Ayre now has a new QX-5 all in one

@ctsooner 
What's your server / streamer?   If I go with QX-5, consider running minimServer in a QNAP or Synology NAS.

I'm running the built in streamer for Tidal. I have a completely rebuilt Mac Mini that Steve Nugent at Empirical used in shows to show off his own DAC's.  It's a Paul Hynes power supply with a rebuilt mother board, clock etc...  It's a killer server that sounds better than the 8k servers I've auditioned.  It's loaded with great recordings of all genres of music.  I'll be selling this unit though in order to get the most expensive of the Melco servers that I'll use as a NAS.  It's by far the best sounding and quietest NAS ever made for audio. They even hand selected the hard drives for the quietest sound.  Everything is completely isolated and built to get rid of any noise.  It's not cheap and it won't do Roon, but it's a special unit.  The only reason I'm selling the Mac is because I'm not technically advanced and I know that I will find a better home for it.  It's completely maximized for the best sound and it does just that.  He even maximized one of the usb outputs for audio that he marked for me, lol.  It uses Amara and XLD for ripping.  

Another option is the new DCS Network Bridge.

I spoke with Berkeley and they're also working on a network bridge.  It's not integrated in their DACs but a standalone unit due to Ethernet noise.   

Exciting times with so many options.

Network bridge?  I have to look and see.  Is it similar to an isolator/optical converter?  I have also heard that Waversa has some cool device that's not too  expensive that does similar. I'm not sure if that one is USB or ethernet.

Oh, just read about it.  It's redundant in the system I'm doing.  The Melco takes care of the clean signal.  It's a direct ethernet connection to the Ayre QX5 Twenty.  I'll be using the streaming device in the Ayre and not using the one in the Melco.  It seems easier to just control the noise at the source using the optical converter and simple ethernet hook ups.  Let properly designed pieces like the Melco and Ayre take care of the rest as they too isolate and clean up the signal before sending it forward.  If you don't have streaming in your DAC, like the Ayre does, then you would possibly need a bridge I assume, to run your internet music.  That seems like a waste of money when using the new DAC's that are digital hubs I think....  I may be dead wrong here.  If you think I am, please let me know what I"m missing as I"m trying like heck to get a total handle on all of this.  I'm lucky to be getting great advice from a couple of audio engineers that I trust and who run digital audiophile boards etc... or are main posters to help others.  So many cool products out there that it's hard to always figure out what we do and don't need and what works best together as just like in analog products, the best isn't always best with the rest of the system.  Just need to be informed and match properly. Thanks for sharing and keeping this thread going in a positive direction.  Learning a ton.