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Basic Tidal streamer to USB DAC

Forgive me if I'm broaching a topic that has been addressed many times before, but I've been searching through the forums and can't quite find what I'm looking for.

I currently use a MacBook Pro running Audirvana Plus to stream Tidal directly viA USB to my DAC.  I want to eliminate the MacBook from this chain and instead use a basic network streamer that I can control from an iPhone or iPad to stream Tidal to the DAC.  The DAC is USB only so this streamer must have a USB out.

I can't seem to find a basic streamer that does just this and only this.  I don't need a DAC in the streamer, and I really don't understand all the other Roon business and all that.  I just want to stream Tidal to my DAC without using a laptop.

Any recommendations?  Thanks for your help.

zm
zm OP
121 posts
 
Thank you for your detailed response, nekoaudio! Very helpful. The latter approach (a streamer that natively supports Tidal) is the way I was thinking I would go, I just haven’t found many streamers that seem to fit my rather basic needs without going overboard with other functionality.

Perhaps a Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra is the kind of thing I’m looking for?  I would consider a Bluesound Node 2i, which I've heard a lot about, but I don't believe it has a USB output.

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czarivey
5,946 posts
 
airplay is never reliable and never supported by manufacturer warranty. 
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,539 posts
 
If your budget allows, pick up a used Aurender N100H. This will give you substantial upgrade in sound quality over your MacBook or anything under $1K.

Innuos Zen Mini has USB output but it also has a internal DAC just like Node 2i. For the price and features, it’s hard to beat these streamers.
digepix's avatar
digepix
121 posts
 
I don't get streamers. I re-clock the usb data coming out of the pc. I use Tidal's player into an NOS dac, done.
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