Looking for a basic streamer without a DAC, preamp, storage and all that

Ok, so maybe there’s already an answer to this question. If so, can someone suggest where I should look? It’d be much appreciated.

There are many threads on streamers, streaming, etc.  Here's one to get you started:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/streamer-with-no-dac?highlight=Streamer

Don’t Aurender and Auralic make streamers like this?

Meridian 210
McIntosh MB50 / MS500

I thought Cary Audio Makes one but now looks like they may only make money that include DACs

Use what Darko uses:
https://darko.audio/2020/06/allos-usbridge-signature-review/
For higher quality with built in LPS:
https://magnahifi.com/nl/mano-ultra-music-streamer-high-res/
More $$ than that will not get you better SQ.

I use my computer to connect via bluetooth to the iFi Zen Blue. The Zen Blue connects to my DAC, and it does have an internal DAC that I don't use. So I play Amazon Music or whatever on my computer and it sounds pretty good.
$125 or something if I remember.

https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-blue/

I used a PC through a Schitt MultiBit for years. It sounds cruddy compared to a cheap streamer into a better DAC.
Even a crappy BluNode.
But for plug and play go with a BluNode and bypass the internal DAC.
Or step up to Magna, the cheaper one is ~$780 via DHL
Rob will have you playing in no time, super support. Jos will hopefully be back soon.

Why don't you go the Raspberry Pi route? With a Rpi 4B you can get good quality USB output or add a HAT card and get SPDIF coax or optical output. You have a number of operating system options available and you can put the whole thing together for $100 or so.  You can gussy them up with linear power supplies for just a bit more.

I've got 3 RPi players in my house and find they more than meet my needs

Some interesting ideas I hadn’t heard of before. Thanks, gents!

I’d been thinking of the Node 2i but was wondering if there was something that had the same streaming functionality but minus a DAC because I thought that might save some $.

I had been looking into RPi based solutions but have also come across lots of folks saying (on the internet anyway) that the software can be a PITA to make work.

After watching some Darko stuff, I was thinking of an Allo DigiOne or USBridge but got hung up after reading about software problems.

Like I said, I really only need to stream some Tidal and maybe other services to one fixed location. I don’t need multiroom streaming and I’ll never get around to ripping my CDs or vinyl to digital. I just don’t have the time or inclination.

My DAC is a Schiit Bifrost 2 with all the fancy inputs and balanced outs so maybe a Node 2i or Magna is the way to go.......

I have a stack audio streamer it serves the purpose

The Node 2i has digital outs so it's easy to bypass its DAC.  It's a good streamer and provides access to all kinds of services.  The BluOs app is a really good basic one.  Works flawlessly.  I don't think there's much out there for less than $500.

I use a Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra; works fine and accomplishes exactly what you describe.  

Can you point to one very good resource for this?  Do any of the software options support high quality synchronization between multiple units?  I have some rare free time for a pet project I want to tackle.

mlsstl852 posts11-17-2020 9:01pmWhy don't you go the Raspberry Pi route? With a Rpi 4B you can get good quality USB output or add a HAT card and get SPDIF coax or optical output. You have a number of operating system options available and you can put the whole thing together for $100 or so. You can gussy them up with linear power supplies for just a bit more.

Dayton Audio makes a device for streaming audio. The WBA31 is a bluetooth and wifi streamer. You can get them from Parts Express for $50. It has a toslink output. I am using one with my Schiit Vali/Modi Multibit for headphones in my bedroom.

I am also using two Raspberry pi/Volumio boxes on two other systems. I use usb to connect with my DAC. The software is not perfect. The Volumio box in the living room is not transmitting sound after an update. I only upgrade one at a time in case there is any problem. The other one is not playing nice with the Volumio app. I set each box with a static ip so I can use a web browser to access it. I have the DHCP set up to start at xxx.xxx.1.100 the "x"s represent whatever your router is using. One Volumio box could be set to use xxx.xxx.1.60 outside of the DHCP range. Punch that address in and you are good to go.

In my living room I sometimes cast to my smart tv. I am using toslink to my DAC. Works great and eliminates a ground loop.

Hello,
You have to think about resale, ease of use, and down the road functionality. The answer is really Blue Node 2i. I know some already mentioned this but you have to think about the three things I said above. Some streamers are a pain to navigate or hook up. What if your DAC fails for some reason meaning it has to be serviced. You can use the DAC in the Blue Node 2i until it’s fixed or replaced. You decide you want higher end and want to sell it. Everyone knows what Blue Node is. You can add on units or different models of Blue Node to have multi room music system functioning from one app. Last but not least. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are a little over a week away. Wait to see if their is a deal to be had. In October Blue Node gave $100 off the 2i. Maybe they will do this in a week. https://holmaudio.com/bluesound/

Agree on Bluesound Node 2i. I got mine, open box, for $450. I stream it to a better DAC.

I mean, what would you really be looking to save by getting something without the DAC? A couple hundred? The point by @hshifi about resale would take care of that difference if you resell.

I haven't had any problems installing and configuring software for the RPis in my systems, but then I am fairly computer literate. There are a number of places where you can get good instructions. To my mind, probably the hardest thing is choosing which of the many options available that you want to use. I currently use two different ones -- one player uses the HiFiBerry OS with their HAT card and is very simple to set up. The other two player use the PiCorePlayer OS which has more options and thus a bit more complicated. I use PCP on those two RPis because the players have touchscreen displays.

As noted, there are many other options available.

Simplest solution is to use Tidal ready Mconnect app with google audio Chromecast device and if you connect it to your DAC with mini toslink to Toslink cable you’ll get tidal’s MQA signal

Oh... sorry, I just realised that Schiit Bifrost I not MQA ready, so you won’t get MQA decoded signal on its output, but still you could do high res over the network streaming with Chromecast Audio connected via Toslink optical and Mconnect app.. here is link to iTunes video how to do it: https://youtu.be/zkv0_2JAdEA

@brockwired 

“In my living room I sometimes cast to my smart tv. I am using toslink to my DAC. Works great and eliminates a ground loop.”

I didn’t catch this earlier!!

 I don’t want to always have the TV on when I’m listening to music (infant in the house) but in the short term it seems I could run Tidal HiFi on my Apple TV and then run optical audio out from my TV to my DAC until I decide on a less “visible” solution like a Node 2i or SMS 200 or similar. 

A DAC chip adds very little to the cost of a device like the Node 2i.
I have one and keep disconnecting it (to reduce clutter), then wanting to reconnect just because it is so versatile.  The DAC is easily bypassed. But its features include programmable remote control, basic bass management, multi-room play, and streaming services that overlap with what Roon offers.  Using the Node 2i, for instance, I can set up playlist buttons on a handheld IR remote, then rapidly switch between TV and Jazz/Indie music. Dunno how to do this using only Roon and a programmable remote.

If you don't want to tinker with a Raspberry Pi you can buy a ready-made one. I have a RPi with a HifiBerry hat and Volumio connected to a dac and it works great.

Like Volumio Primo or Orchard. Or Projekt.

https://youtu.be/zSYyudGfX6E

https://orchardaudio.com/shop/ols/products/pcnp-strmr

I am with those that recommend the Bluesound  for ease of use. Your Bitfrost is likely a better DAC. Likely not paying much for the internal DAC.

 

I've been impressed by both the sound quality and user interface of the Pro-ject Stream Box Ultra S2. I was thinking of getting a Bluesound Node, but kept reading that other streamers produced better sound quality (probably due to less jitter introduced by the streamer or cleaned up by the streamer). The Stream Box has improved the sound of my current DACs in terms of bringing out more detail and allowing music to sound more coherent and easily understood. I think that not including a DAC or an LCD screen allowed Pro-ject to focus their budget on isolating components from electrical noise.