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Need DAC/Streaming Advice

I currently own a Bryston BDP-2 digital player that I run through a Bryston DAC.  As far as playing high resolution files via a thumb drive or other external drive, the BDP-2 sounds great.  The streaming part leaves a lot to be desired.  I can stream Tidal but it is extremely slow and the IPad controller is pretty lousy.  I can listen to Sonos through the DAC into my main system but obviously there is no hi-Rez via Sonos. I would like to find a better solution and am willing to start over (I can move the Bryston components to my secondary system).  What I would like to find is a higher end streamer for my main system that would allow me to stream Tidal, Spotify and Deezer if possible while also playing digital files via thumb drive etc. I have no idea if that can be done in a one box solution or if I would need a separate streamer and DAC.  I would very much appreciate any and all thoughts.  Thanks in advance.
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seedubchris's avatar
seedubchris
1 posts
 
I am most happy streaming tidal from my Astell and kern AK320 via optical to the Chord Hugo 2 TT. Works great . Sounds fantastic. Might upgrade to an aurelec Aries but for now the little player works very well for me . Sounds better than streaming from the tidal desktop app by a big margin . The new Hugo 2 is amazing . 
mrdon
108 posts
 
Blue sound/node should have never came into the conversation as well as the other "affordable" alternatives.. Save your pennies and get something worth owning, just my opinion.. My target is the Lab12 Dac1 and Aries G1, albeit they are both a future goal on my vision board.. 
 
mrdon
108 posts
 
I see you seedubcris. I started out (my desktop) with Martin Logan's 15's and a Schiit Vidar with the Chord Mojo acting as a pre- and volume control streaming Spotify.. Not too shabby.. Now it is PS M700's, Burchart S400's and Prism Sound Callia streaming tidal.. its all in the wrist.. 
gosta's avatar
gosta
839 posts
 
Burchart? Some entry level kit?
johnkay74
4 posts
 
Jonkay
sorry to hear about your Bluesound problems. Did you try a different streamer?
mahler123, I have gone back and forth with a number of solutions:
- Sonos connect (with external dac + amp)
- Naim Nova
- Allo Digi One with Volumio (feeding the above external dac + amp)

The Nova sounded great but it is super expensive and it needs careful partnering with speakers (a bit bass heavy). The Naim app was occasionally buggy.

The Allo Digi One used with Roon is (to my ears) the best sounding and also the cheapest. Unfortunately, scaling this to include additional units (RPi3 based) is not easy and it involves a lot of hassle.

I have resigned to using a single Allo Digi One feeding my main system for critical listening and then a Sonos Connect + Sonos One units for multiroom around the house.

The combination allows for listening options but it results in multiple boxes, cables and switching. Not a problem for me but my family will not go near the system...
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