Recommendations for high quality Streaming Audio:


Greetings everyone; looking for recommendations on how to stream high quality audio, let me explain.

I currently use my Apple 8S phone, with a high quality aux cord, into my preamp. This method has better sound quality than when I use a blue-tooth adapter and stream from my phone, but I enjoy being able to stay seated and having control of what I want to listen to.

Anything out there that gives the user remote control / access to what they want to listen to?

If not, I'll settle fort he next best thing, being plugged into my preamp, and having high quality audio without wireless control

Budget: $1,000 for equipment, $25 per month for streaming service.

I don’t know much about DAC’s , streamers, etc.. or alternative music streaming sites, but I do know that there are better options out there from what I’ve read on these forums.

Thanks in advance for the forthcoming enlightenment.

Rene

barkeyzee1
I have the original Node 2. I use it to stream Tidal MQA. The dac inside the Node 2 is adequate, but I have found that running it through my Cambridge 851C's DAC sounds much better. 

I ran a CAT6 cable to the Node 2. I then moved my stereo to a different location and had to use the wifi feature of the Node 2. Music was lifeless. I couldn't believe the difference. I then ran a 50' cord across two rooms so it could have a wired connection. The change was immediate. All the warmth, imaging and listening pleasure returned. I now have to tear up walls and the ceiling to run the wire. Deep sigh.

On another note. I was running a AQ Coffee Coax cable from the Node2 into the 851C. I upgraded to the AQ Diamond and the change was there. Just for fun, I used the Doug Schroeder method and used two Y splitters and ran both the Diamond and the Coffee. The music opened up again. I then went back to just the Coffee and the music sounded flatter. 

But if I had to make just one change, hardwire the internet connection.


An Antipodes DS streamer/server works for me.

Connected to the modem by ethernet cable and then runs to my separate DAC (although it does have a very good built-in DAC) and then on to my amp.

I use an iPad to remotely control Roon which runs the FLAC ripped CDs on the Antipodes HDD as well as Tidal streaming.

No Qobuz in Australia as yet.
BlueSound Node 2i and I upgraded the DAC with an external Denafrips Pontus. Streaming only to Qobuz. Worth to check it out
Cambridge CXN (V2) in the house about 6 or 7 weeks now.  Set up was easy, app is OK, not great.....   First listen was too tilted up and digital so went with an Audioquest power cord and some real good interconnects.  Let it burn in for a month (really did) and it was better every time I checked in. After a month it's just plain scary good.  There are so many really top grade radio stations streaming, and 20 presets you can tag at will, I don't know if I will ever get to a streaming service.
I'll throw in another vote for the Cambridge CXN V2. I've had mine for a few months now and I love it. I selected it over the Node2i for a few reasons. I like that it serves as a digital hub. I can run a CD transport into it, stream Tidal and Spotify (those are the only ones I really use), I can plug in a USB drive when that comes up, it has two audio outputs which I like (running one output to my amp, one output to a headphone rig). It works perfectly for my needs, and I plan to keep it until I upgrade to a higher end streamer and higher end external DAC.