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

I’m looking for a simple streamer to connect to my Schiit Bifrost DAC via USB, coax, or toslink. Every streamer I look at has some combination of features I don’t need: screen, preamp, phono stage, amp, DAC, hard drive, Roon-readiness, etc.

All I want to do is use Tidal Connect on my iPhone or iPad to send the content to the streaming device which will connect to my DAC which is connected to my system. For the sake of convenience, I’d prefer not to connect my phone or iPad directly to the DAC. 

So is there a really basic and pared down streamer that’ll just accept content from Tidal or the like or am I going to have to sort out which streamer has the least amount of features I don’t need and just live with it? Or am I just going to have to accept connecting my iPhone or iPad to the DAC?


pip_helix
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fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,623 posts
 
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.
mlsstl
1,437 posts
 
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
pip_helix OP
30 posts
 
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.......
ecpninja
90 posts
 
I have a stack audio streamer it serves the purpose
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