DCAudioDIY.com

You could get one big box and put all the little boxes inside. Kind of like a console.

Don't know if this helps, but the setup I've inherited uses four boxes; five if you count the smart phone controller:
NAS
Renderer (C.A.P.S. server set up by Charlie)
DAC
Linear power supply

I guess on-line streaming would require more boxes, or .....

Waiting for "swap day" with Grover!

Speaking of Win10 which is really bloated with what I feel are a bunch of unnecessary apps. Them problem once you go through and remove them, they comeback at the next upgrade.

NUCs are cheap, work well, and smaller than Mac Minis

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I can explain it to you, but I can’t understand it for you.

No, I don't think there's anything suboptimal about the older Mac Minis. I was sad to see the $499 base model go, but I guess they have to compete. My only argument with a laptop is the extra components, like the screen. But if the USB dongle works then don't worry about it. .

I remember not even liking to have one more box when DACs first came out. More and more boxes, more cables, more connections.........

I guess I could get a DIY amp enclosure and stuff all those littles boxes in it. With the the wires coming out of the back, it would probably look like a home theater receiver.

My screen shuts off when music is playing. But as you said, perhaps the dongle will tide me over for a while.

Yea, basically a nucleus, just a little cheaper?

Well, hell. I just dug out my Allo USBridge and connected it directly to the back of my Topping DX7s with a little Uptone USB A to B dongle (it's a little connector that eliminates the USB cable), and dang, it sounds pretty good. Smoother and more focused. I just ordered the Allo Shanti dual LPS for it. Dogonnit, I swore I wouldn't get back into this nonsense.

But PETE YOU DON'T WANT THIS even though the new signature version with case and Shanti LPS sell for $388 and with the DietPi option it acts as a Roon endpoint, because it's got a lot of wires and boxes and stuff.

Perfect.