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Streaming only for Tidal Premium

A long time audiophile, nowadays, I only listen to TIDAL Premium through USB Audio Player Pro using an Android tablet connected with a long USB cable to one of a few DACs.  I use the tablet like a juke box and rarely listen to my own music collection.

I have a couple of DIY DACs, a Sabaj D5, and have a Dennafrips Ares 2 on the way .I generally do not use a preamp. The amps are Krell KSA100, Classe AMP2, and Parasound A21. Speakers will generally be B&W 705 S2.  I may change components regularly.

I know little to nothing about streamers but I thought a streamer would get rid of the USB cable and give me more flexibility and potentially better SQ.

I would like recommendations of a streamer that could connect to my wifi server and TIDAL, with software that is equal to or better than USBAudioPlayerPro.

I would like to be able to control the volume and the streamer/TIDAL with an android app. 
chinook9
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,589 posts
 
A streamer is what you need.  You connect it to your wifi modem via wifi or wire (ethernet cable).  I don't know if one of the DACs you have on the way is a streamer/DAC or not.  The streamer I use is a Bluesound Node 2.

I connect it to my wifi modem by cat 6 ethernet cable and to my DAC with a digital coaxial cable.  I downloaded the Bluesound app (BluOs) to my tablet from the Google Play store (it's free).

Once I did the setup for the app, I just open it up, select Tidal and browse Tidal for what I want to listen to.  My tablet connects to my streamer wirelessly through my wifi.

Hope this helps.
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dbphd
1,628 posts
 
You didn't mention a budget.  I use an Ayre QX-5 Twenty that receives Ethernet to play Qobuz and Tidal, downloaded, and ripped files via Roon.  Balanced analog goes to an Ayre KX-5 Twenty, but a preamp is optional.  The sound quality is superb.  In a secondary setup I use a much less expensive ultraRendu that receives Ethernet and outputs USB to an Ayre Codex DAC.  Roon runs on a Mac Mini and is controlled by an iPad.
erik_squires
16,060 posts
 
The three ecosystems I know of that are popular are Volumio, Roon and BlueOS.

The one issue I have with Roon is that it requires a reasonably well powered core (server), but after that  your streamers can be relatively cheap. I use a Raspberry Pi 4 at my DAC, and have my music collection in a closet with the server.
jl35
3,982 posts
 
be aware that despite the name, Premium is Tidal's low quality audio service, and that HiFi is their CD quality service...confusing choice of labels...
tuberist
951 posts
 
+1 for the Roon "ecosystem" I really enjoy reading about the music and musicians while listening and "navigating" to recommendations. It's worth the $10 a month to me. BTW, the sound quality and ability to DSD upsample is the icing on the cake. As Erik said, you need a robust server to run the program. I'm satisfied with my Small Green Computer I5 being utilized solely as a Roon server.
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