Is a CAPS style PC still the way to go?

[firedog]

I'd think the CAPS would be better.

But today a lot of us are going the route of using the PC or NAS as a server and a specialized audio renderer like a microRendu for the player. That is definitely superior to a Pi.

[firedog]

40 minutes ago, Thuaveta said:

 

Any idea as to why it's superior to a Pi with a reasonably well-designed HAT and PSU ?

 

(just to be clear, I'm not questioning whether it's better, I'm curious what the explanation is, if only because, by default, selling expensive power cables is a red flag that makes me question the rationale behind anything else a company does)

I don't know that it is or isn't. I know that it's superior to a plain Pi and that's what was asked. The plain Pi isn't that great, especially for USB, which is why things like the HAT and the Allo devices exist.