Best budget streamer on the market now?

Mikerubin.
Hi-fi cast installed and now will be a case of seeing how it performs over time.

Instantly saw both Chromecast units, my Ayre EX8, my PC NAS and my iPad.
Awesome sauce on that score!

Uber - I’m using Volumio (29 Euro/year for one device) with Raspberry Pi (~$50 + <$30 for a case) and with Tinkerboard S (~$100 + <$30 for a case). I like the user interface and it supports Qobuz and Tidal, as well as local or network storage of ripped files in most formats. If you’re at all technically inclined, you can have all kinds of geeky fun with these for a few hundred bucks all in. And I’m pretty pleased with the results. (https://volumio.org). You can control it all via web browser, Android, or iPhone/iPad.

I’ve also found some cases on Amazon that look at home with the rest of my system. (Benchmark DAC3 HGC, Benchmark AHB2,Joseph Audio Pulsars). You can get a decent power supply from $25 to "sky-is-the-limit", but I’ve had reasonably good price/performance experience with a Chinese (MeanWell) desktop supply for about $28. With the system above, I’ve added a linear PS and a USB REGEN device from Uptone Audio (adds $610) that yields noticeable improvements with some equipment combinations, but my brother prefers to use the Pi-based streamer that I built for him without either device from Uptone when used in front of his Rega Saturn R CD/DAC + Rega Osiris, so some experimentation helps here too. (By the way, there's some pretty interesting information regarding power supplies in general on the Uptone site.)

The choice of board makes a difference when I try to work with different DACs (functionality- and user-experience-wise). For example, the Tinkerboard S and my Uptone Audio USB REGEN don’t get along when using Volumio, but I find that the Tinkerboard doesn’t benefit from the REGEN nearly as much as does the Pi board. And the Volumio software is glitchy with the Tinkerboard and the Benchmark DAC but seems to work fine everywhere else I’ve tried it. These issues seem to be corrected by the developers as time goes on - Tinkerboard being relatively new vs. the Pi - but this is representative of the last time I combined the two.

So if you don’t mind a little DIY, this could be an option. Yes, the costs can escalate, but until I’m ready to spend $2000 and up for a turn-key streamer, I’m pretty satisfied with even the low-end results (as is my brother).

I probably have an older Pi board and a case that I’m not using lying around here that you’re welcome to try (if I can find it) that I’ll rebuild with the free version of Volumio (no Qobuz but supports rips). This would give you a sense of the low end of the performance you could ultimately achieve, but could be useful for comparison. Just message me and I’ll be happy to lend it to you.

Correction on one detail: Not a USB REGEN from Uptone but an ISO REGEN. 

Uberwaltz, I have the Yamaha WXA50 in my secondary system.  It works well as a streamer, but the DAC SQ isn't very impressive. If SQ means anything, I'd avoid that series.

On a Google Nexus6P w/ Android 8.x the BubbleUPnP app has been rock-stable for me for nearly two years - can’t remember a single crash. Check that you’re on latest Android version compatible with your phone. If it’s a carrier-subsidized unit you may be running into some incompatibility bet. BubbleUPnP and the carrier/manufacturer-hacked version of Android or their bloat-ware.

Like cal3713 said, email the BubbleUPnP developer - he’s responsive and cares.

Cambridge CXN V2 is on sale at Music Direct $725 until they are gone.  I ordered on yesterday.

I think the CXN was a great choice at it's original price. It's an easy choice at the sale price. 

I have a Vault 2i and love it... I would buy a Node 2i in a second....  

I only heard the Node analog out with Tidal and it sucked big time. 

I received my Node 2i today. It was challenging at first getting it to network up. iPad users may find it useful that joining the Node to the WiFi network is done by adding the Node under “add Airplay speaker” in the iPad settings. The routers WiFi password was not necessary. BluOS app -To add radio presets, start a radio station, go to presets and push the + sign. Tone control is Menu, Settings, Player, Audio. I like this app. So easy. For the money I’m totally pleased. The DAC is noticeably better than the Sangean WFT-1 it replaced (now $350), but just. I see a better DAC in my future somehow. No rush. Speaking of rush, I ordered the Node 2i from Bright Audio in nyc and it showed up in exactly one week, drop shipped from the distributor. Still $499 and 10% off coupon for my first store purchase made it about $451, shipping to CA included.

I use a Tunebox2 ($75) into a Schiit Modi Multi-bit to stream Amazon Music HD from my iPhone or MacBook.

Max quality tracks play at 24-bit/48khz.

I’m sure there are much better setups, but this works flawlessly for me. 

Thought I would check back in and update.

Moving to Amazon Music means at least on my android phone that I can cast to each Chromecast unit direct from the Amazon Music app.
Works extremely well with zero crashes or glitches so far.

IPad is another story as it only supports airplay devices.
A quick get around on this is not quite as convenient but the SQ makes up for it.
Connected by lightning to USB powered hub into my Ayre EX8.
Running Amazon Music app it instantly sees the hub as a Bluetooth device( most odd as I am NOT using bluetooth but it works!).
Streams at 24/192 where applicable and sounds fantastic imho.

I am a Tidal HiFi subscriber.   I am also an Amazon Prime member.  My impression of the Amazon interface is that it sucks.  More even than Cambridge's Tidal interface.

Lol to that.

Amazon have some work to do for sure if they intend to take over the streaming world as they have online shopping.

A vote here for the Cambridge CXN (V2)...   not totally plug and play if real sound is your thing as it was quite "screamy" and tilted up out of the box.  Audioquest power cord ($230) fixed part of that, the rest was fixed with a Straightwire Expressivo interconnects ($400)...    and two weeks of burn in. Tonality very relaxed and honest now.  Very happy with the result.