(2017) Stereo Digital Source Components
- Details
- Parent Category: 2017 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2017) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: $599
Website: www.arcam.co.uk
Al said: At $599, the rPlay costs 20 times as much as Google’s puck-like Chromecast Audio -- but when you use the Arcam to listen to Tidal or Spotify, or stream music from a media server on your computer or NAS, your ears will tell you that the difference is worth the money.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: Hi-rez streaming the Arcam way.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2017 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2017) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: $7500
Website: www.audioresearch.com
Vade said: I know several audiophiles who spurn any prepackaged server/network player, preferring to optimize their systems’ sound by tweaking the system parameters; if that’s the way you feel, the DAC9’s very good sound quality and gorgeous looks make it an easy recommendation.
Read the SoundStage! Ultra review.
The gist: The Linux limitation is the big issue with the DAC9.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2017 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2017) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: $3799
Website: www.auralic.com
Al said: At $3799, the Polaris is hardly a budget option. But if your expectations for an all-in-one audio component are high, it won’t disappoint you.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: Feature-rich streaming integrated at a reasonable price.
Award: Reviewers' Choice
- Details
- Parent Category: 2017 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2017) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: $5500
Website: www.aurender.com
Uday said: The Aurender A10 is a fantastic product that brings Aurender’s already proven and well-regarded server technology to a broader market, while including a high-quality preamp and DAC.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Now you get a DAC with the proven Aurender server.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2017 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2017) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: $8950
Website: www.ayre.com
Philip said: What I can say is that the QX-5 Twenty is a beautifully designed, well-built component that could easily anchor a state-of-the-art sound system for years to come.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Classic Ayre sound in a modern digital source.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2017 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2017) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: $3495
Website: www.bryston.com
Philip said: A BCD-3 isn’t cheap, but if you’ve spent the last 25 or so years amassing a library of CDs, you’ll want to hear them sound their best. The Bryston BCD-3 can deliver that.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Yep, they're still making these, and this is a good one.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2017 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2017) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: $25,000
Website: www.emmlabs.com
Doug said: EMM Labs’ DA2 Reference is exceptional: Rather than strike a balance between musicality and detail, it provides both without limitation or compromise.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: The best DAC Doug has heard.
Award: Reviewers' Choice
- Details
- Parent Category: 2017 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2017) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: $27,000
Website: www.esoteric-usa.com
Howard said: The Grandioso K1 is an obvious contender for the best one-box digital performer.
Read the SoundStage! Ultra review.
The gist: Contender for the best one-box disc player available.