I've been recommending the $900 BlueSound PowerNode 2i to a few people who were looking for the core of a thoroughly modern music system with decent performance for not too much money. Just add speakers. Those who purchased it have been ecstatic. Most online reviewers have been enthusiastic.
Assuming you listen to classical music in a smallish room with fortes at your listening seat in the 85 dB range as I do (as measured by, say, the SPL meter tool of the free AudioTools app for iPhone or iPad using C-weighting, slow) the included 60 watts per channel amp should be plenty for most any speakers. That is actually quite a loud level, a bit louder than renowned pop music mastering engineer Bob Katz recommends for monitoring high dynamic range music in the control room. See: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/mastering-forum/354863-how-set-83db-listening-levels.html
This unit is about as complete in terms of feature set as they come: It is Roon Ready; compatible with all the usual suspects (and then some) in terms of streaming services; has an analog/digital input for a turntable or CD player, a USB slot for playback of your music files from a thumb drive or other USB-connected drive; does full MQA decoding as well as PCM up to 24/192, connects to your internet network via Wi-Fi or ethernet; and is all controlled from your smartphone or tablet by the user-friendly, reliable, and attractive BluOS operating system app. The unit is also truly tiny at only 8.7" x 2.75"x 7.5" and 3.8 pounds.
In another thread I look at the possibility of using an iPad Pro with a USB-C output jack and 1 TB internal hard drive as a streamer. That's a nice option, but that level of iPad Pro costs about $1,500. A 1 TB USB stick can be had for less than $200. With that added to the BlueSound, you are still much less expensive than such an iPad and you have amps and additional functionality thrown in. Granted, the BlueSound is not a general purpose device and is not portable--it's a dedicated music component, billed as a "wireless multi-room music streaming amplifier."
Don't overlook this BlueSound option if you are thinking of reconfiguring your system or adding a nice neat core for a second system. I'm thinking about buying one myself as the crazy core of a simple system aimed at auditioning vintage speakers I've never owned or once owned and regret passing along.
Assuming you listen to classical music in a smallish room with fortes at your listening seat in the 85 dB range as I do (as measured by, say, the SPL meter tool of the free AudioTools app for iPhone or iPad using C-weighting, slow) the included 60 watts per channel amp should be plenty for most any speakers. That is actually quite a loud level, a bit louder than renowned pop music mastering engineer Bob Katz recommends for monitoring high dynamic range music in the control room. See: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/mastering-forum/354863-how-set-83db-listening-levels.html
This unit is about as complete in terms of feature set as they come: It is Roon Ready; compatible with all the usual suspects (and then some) in terms of streaming services; has an analog/digital input for a turntable or CD player, a USB slot for playback of your music files from a thumb drive or other USB-connected drive; does full MQA decoding as well as PCM up to 24/192, connects to your internet network via Wi-Fi or ethernet; and is all controlled from your smartphone or tablet by the user-friendly, reliable, and attractive BluOS operating system app. The unit is also truly tiny at only 8.7" x 2.75"x 7.5" and 3.8 pounds.
In another thread I look at the possibility of using an iPad Pro with a USB-C output jack and 1 TB internal hard drive as a streamer. That's a nice option, but that level of iPad Pro costs about $1,500. A 1 TB USB stick can be had for less than $200. With that added to the BlueSound, you are still much less expensive than such an iPad and you have amps and additional functionality thrown in. Granted, the BlueSound is not a general purpose device and is not portable--it's a dedicated music component, billed as a "wireless multi-room music streaming amplifier."
Don't overlook this BlueSound option if you are thinking of reconfiguring your system or adding a nice neat core for a second system. I'm thinking about buying one myself as the crazy core of a simple system aimed at auditioning vintage speakers I've never owned or once owned and regret passing along.