People who scoff at multi-unit server/DACs tend to overlook the obvious: they have no problem adding an expensive audiophile server to their USB DAC, buy expensive USB cables etc. In our listening comparison of the different Lampizator models, for example, one of the things that struck me most is they not only thrive on, but
need a dedicated server like the Lampizator Komputer. So there you have one type of multi-unit server/DAC with audiophile cable loom. Any modern dCS DAC is its own "server" (in the case of the Vivaldi, the Upsampler, which as mentioned above, is effectively an outhoused part of a server/DAC concept, is what's accessing files from external storage). Counting one fewer box(es). No use including the NAS one puts in the cellar or barn on that list, all server/DACs need access to file storage if, like me, one has nearly 20TB worth of digital files to play back.
This is particularly ironic since, adding a server and/or computer, they're adding to "
computer audio" what I regard as the source of (almost) all evil they then pay top dollar to root out…
Greetings from Switzerland, David.