was going to be post #7 but got distracted by checking for any h95 going cheap on ebay.Yey! The standard excuse has arrived. It took long this time though, 122 posts...
too many boxes. sounds complicated.Why not imagine a happy future with a Purifi power amp, and say a Camridge Audio CXN v2 streamer/preamp? More power, far better specs and less money. And some blue blooded audio bona fides with Cambridge Audio, if that matters. Personally, I'd go looking for even less expensive pre/DAC but that's just me being an audio cheapskate. Instead I'd buy a musical instrument preamp/DAC with many in/8 or more out, or maybe something like a miniDSP SHD with Dirac.
what appeals to me with the hegel products is min. box count that family members can stream music to via airplay or watch movies on TV without needing me to switch dac inputs, turn on amp, turn on pre make sure right input is selected.