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Help me design a new system? (Disclaimers: This is about a “desktop” system, by which I mean a system I listen to while sitting at my desk, usually staring at a computer screen. I understand the inherent limitations. Let's skip the question about whether or not this is “audiophile” if that bothers anyone!) My Challenge: This is an emergency. I've relocated offices and have spent last few weeks in an empty space, alone, with no music. It is lonely and depressing. Background: I unboxed remnants on a previous system and patched it together…. Desktop PC, USB Out > ELAC DDP-2 > Genelec 6010A (powered speakers) + Genelec 5040A Immediate Problems: The ELAC DDP-2 struggles to lock onto the USB signal. It worked on day, then didn't. I can’t get Bluetooth to pair and find no documentation about how to do it online. In a former system, I had persistent issues with it locking onto Roon and requiring a power cycle anytime I wanted to switch inputs. I am in contact with ELAC, but I really don’t think this unit is for me. (I’ll take this opportunity to say that my pair of ELAC Navis powered speakers are some of the favorites I’ve ever owned. I’ve also been very happy with a pair of Adante AS-61). My Genelec 6010A’s and 5040 are old and have a finnicky RCA jack. I've loved these little powered monitors in previous offices. Building a New System: The only thing that is lifting my spirits is the idea of building a new system! My new career is related/adjacent to the music business and I am in a position to benefit from a much more capable system. I want to optimize sound quality. Obviously. Sources: Desktop PC (12th Gen i9-12900K 3.19GHz w/ 64GB RAM running Windows 10 Pro). I have a huge, hires digital collection, but have honestly done much more streaming these past few years. New situation will enable me to re-discover my local collection and I am interested in learning how to make it sounds as good as possible. Endemic computer sounds (alerts, etc.) Audio from the web Streaming services (Tidal, Qobuz, iTunes) JRiver Turntable (Technics SL-1200 > Parasound JC 3 Jr.) It's fine. CD (Oppo BDP-105D) Speakers/Amp: Two mains will live on my desk; perhaps on short stands to elevate above my reflective desk surface. Sub beneath my desk. This is near-field listening at 36". I'd like to do another 2.1 system and lean toward active, but I am open to other options. Looking at Genelec 8030C(2) + 7050C (balanced inputs) Wilson Tunetots are another option that's been floated (if I went that route, I may pair them with my Luxman L-590AXmkII 30W class-A integrated.) Pre-Amp:TBD DAC:TBD Setup: I plan for all of this to live in a short, studio equipment rack that sits next to my desk. Room: I am finally in a situation where I can really treat my office correctly. There will be plenty of absorption and diffusion. Questions: Scenario: sitting at your desk, listening to source other than your PC (e.g. - CD or turntable), but I still what to hear computer System Sounds (e.g. - alerts, beeps, boops), web videos, Zoom calls? What is the best way to handle? I know the preamp can't mix 2 sources (e.g. - turntable + PC), so it depends in routing these computer sounds to a secondary speaker? Is there a way to avoid having to do that manually,...continuously? For instance, can I configure PC to always route all System Sounds and Zoom audio to a computer speaker connected directly to the PC audio-out,...but route all sounds from JRiver, TIDAL app, iTunes, etc to the outboard DAC via USB? A high-quality, "dumb" DAC? My hope is to find a great DAC, separate or integrated into a pre-amp, which requires zero attention. I do not want to think about the settingsor filters on an ongoing basis. What I really do not want to do is power cycle it and futz with the inputs everyday when I sit down at my computer. (Maybe they are all like that and my experience with the DDP-2 sort of soured me?) DAC/Pre & Other Recommendations? My dream is to walk in, power up my PC, flip on a pre-amp, and go. I will use vinyl/CD weekly, but not daily. It feels like the big questions here are around the DAC and Preamp,...but I welcome any input. Thanks in advance....

I recently purchased the Moon 390 pre-amp with integrated streamer, as a pre-amp, excellent, as a streamer, terrible - I spoke to my hifi dealership and was given some options for the Linn Akurate DS/2 and Klimax DS3, both very expensive especially given the money I've already outlaid, a couple of questions to the audiophile experts: - What streamer will provide excellent clarity/resolution without breaking the bank (preferably <$3k) that would be a good pairing for this rig? - I've read that the Naim ND5 XS2 is very good, albeit far more money than I wanted to pay, anyone experienced with this who can give a verdict? - Anyone experienced with the Akurate/Klimax who can give some advice here - worth the $11k I am being quoted second hand? - At the moment I've got my laptop rigged up via USB and running Qobuz (moved from Tidal as MQA is garbgage), it sounds very good - any advice on running a PC vs a dedicated streamer? Will the PC match the quality that I would get e.g. through the Naim ND5 XS2? One other question, I've also spent a fortune on cables (Transparent Ultra speaker cable and interconnects - the interconnects alone were $3,000 + tax). Any verdict on how much difference the interconnect will make if I chose not to spend such a ridiculous amount on the Ultras and got the lower spec Transparents, or are they worth the money? Thanks.

You're right - just kidding.. But thread title like this can be justified sooner than you think. After all Mr. Wilson usually leads the way.. New Wilson Audio flagship model - WAMM Master Chronosonic. The price.? Higher than this.? Hiiigher than thiiisss..?! $685,000/pair to be exact. I'm pretty sure next December the choice of $600k+ speakers will be much bigger than now. So I'll be back with the thread. I promise. http://www.stereophile.com/content/wilson-audios-ultimate-loudspeaker-wamm-master-chronosonic#pEq7ahI7v9cFPy17.97