@Ant-1 We needed a long run of Ethernet cable which preceded boutique brands.Another thing that concerns me about the boutique cables is noise rejection. Ethernet has specific standards regarding noise rejection. Since the boutique cables cannot claim to be Ethernet for the most part, I am not sure how they fair with noise rejection. On another note, I have found Naim’s streamers to be cable sensitive. I use Chord SarumT.
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When say ground your router - do you mean use a mains conditioner?
You’re absolutely right!
The listening room is the very first component of any hi-fi system (speakers based)
Next comes the listening position in relation to the room, and then the positioning of the speakers.
Once all of that is properly sorted, and you’ve chosen the components of your system, cables are simply the icing on the cake.
Important, yes, but clearly not the priority.
Cheers,
Thomas
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@Ant-1 I am not a fan of multi box digital, be it streamers or CD players. For me, one box solutions avoid potential issues of jitter. clocking and cable selection.
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Wadax, 80K€, Taiko, 105K€ …
However controversial it’s an interesting topic. My own experience is that streaming from for example Qobuz on my (then Windows) laptop to my ND5 XS 2 sounded not as good as when I was streaming from the Naim app.
That changed after I started using Audirvāna. First I used the Windows version, and since about a year I’ve switched to the Linux Core Player. Whatever the reason may be, I find the sound quality better when I stream through Audirvāna on my laptop to the ND5 XS 2 with UPnP instead of directly over my ND5 XS 2 using the Naim app. Bass is more tight, sound stage is wider and the whole listening experience is more relaxed. Everything is connected by ethernet cables by the way and Audirvāna has priority over other processes on the laptop.
As others already stated, this my environment and my equipment and most importantly my ears and brain. It may well be different for other situations. But in my case streaming with a computer works out pretty well but only after installing the dedicated software that Audirvāna is.
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He said that what he was looking for was “I’m looking for it’a the holy grail of ‘band in the room’ sound.”
These two units are about as close as it gets 
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@Thomas i disagree about room treatment. At one time we had wall hanging rugs, drapes. acoustic rectangles, acoustic corner triangles and wall panels. Our living space looked like Stonehenge. We decided to take everything out and find a system and speakers that performed well without treatment.
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We’ll also have to rely on good source files.
When you see how hard it is today to find good recordings.
Fortunately, classical music is somewhat spared, as is jazz, but pop/rock is doomed.
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A mac mini with Gustard cable into my Chord Dave is all i need. I tried the Nd5xs into Dave and it gave nothing more.
No need to buy a fancy boutique streamer.
. Hello @Innocent_Bystander , a wink to you.
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I am no expert in streaming devices but I have been through using PC and a steaming box/dac to use as a source to my system at home. I did use a tablet PC at first but on the whole I felt this was a bit awkward in my setup and unsatisfactory. So now I have a Bluesound node and for what I use it for it is as good as I want or need. In use and sound it is better in my view.
However, we spend quite a lot of time on our narrowboat on the canals in the UK. On the boat I use the tablet PC to stream music and there it is just fine. I certainly do not wish to use another device as on the boat it is about being as minimalist as possible.
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Looks like you answered your own question. If you have tried the Atom, the ND5 XS2, and your computer, and heard no difference, then no, dedicated streamers are not worth it. You can of course spend any amount you like (just as for interconnects) and if you like the appearance, etc, then it is money well spent. In any case simply spending more has no effect on sound quality. You will get many here telling you it does of course, but absolutely none of them have any objective proof.
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Thanks @Amarok . I’ve looked into audiovarna and assumed it’s really for those with stored music . I don’t have that. I’m streaming only. So wound it still be worthwhile investment ? I guess the only way to find out is to get it and give it a go !
We watch House of Games frequently on i-player. One thing that used to get on my nerves was the boundary between Richard Osman’s shoulder and the high back of the chair he sits in - it was always broken up. Since I put the macro box on the router that is no longer the case - that boundary is now razor sharp.
Well for those options I’d either have to sell a kidney (anyone know how much they’re going on the black market right now ??) 
Or I’d have have to sell our second home and I need the ok from the in house CEO for that. But before that we’d actually need to be able to buy a second home to then sell it. So a few steps to go before I can step into esoteric streamer space! But if money was no object I’d probably go for the dCS Varese.
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Iterasting. I guess it’s a balance and what you’re prepared to do and most importantly how happy with how your system sounds. Pursuing a completely flat response is a thankless and somewhat pointless endeavour. Many of the issues raises by measurements are often inaudible. But some rooms do benefit from a little treatment love even if it’s normal household wares - soft furnishings / bookshelves etc.
Yes, these things can happen.
Unfortunately, curtains, rugs and a few thin acoustic panels are not enough.
More often than not, they’re actually counter-productive.
With that kind of “treatment”, you end up absorbing only the highs and midrange, while the bass remains completely untouched.
From a technical standpoint, this results in an uneven decay time across the frequency spectrum.
The audible consequence is a sound that feels flat and lifeless, stripped of energy and engagement.
This is what is rather inaccurately, but commonly, referred to as a “dead room”.
Cheers,
Thomas
I was only joking, of course. Sorry 
There are plenty of very reasonably priced streamers out there, and your DAC is already excellent.
If I were looking to complement your system on a sensible budget, I’d go for a CHORD M SCALER and a GRIMM AUDIO MU1 streamer. The Chord sound with a good streamer could be really nice.
Or sell the TT go for a GRIMM AUDIO MU2 which includes a DAC.
A slightly cheaper but still excellent option : I’d sell the Hugo TT and get a MOLA MOLA TAMBAQUI, which also doubles as a streamer. It’s a superb bit of kit.
And naturally, Naim’s offerings are brilliant too.
You’ve got plenty of options to pick from! 
Cheers,
Thomas
You don’t need to invest at minimum 20k to upgrade over your pc. But already a Naim Nd5xs2 should be a nice improvement. But wasn’t for you.
If something like a Innuos Pulse into your Chord TT doesn’t still make a sound upgrade, maybe the problem is elsewhere, like your ears. With no offence.