Pixel Tablet > Apple Music > ddHifi USB C to USB B cable > Shanling EM5 > VE Elysium
Initially I bought the Shanling and Pixel Tablet for completely different reasons. The tablet was to replace my ageing Google Home Hub, and I was hoping to run Apple Music directly off the Shanling as a standalone streamer.
Unfortunately, the interface on the Shanling is extremely slow and clunky, and because of the lag, certain parts of playback would be choppy on Apple Music. From there emerged a (happy) marriage of convenience. Though not initially intended, the EM5 now serves mainly as a USB DAC/AMP, and the Pixel takes over as streaming source, while also doubling as my smart home hub.
ddHifi TC44pro - I was looking for the smallest, most compact balanced USB C DAC