-h50 with 5TB internal drive $? 2TB model is $2100, so I assume 5TB still comes in under $3K.

Pros: Good reputation for Sound Quality and easy user interface, can output directly to USB DAC, Roon Core (?)

Cons: May be the most expensive in the group, still requires a USB DAC

Not looking to get flamed here or ignite a flame war, just valid opinions of experienced users. Open to other brands provided they meet my requirements, especially price ceiling. Thanks in advance.
bondmanp
@fuzztone...  I agree with you on the DAC.  Please explain what you mean by "something you can do yourself".  Do you mean assembling your own computer based music server?  Or simply spinning CDs?  I am curious.  I know some find music library management software to sound inferior to physical media.  In some cases, I am sure it's true.  But that hasn't been my experience, and I love the convenience.

FYI, I lack the time and the knowledge required for a DIY server solution.  And after 10 years of having my music at my fingertips, I can't imagine going back to hunting through my CDs to find something I want to hear.
@grannyring  which Innous do you own?  Are you using their LPS or Phoenix reclocker?  Thanks.
@bondmanp, currently I use the Innuos Zenith MK.3 with an uptone audio ether regen.  I love the Zenith and it sounds fantastic  I started with the Innuos Zen Mini and LPS..  Those components were very good also and far superior to my prior CD set up.  Best of luck and enjoy!
The Zenith 3.   It has 3 separate LPSs built inside already.  I found the the Phoenix reclocker offered little to no sonic improvement with my Mojo Audio Evo dac. 
I have the Melco N100 with the 2TB HD.  I love it.  I bought mine for much less than what you quoted from a dealer here on Agon (PM me if you want the details) at the outset of the Pandemic.  I subsequently added the extra 3TB HD, the E100.  My DAC has usb inputs that are the equal of the other digital inputs.
  The Melco works great with the MConnect App, which also adds Qobuz and Tidal.  The few times I had a problem it was solved with a simple reboot.
  I would also look at the Cambridge Audio streamers.  They come with a very good internal DAC.