Wanting to upgrade my streaming sound quality.

I’ve had a Lumin T2 for two years, and have zero complaints. I’m contemplating upgrading to the X1. The Lumin app is solid, if a bit basic.

The T2 does support Tidal Connect, which lets you use Tidal’s iOS app directly, which is a much better user experience. The streaming services want you to use their app. Any third party app can only use subset of APIs the streaming service chooses to make public. Third party apps will always have inferior functionality.

I’ve read that Quboz is also working on a Quboz Connect tech. I’m sure when that’s available, Lumin will quickly add support for it (Lumin’s support is phenomenal), and I’ll ditch Tidal entirely.

I would personally disqualify any product that didn’t support Tidal Connect (or Q-Connect if/when it comes).

I haven’t had any experience with the hifi rose, but I suggest you listen to both and let your ears decide.

Nosulac, I have no doubts the T2 is a solid choice. I have no way to listen to these two in my system unless I buy both and then either sell one or send one back. I’m not set for sure on the HiFi rose but it sure has good reviews.

OP,

Congratulations on your decision. I read the review in The Absolute Sound. Sounds like a really interesting device. I hope you will report back on your findings… how it sounds,  how it compares with your analog system. 

I find this topic so difficult, personally.

In my local audio society, some of the very best rigs have great dacs and then have a raspberry pi or a mac mini or just a simplified computer (built with a kit) with good power supplies, good cabling, etc. for the streaming part. The emphasis is on everything around the streamer. This leaves flexibility for changes in DAC's. 

I do see the logic in getting a one-box solution, especially if one has a good unit in mind and they like the sound of the DAC built in. And, of course, if they're willing to take the digital out from that unit into another, external DAC if their taste or curiousity changes.

For myself, I have a modded Orchid MHDT DAC that I really like and a Bluesound Node 2i. I have pressed people in other threads about whether they could hear a difference when they changed streamers, but there are almost no cases where someone had a controlled comparison to describe. They were almost always changing the DAC involved, too.

So, for now, I'm likely to continue taking the digital stream out of my Orchid, improving the power supply for it (PD Creative, Teddy Pardo, something), and then remaining focused on the other elements of my system.

I appreciate all the recommendations and thoughts, however I think I’m going to stay with a one box solution and I’m leaning toward the hifi rose 150b.

Very interesting feature set. Looks like a worthy competitor to the new Lumin P1, for about half the price.  

IMO, a single integrated box can be a good way to go. It shortens signal paths, reduces box count and cable clutter, and improves system integration for efficient remote control. For an all-digital system, an integrated DAC/streamer/preamp is a modern  alternative to an integrated amp  (IF the volume control is good).  It pushes the advantages of integration upstream, allowing for more flexibility in selecting your power amp(s).

A touch screen could be a nice feature if the device is within easy arm's reach.  Otherwise IMO it's a gimmick;  I'd focus on the screen's information display quality (including readability from a distance).