2. digital
  3. 168683-67981

Advice on a streamer

I'm starting to look into a dedicated streamer.  Recently, the CD's have been gathering dust while I hook up an ipad with the headphone jack to the preamp listening to youtube the majority of the time, and I'm ready to upgrade from that.  I have about 300 - 400 CD's that would be nice to rip to a server with some sort of loss-less format.  I'm still on the fence about that...nice to have, but I'm not completely sold on this yet (meaning that I probably won't buy any more CD's, so whatever I rip will be a one time thing (granted a long thing, but whatever)).  So if I sacrifice sound for ripping, then forget it.  I'm also a cheapish bastard that's not willing to drop a ton of money on a streamer. 

My current system is:
Marantz SACD SA8005
Krell KSP 7B (sometimes switched with a Berning TF10)
Mcintosh MC275
B&W 683

I've been looking at Cambridge audio and Cocktail Audio for streamers. I know the Bluesound Vault 2 would do the job, but, for what I've gathered, the sound quality just isn't up to par.  From what I've been reading, I will likely get Qobuz, as it seems to get more positive reviews than the other services.  

My budget is between $1000 - 1500 with some flexibility.  One key component is the WAF...one thing that we both like and feel it would fit in with our system is a small screen on the streamer that displays the album art (I know we should base it on sound and sound alone, but damnit, it's 2021!  I want great sound and good looks!).  That's why I'm leaning toward the Cambridge audio CXV/851N or one of the Cocktail Audio ones.  I do not have a dedicated DAC unit and would prefer not to purchase one.  

Last item to throw out there.  I would to take the streamer (well, more specifically a hard drive with my music on it) to a cabin where I don't have internet access.  Do these/any streamers work well without internet access to see or pull up music from a hard drive on my phone using an app through bluetooth (does that make sense?)

Does anyone have experience or suggestions on the ones I'm looking at or others I haven't suggested?  Thanks!   
jbeckley42
headphonedreams
527 posts
 
However, I'm not completely sold on getting a ripper yet, so I might just focus on the streamer. Still up in the air.

You don't need a special ripper. Any computer should do if you buy a cheap cd-rom. Mine cost about $50. You do need a hard-drive large enough to store everything. 
jbeckley42 OP
5 posts
 
@headphonedreams  That is the direction that I'm leaning toward.  A ripper seems to add a bit of cost to the streamers and once I get my CD's ripped...well...then I won't likely use it anymore.  

Any recommendation on software for ripping the CD's?  There seem to be quite a few out there.
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,176 posts
 
Come up witha bit more the Melco N100 , 
check out Perrotta consulting great Roon ready server very good deal especially if buying a Ethernet cable or otherwise ,Wireworld starlight great cable for $$ spent.
with a bunch of very good reviews.
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,176 posts
 
Spending abit more ,much better throughout technologies the 
Melco N100 is made in Japan not China  has a minimum 2T 
hard drive superb filtering ,just read severalExcellent  reviews and has a-nice screen, give Perrotta consultants a call maybe with the excellent value  Wireworld starlight Ethernet cable to streamer you canget an attractive price ,well worth saving abit more $$ for 
a much higher end Roon ready streamer  ,and built to last
and firmware upgrades easy to install, very well engineered .
Ag insider logo xs@2x
yowser
97 posts
 
Any recommendation on software for ripping the CD's?
I used dbpoweramp from recommendations here.  Easy to use and I think a 21 day free trial.  I ripped over 400 cd's in less than a week in my spare time.
More to discover