Streaming Services


Hello, Folks -

In an attempt to (somewhat) get with the times, I am incorporating streaming as a source in my audio system.

In my research I’ve seen that sound quality varies among the providers.

I’m looking for a provider suggestion. A service that you feel has high sound quality.

For the most part this would be for classical music. Some classic rock and jazz would be a plus.

I’m a fuddy duddy with my equipment and am not looking to change anything out. What I have:

Conrad Johnson HD3 USB DAC

Conrad Johnson Premier 16LS Preamp

Conrad Johnson Premier 12 Mono Block Power Amps

Vandersteen Quattro Loudspeakers

PGS interconnects

MacBook Pro

Any suggestions/recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you very much for reading my post.

Regards,

Randy

 

rbschauman

Thank you, kiwiscott!

Your posts are going to be extremely helpful as I go through my search!

I greatly appreciate the time and thought you put into them to help me out!

 

+1 @fuzztone. However, none of the streaming services will sound as good as local music files, so understand there are limitations, even with Quobuz. I’ve seen audio magazine reviewers use albums from streaming services for their reviews. I don’t know how they can do that considering the level of inconsistency in sound and the number of variables there are with internet streaming. Good luck and enjoy. 

Innuos is what I use for a streamer with their external power supply. Like their free software with upgrades. Customer Service has been great and I have ripped my 1031 cd's to it. Very much enjoyed getting that done. Tidal for music but listening to Radio Paradise and WNCW mostly. 

@rbschauman 
Being new to streaming, I would start off with Node130 as @curiousjim and @fuzztone pointed out and use your CJ DAC via USB. Avoid the headaches with Laptop and start off on a solid / stable foundation with Node130. The BluOS Controller app is easy to follow (iPad recommended) and provides seamless integration for many cloud based streaming services. A wired Ethernet connection is recommended for better sound quality and network stability. You can get your streaming system up n running in 3 easy steps, don’t overthink it.

Step 1 - Buy Node 130 and good quality USB cable

Step 2 - Use Wired Ethernet connection to Node130

Step 3 - Sign up with Qobuz

Until you fully acclimated with streaming just ‘save’ the comments like streaming is not good enough vs local files; MQA vs DSD vs FLAC endless debates for later. There is plenty of great sounding content on streaming. Embrace Streaming, sit back and enjoy!

Nothing wrong with using your Macbook into a DAC for streaming. It’s the same raw signal coming into the device and then going out to the DAC, and the DAC becomes the important part. The Macbook is kind of irrelevant. I stream mainly from my iPad into a DAC and that is my favorite way to use Amazon HD audio. I’m still searching for a separate streaming component for my main system, and taking input from these forums. I’m not going to pay for multiple services, and unless Amazon shows quality issues with the audio it’s a good fit for us. My main issue with the devices out there is that it’s rare to find one that not only has good streaming services, but can also store and play local files. Tough to beat the BluOS system, (BlueSound devices) but the Node needs a decent DAC, and the devices from other brands such as NAD do not have all the functionality I want. Not going to spend more than $5k for a device that "should" be better than my iPad and DAC combo, especially when most of those devices are missing one function or another. Frustrating.