jcbenten

That level of equipment is not common within Audiophile Style...perhaps check out recent threads on that other site which goes for the lowest cost/high measurements...sorry, current policy on this site does not allow links to them... But search for the SMSL A50 and it should come up ... third result for me if I google: https://www.google.com/search?q=smsl+a50&oq=smsl+a50&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCggAEAAY4wIYgAQyCggAEAAY4wIYgAQyCggBEC4YgAQY5QQyBwgCEAAYgAQyBwgDEAAYgAQyCAgEEAAYFhgeMggIBRAAGBYYHjIGCAYQRRg8MgYIBxAuGEDSAQg1ODczajBqMagCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 Personally, from your list I would look at the Cambridge(s). But also Schiit, and of the Asian brands, I am quite liking my SABAJ DAC...but i have no experience with their amps. For the AV receivers...only look at Denon: AVR-3600H, 6700H or 8500H.

If I was a reviewer I would not touch with a 10-foot pole. As a consumer...never consider them. If I was on the board, I would call for the resignation of the President. Classic example of how not to run a company.

I had a better thought...set them up as PA speakers for your daughter's band...

Are the old speakers going into the kitchen or the bedroom?

Try different USB ports. Try a different cable. If your 3.5mm jack has an optical output, try using toslink cable. Note: this used to be very common on older laptops...I do not know how prevalent this capability is on newer systems. Perhaps different protocols, WASAPI, ASIO... Some of it might be your MB is just too noisy. I used to have a laptop where it was known the sound output was horrific...no usb audio then...only the 3.5mm jack. I used a Soundblaster PCMCIA card was brilliant. The Pioneer does not have WiFi so perhaps a streamer in front of it...WiiM makes several (I have the WiiM Pro Plus), set up a server on your PC (Minimserver, LMS, etc.) and transfer wirelessly and isolate your PC from the player.

I have a Wiim Pro Plus on LMS and use iPeng (Apple products...not sure if they do Android yet) and it is the Bomb...It works and sound great. I am still using the internal DAC of the WiiM...

NICE!! I completely neglected the non-2 dimensions.... Coming next is MQA ATMOS in in 6-D!! I can hardly wait!

Probably going to add that 5th & 6th fold so they can claim String Theory in the algorithm...

TWC used to send Firmware updates out that reset the logins of their modem/routers to Default...and did not tell the consumer. I now use their (now Spectrum/Charter or Comcast...never remember which) modem and set up my own router. While my setup is not as tight or ideal as some posted here, I think based on comments of some of my neighors... I am in the 95 percentile.

I had checked the forums for album art ... WiiM needs to pick up the metadata or something and they have not done. I have the FiiO Q5, iFi Nano DSD BL, iFi xDSD, Sony PH3 (but cannot use and charge at the same time....ridiculous), and SMSL IQ...all are a number of years old. Leaving my SABAJ D10 downstairs. I will give the WiiM a few days for my acclimazation.

I just picked up the WiiM Pro Plus...for the cost this box is brilliant. In 10 minutes Streaming Radio Paradise directly, shows up on my LMS network, and I can directly access my NAS. This reacts much faster than my SB Touch...truly a brilliant piece of equipment. Only negative is it will not display the Album Art while streaming directly. I assume it works for LMS but have not tried yet. All I have left to do is the Rabbit Hole of hooking up one of my portable DACs and see which one works and sounds the best...Hmmmm. Keep up the great work of the low-cost equipment reviews... Many of us appreciate the effort. chris

Dandy Warhols: This Machine (Vinyl)

https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/deep-purple-machine-head-super-deluxe/