My 2 cents: I'm on the path to buying a Lumin U1 Mini streamer to replace a Windows laptop that's running JRiver, but I'm pausing at the added complexity and loss of functionality. As far as I can tell, all these streamers lose Internet browsing for content and replace it with a sandbox like TuneIn.
To me, JRiver makes a great control point that can be run remote with JRemote on Android or iPad, but they're going to lose the game if they don't provide seamless integration to Tidal, Amazon high-res and Qobuz because that's where many audiophiles are headed. Why? When I got Qobuz it instantly obsoleted my ripped CD's or at least made them redundant.
The hardware issue is whether a laptop reduces sound quality compared to a dedicated streamer. Yes, there's noise in the laptop, and usually a basic USB port, but there's many products that will cleanup that USB signal and provide pristine input to the DAC. E.G. SOtM and Sonore.
Yes, I hate the bloat of Windows, but it's simple to bring up JRiver as the only media interface you need. Do I really want to enter the new world of brain-numbing acronyms and arcane network lingo. The sofrware issue is whether JRiver can provide that total control point and I just don't know what the upcoming version has.
Bottom line: I just want to be an audiophile sitting in a comfortable chair with my Android tablet and effortlessly choose the amazing set of sound sources now available played with maximum quality. Still not convinced the streamers give me completeness.
To me, JRiver makes a great control point that can be run remote with JRemote on Android or iPad, but they're going to lose the game if they don't provide seamless integration to Tidal, Amazon high-res and Qobuz because that's where many audiophiles are headed. Why? When I got Qobuz it instantly obsoleted my ripped CD's or at least made them redundant.
The hardware issue is whether a laptop reduces sound quality compared to a dedicated streamer. Yes, there's noise in the laptop, and usually a basic USB port, but there's many products that will cleanup that USB signal and provide pristine input to the DAC. E.G. SOtM and Sonore.
Yes, I hate the bloat of Windows, but it's simple to bring up JRiver as the only media interface you need. Do I really want to enter the new world of brain-numbing acronyms and arcane network lingo. The sofrware issue is whether JRiver can provide that total control point and I just don't know what the upcoming version has.
Bottom line: I just want to be an audiophile sitting in a comfortable chair with my Android tablet and effortlessly choose the amazing set of sound sources now available played with maximum quality. Still not convinced the streamers give me completeness.