Time To Upgrade My Digital Front End

Innuos. If you need a Server and CD ripper, the Zen series. If just a streamer, the Pulse series

Hi navyachts - I was in a similar position as you for budget, and early in 2021 I started my journey with the Antipodes S-series line, whose servers provide ROON core capabilities. It's a great option for those who want to build up to a good (I actually consider it to be a GREAT) system, but don't necessarily want to 'pony up' all the funds at once for it. Here's their lineup:

S20 = reclocker (i.e. placement between renderer and DAC)

S30 = server + renderer + DAC (best used as a renderer alone)

S40 = server + renderer (best used as a server alone)

S60 = external power supply for any 2 of the above

I started with the Antipodes S30/S20 combo as my server + renderer with reclocking (used cost was ~$3200 for the pair). I ran that set with an existing ModWright Elyse tube DAC I had, and immediately experienced a significant upgrade in sound quality. Better overall clarity compared with my prior PC-based front end.

From there, I replaced the DAC with a Mark Levinson 360S (used cost was $1700, but they typically go for a few hundred more). Once again, I immediately experienced and very nice upgrade in sound quality (better dynamics and improved detail). The 360S is indeed old, but to me sounds absolutely beautiful, particularly at the fairly modest price.

From there, I added an Antipodes S40 as a server (thereby reducing the S30 function to a renderer only) and at the same time added a single S60 power supply for two of the units. Here again, a very nice improvement in micro-details.

All along the way I was able to gather very good cables (ethernet, USB between S30 and S20, and AES-EBU between S30 and DAC), and haven't since had any urge to tamper with the 'great thing' I now have with the digital front end.

Good luck with your journey - it can take a bit of time for research and waiting for the purchase opportunities to arise but, for me, it's all been well worth that time.

Best, Dave

Try the Auralic Aries G1.1, well inside your budget, or an Aries G2.2, about a grand over, but first class sound

If you put any stock in the ASR reviews (based largely on SINAD distortion measurements), or even the manufacturer’s own published specs, check out the Matrix Audio Element X2, the Element X2 Pure, or a used Element X. For under $5K, these seem to test better and offer more functionality than some of the alternatives mentioned above.

Keep it with separates , or  bricasti 3 dac streamer ,you can maybe get a deal on 

dac great buy Denafrips pontus 2-12th anniversary dac  , innuos has a cost effective mini  perrotta consulting is very good to work with and decent pricing.