My show and tell submission for 2025, well more show than tell 
This is a dCS Network Bridge which has been discontinued since 2021 and was introduced in 2017 if I recall correctly. It is still supported by dCS via firmware updates when available and their Mosaic software is also supported.
The elephant in the room is why would I consider a device which is roughly 4-8 years old (there were no hardware updates since its introduction as far as I can tell) when there are many newer options easily available??
Prior to this I had been relying on the built-in streamer on the totaldac d1-core with its €1,600 USB cable, while my vintage DACs were being fed via a Pi2AES and a solid LPS.
The main contenders I had considered for the last 18 months included; sending my totaldac back to France to pull the streamer and upgrade to the standalone streamer/reclocker; Lumin U2 new (warranty is not transferable); Innuos Pulse; and a couple other options in the $4-6k range either new or used.
Convincing myself to try another streamer has proven challenging as there’s so many options priced at various levels, and getting some valid insight as to what the sonic improvements would be gained from each option was near impossible without extensive home auditioning. Sure, I could have simply asked around and would have received a list of the go-to options, yet my primary question would still not be answered. In the end, investing $4k+ on a streamer didn’t make sense in my head or ears as I would rather take that amount to upgrade a major component such as DAC, amp, or speakers.
So I compromised and looked at options in the $2.5k+/- range with quality components and features such as; LPS; clocks/reclocker; AES/Coax output; shielding; Roon capability; and minimal fuckery to work with new and vintage DACs.
Not being in production was not an issue for me, as I feel there has been little advancement in digital products in some time. I’m speaking purely in terms of the requirements a streamer needs to function well, not stuff like color touchscreens or DSP and such. If the product was quality to begin with, it would stand the test of time in my book,
My new search came down to the EMM NS1, dCS Network Bridge, and Aurender N10:
- EMM NS1 has only one usable digital output, and I need a minimum of three
- Aurender N10 does not support Roon, and that is a dealbreaker
- dCS Network Bridge has two AES outputs (a rare exception), and has the same clocks/reclocker hardware and technology used in the higher end offerings such as Rossini, Bartok, and Vivaldi.
Yeah I took a chance on an out of old and out of production streamer box, yet in the last two weeks I have no regrets. Have I noticed much difference, to be honest I have not and if I was to press myself the most obvious thing that I am getting from it is that it is having an effect on the cohesiveness of what is playing, it is tighter more in alignment.
Oh and it converts DSD files to PCM as none of my DACs can do that, so that’s cool feature to revisit the small number of DSD tracks in my library.
Thank you for reading my show and tell contribution for the year 
” i get excited and jump when I can.
Does me good stress relief….
