Streamer and DDC (I need AES/SpDif output)
For several reasons I have been off music for a while but I am now getting back to our hobby. I am interested in streaming, I have an older DAC ( Weiss DAC202) with no USB i/f, which sounds best with either Firewire (anyone remember it?) or AES/EBU inputs. I am not interested in upgrading the DAC which sounds excellent. I also have a high end PC which could be used as a server and a NAS so all I need is a steamer/renderer. I see most streamers lack AES and/or Spdif interfaces and USB seems to be the generally accepted interface.
What I was thinking was using a good streamer with USB output and a DDC to convert the USB to AES or Spdif. Question is should I get a better streamer with something like a SRC-DX or a lesser streamer with a better DDC like the Audio-GD DI20HE or the Singxer SU6.
I could buy a streamer with the desired interfaces but the choice is restrictive and the better ones are beyond my budget.
Alternatively I could build a low powered PC with a linear PSU (as a renderer) and use something like HQplayer.
Streamers I am considering (I appreciate some are server/streamer) : Second hand Antipodes EX, Innuos Zen/Zenith, older Aurender.
DDCs : SRC-DX, Audio-GD DI20HE (or newer DI24HE), Singrex SU6, Martix X-spdif.
Budget: up to 3,500 Euro.
Thanks,
Greg
@greg_f Keep in mind, however, that the Metronome DSS while a very high-end device with a great sound, is a rather straightforward streamer. It has no remote, no display, no internal drive (though one can connect an external drive). I am fine with that, but some people want more from a high-priced streaming device.
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@stievus Yes, I realize it is a somewhat basic streamer with no bells and whistles. I am ok with this, I am more interested in the sound quality more than anything else. I am not saying I don't like a big display like the HIfi Rose RS130, or a more integrated environment like Aurender or Innuos offer but my number one priority is how it sounds. In my situation one of the advantages of the Metronome is the outputs that it has, my DAC is old but still very, very good but it doesn't have a USB interface. I need to dig in a little bit more to find out the quality of the clocks in the Metronome, they seem to have payed proper attention to the PSUs so that gives me some confidence that they know what they are doing. Unfortunately it is very difficult to find detailed technical information about this streamer, not many reviews exist. |
@greg_f I have been in touch with them in my best french :-) No doubt, they really know what they are doing. If you are not sure, then consider the DSS2. At the moment it is on sale at Kronos AV. It is my experience that they are very helpful people with all the questions you might have. |
@mahler123 I too much prefer FireWire to USB for audio, I still have a PCIe FireWire card in a decent music server and it connects to the Weiss :) |
