Non USB streaming

[savvypaul]

To start with Roon or upsampling is not part of my thinking, I will probably start with Volumio and take things slow and steady from there.

Then any streamer / end point will be adequate, and you could add a separate server to handle more demanding processing, later, if you wanted to dabble with Roon / upsampling (eg HQPlayer) / DSP.

[NSNO2021]

I would much rather keep on researching until I find something that's at least good and if by good fortune I can get closer to excellent as my starting point then I will be happy and all the research will have paid off. Its certainly a topic that's fluid and one that generates strong opinions which I enjoy reading so thanks to everyone who has replied.

[antonio66]

Magna Hifi Mano has a R core transformer and tentlabs shunt regulators in it , as well as i2s out of course. That would be my first choice if buying a streamer..

That could well be the 'best bang for yer buck' streamer, just make sure your dac has an i2s input

[antonio66]

Magna Hifi Mano has a R core transformer and tentlabs shunt regulators in it , as well as i2s out of course. That would be my first choice if buying a streamer..

That could well be the 'best bang for yer buck' streamer, just make sure your dac has an i2s input

That would be quite important

[NSNO2021]

In my best Manga/BBC voice ~ other connectivity is available.
Standard config is IS2 & SPDIF however the SPDIF can changed for AES/EBU so its not wholly reliant on IS2 although that's clearly part of the main design focus.
Ps Whilst the above is correct I only know of it's existence through the help of a the famous road builder A66 so kudos goes to him

[antonio66]

The Mano looks nice and simple inside compared to some which have oceans of components. KISS

If there was room to add a dac board in there (psu external) then the I2S connection could be very short. Would have to weigh up that versus the effect of putting a dac board in that noisy environment.