First Streamer...


Hi,

I'm planning to buy my first streamer.

Honestly, I have no idea which brand of streamer to purchase and would welcome suggestions.

I'd like to use my android phone to select material which will be played through a Audio Research VSi60 amp and homemade Zaph Audio ZRT Revelator speakers.   My CD player ( a Rega Saturn) has  a DAC which could be used for streaming.

Any suggestions?   

I'm looking to stream TIDAL using Verizon's Fios service  and spend under $2000.

   

 

johndyson

@carlsbad Agreed. One bright spot is that an average dac today is so much better than an average dac of 10-15 years ago. Its a great time to be in the hobby.

I forgot to mention that PS Audio is two months from introducing their $2K AirLens streamer. There are over 2000 post on their AirLens thread. The selling point is that all input and outputs are galvanically isolated and it has I2s out. I2s has been promoted by PS Audio for some time. I’ll be watching reviews. It looks promising. PS Audio has a 30 day no questions asked return window.

I²S, is an electrical serial bus interface standard used for connecting digital audio devices together. It is used to communicate PCM audio data between integrated circuits in an electronic device. Wikipedia

Protocol: Serial

Designed: 1986; 36 years ago

Width: 1 data line (SD) +; 2 clock lines (SCK, WS)

Data signal: Push-Pull

The newest Bluesound Node (130) is a pretty great streamer to start with. It's easy to use, the software is terrific, and it's easy to set up. At $600 it's easy on the budget, and can be very very good with a good DAC. I am not familiar with the Saturn, but it looks to have USB co-ax digital inputs.....so it's a start. If you outgrow the unit at some time, you can probably sell the unit and get a chunk of your money back out of it.

Moon Neo Mind over on USaudiomart for $750.  Also a Bryston BDP3 over there as well.  Bryston BDP on here for around $700 and they sound great.  Bryston interface is  a bit spartan but their units sound good and work as Roon endpoints as well