Sat home alone last weekend, looking at all the bits and pieces involved in my streaming system, besides all the 300 series bits and pieces. I guess what triggered it, was getting rid of a 6 tier Naim Fraim and replacing with IsoBlu rack. The reason being fed up of equipment banging on shelf, when trying to connect or clean. Final was when glass shelf moved off ball bearing and chipped glass. 
Anyway, I digress. Well did I notice a sonic difference from Fraim to IsoBluā¦ā¦not one iota.! So, got me thinking! How much bits and pieces are really adding to the SQ, or is just clutter.?
So out came Roon Nucleus, Stack Audio Volt (Roon) linear power supply, Catsnake ethernet cable. EE8 network switch, Farad power supply, more Catsnake, Uniti Core and Vodka ethernet cable. Moved the Core, near to router. Connected router to Core and 333 with Blue Jean ethernet cable. The only item that did not change, was the Ifi power supply on router.
So, how long did it stay in that configuration? Well, two weeks on and in the immortal words of Catherine Tate āAm I botheredā There is a change, but not that great a change. The music seems to flow more natural now, where as before, the sound was more pronounced and forward. Depending on the recording, this is more noticeable. Usually, on heavy produced studio albums. I know from past experience, you can change kit, and think that is so much better. Longer term, that viewpoint can change. That is why I usually buy items, rather than short term loan, before buying. Will probably come to my final conclusion in 6 months.
I also wondered, if this is why Naim, at shows or in their demonstration room, keep the networking simple and not over engineer it?
As always, time will tell. 
I think you have hit on the dilemma. There is a change, you say as much, but is it worth the cost and hassle for the small change that can be heard?
Yes agree. Not only there is incremental change, but is it change for change sake. Is the change in the right direction? Sometimes you hear some change, which is very noticeable and think because it is change, it must be better. Makes you think 
222-250 with care around mains supply and good speaker cables - all thatās needed for me in the end to enjoy good sounding music, after some back and forth with 7 + (big and small) boxes a couple of years ago.
A week ago I finally got the NPX300 for a quick test at home. It makes a small difference but really more noticeable when taking out the mains block and cables and just using the standard ones.
The ethernet switch helps for some smoothness, against wifi drop outs and serves as a distribution hub, so happy to keep it in.
Keep it simple 
Iāve heard others on here say the same. Simplifying with little effect can be worthwhile not to mention the joy of an uncluttered area. Upgrades can be a hobby though (or obsessive), and paying stupid amounts for 1% gain can seem worth it. This is a path I have gone down a little, partly because itās easier to buy these add-ons when your spare funds are low. However I am of the believe that a black box upgrade is likely better than accessory upgrades, itās just that spare funds donāt often give you these options
Gone from 8 boxes of Naim to 1 streamer, 1 DAC and an integrated valve amp. Being able to see the cables I want to dress has helped but it also makes it so much easier to assess the impact of individual additions. Friend loaned me an iFi ethernet filter. Plugged into the wireless repeater. The impact was instant and obvious. Sure enough soon found some music on which it was also obviously having a negative impact. PRaT was awful. Tried it on the streamer end and the DAC went haywire so thatās out.
Awaiting a replacement 300B so no music at present but when thatās in Iāll try it on the router.
A lot of that is probably down to the Isoblue shelving, which can produced a more together and slightly less forward sound than Fraim. Your findings mirror those of quite a few who have tried simplification, that stuff you thought made a big difference when added isnāt much missed if removed. Iām so happy with just my one little box and a pair of active speakers. Sitting listening now, the sound is just lovely.
I agree with points. It is easier to keep adding smaller cost improvements, than black box changes. However, the point with small changes, is that can go round in circles. You make one change, you think it is better. Get use to that, then another change and so on. Does the third or fourth change, masquerade part of the first change, because two, three and four are different. I guess you could go crazy, if you pursue this line of thought. 
I like your rationale, behind your system reduction. 
I think there is a lot to be said for integrated amps, when compared to numerous boxes. As for the Ifi on the router, I have not compared against the supplied router power supply. I would be surprised if there was any audible difference, or at the most, very minor. It just fits easier, where the router is sited.
The whole point, is most of us get caught up in change and when there is a change we take it as a positive. I could pay good money, to talk to a psychiatrist, about this.
Any progress on your hum issue Mike?
Having had a Atom with PMC 25 23 and i speakers, I have a idea how your system will sound (had ATC passive and 40A actives as well). The Atom really sounds good driving active speakers, via XLR. I bet people would be surprised, how good your system sounds. If I could now compare your present system, with the most expensive you ever owned, could you justify the significant extra outlay for the gains?
I believe now, that any change you make should be significant to the system and you should live with it for several months, before permanently adopting the change.
If I had my time and money again with the Fraim and IsoBlu. Then I would not have purchased the Fraim for several reasons. I will say it does have a certain style and fits well in corners.
As for SQ, maintenance and price. Well, itās a big world out there and one size does not fit all.
No, itās been out of action for more than a week because one of the 300Bs suddenly started to tinkle. The new rectifier had arrived and was about to go in when that happened. New matched 300B arriving Tuesday from Poland so hopefully weāll be back in action midweek and can then go back to seeing if we can find something which kills the hum.
Hopefully Iāll be in on Tuesday and FedEx wonāt toss it over the gate and claim Iāve signed for it when Iām 12 miles away.
Also, a very bad fall a week last Tuesday didnāt put me in the best position to get down and dirty with it.
Yes, Iāve no great expectations but itās the last of the 3 possible locations it could have gone so I may as well give it a go.
I too found the sonic benefits of the Fraim to be quite exaggerated and was happy to move it on for a simpler less complex solution. And my experimenting with boutique streaming cables and switches led me to opt for the simpler more natural sounding solution. Couldnāt be happier. Itāll be interesting to hear your findings.
Been there with Fraimā¦
As for switches, PS and Ethernet cables my experience differs. Putting the Farad in with a Vertere Redline power cable wasnāt a subtle difference, but one of those times it stops being hifi and the musicians are playing there in the room. Not taking that off!
Sometimes it is possible to get carried away with tweaks, whether big or small, not helped by superlative descriptions by other forum users, dealers telling you how wonderful so you doubt your ears when they might say they canāt tell a difference, and manufacturersā sales blurb promising the earth. I have a simple approach, used particularly where significant money is involved, which is blind testing.
Also I rather I suspect that sometimes the result of multiple different tweaks is not the sum of the apparent improvement parts, but a complex mix of minor changes that might in fact mean you have been moving round the same circle of sound, where nothing is a real improvement simply a change, and at any point after multiple tweaks it is possible the sound is back where it started. For some people of course the enjoyment of this hobby comes as much from playing with their setup like this as from listening to music (and nothing wrong with that), but personally I generally prefer not to tweak.
Thank you all, for the replies.
Besides the change of black boxes over the years, which my wife has seen being performed, or not a Naim box. The only time she has ever commented, unprovoked about a change in SQ, whether it be a box or accessory. Is when I fitted the Stack Audio Auva 70ās to my PMC Twenty5 26i speakers. Never before had she said a word, unless to notice a physical box or accessory change. She just walked in the room, after I had fitted them, which she did not see. Commented straight away, what had I done, and how the bass had increased. So she now has the 70ās under her PMC Twenty5 23i speakers and I now have 100ās.
FedEx delivered the 300B a day early so the rectifier went in but the former was a bugger and really didnāt want to go in to replace the left side tinkly 300B. Switched it to the right; still wouldnāt go in and then looked like it really didnāt want to come out. Eventually got it fully into the left and all is well. Clearly even simplification can come with complications.
The switch back to the original Svetlana rectifier shows what a difference a small thing makes. Amp on sing from the off despite zero hours on the rectifier and a difference of about 160 hours between the 300Bs.