Not sure if this is the right circle as it is more of a DAC question than a streamer question as I already own a Transporter which I think should be fine to get going, although at some point I would like to move to a server/usb solution if makes a better transport. It has previously been feeding music from a computer in another room to a digital input on my Emotiva processor. As I recently ordered a pair if Phil 3 speakers, I want to look at improving my 2 channel front end after previously moving away from 2 channel a few years ago. My amps have both RCA and balanced inputs, so as long as one chain is off while the other is on, I believe I don't need to worry about HT pass through and am thinking dedicated paths so I can keep my processor out of the 2 channel system.
So....I would like to try out one of the new approach DACs using FPGAs rather than off-the-shelf chips, in particular the Schiit products or Chord Hugo, but unfortunately this would require a separate preamp (I only need remote volume, not input switching for a direct connection to my amp). The Hugo TT is way out of my price range. The NAD M51 (I do not believe it is FPGA but does use a custom solution) seems highly regarded and has remote volume but is also about 3 years old at this point. Any others in the $1,000 - $1,500 new/used range I might want to investigate? My issue with a preamp is that it would be a budget buster to get one of good enough quality to not be a bottleneck. A $1,000 preamp would mean going all the way down to a $500 DAC, just to get a remote volume control. I would be interested in something like a Schiit Gungnir Multibit or used Hugo with a Tortuga LDR (or something else equally transparent) but that would mean $2k - $2.5k+ and not sure it would be all THAT superior to a used M51 around $1k. Curious what others think?
