[QUOTE="spiritofmusic, post: 566528, member: 4334"
Why can't we just plug an ethernet cable from the router out of the wall into ONE black box server and a USB cable into a dac? Why does it have to be as difficult as this thread?
Or am I as usual missing something obvious?[/QUOTE]
There are many one box plug and play solutions. The Room Nucleus is a good starter, plug and play. It boots up in 15 seconds as well! Ethernet cable in, USB out. Account at Room, Tidal or Qobuz. LPS if you want. Job done. Total 2K.
Small footprint, support from the big boys Room. What is not to like?
I ripped all my CDs 3 years ago. I do still buy CDs if I can't find the download. Interestingly CD is 16 bit 44.1, and many files on Qobuz are 24 bit, which in my system sounds better, no question. Tidal seems to have gone for MQA / 96K 16 bit files for some of there music. I think Qobuz as as good, possibly better on 24 bit 44.1 to my ears.
Short answer, get a turnkey router, and then the only task it to select some music!
I also create play lists, so have a selection of tracks into my own mix albums, Roon lets you do that really easily. And of course the Room interface is superb IMO. It displays detailed information on the album, many with the lyrics. And you also have the nice link feature, you can dig around for other material that that artist may have done with other artists, so a bit like looking round the biggest record store you can imagine, while you listen to your music, while sat in your favourite chair. Again, what is not to like?