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Fairly new to streaming. Where to start?

$2k & under budget

Aralic Vega has streamer  and DAC. May be the easiest start?
Then there is Schiit...Yiggy or Gumby...which streamer?
Ladder NOS dac? Or Chip? I'm old. maybe I'll like the old school DAC?
Then there is  Benchmark DAC 3...I think it has streamer?
Then
Exasound E32
Audio Mirror?
Metrum
MHDT Orchid
Border Patrol?
Musical Paradise?
Whats a newbie to do? I am a classic rock fan with lots of FLAC & M4a files. I like detail & PRaT. Love a good bass line. I also play some 70's jazz. I have a Theta Miles CD player from the 1900's & play a lot of vinyl too. But I need to come into the 21st century.  Besides, I will probably become tired of the vinyl ritual and work at some point as I get older. I think I have done enough homework to be somewhat confused. Maybe the biggest question in light of how fast digital changes is the question of streamer with DAC or separate Streamer and DAC. One other question is the streamer & bridge the same thing? OK Thanks!! 
128x128artemus_5
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,986 posts
 
@big_greg




if you want to get the best sound quality, consider something other than the Bluesound line. Investing in something with a better DAC will have more of an impact on sound quality than whether the files are stored on a spinning hard drive or a SSD.
Yes. That was my initial thought. But the equip I had scouted were Dacs only. That was my misunderstanding because the terminology is not clear to me.So the budget comes into play about which streamer or player to start with. So far has been suggested by a lot of people. I already know I won’t stop with the Bluesound Dac. I’m looking towards a good r2r dac or maybe the Benchmark or something similar. That’s where I am now. Just trying to get started on the right foot. It does look like the Aurender is ahead of the game. But whatever the case, I believe its going to cost more than I had budgeted. But that’s nothing new (-:

BTW Thanks for the heads up on the Teac. 
big_greg
6,664 posts
 
The TEAC NT-505 is both a streamer and DAC and was a noticeable improvement over my Bluesound Node 2.  It also allows me to stream files from my network.  I paid less than $2K.  The Lumin D2 is the other one I'd look at around your budget.  Retail is $2300 for the Lumin.
whatsthatbuzz
7 posts
 
I'm finding this discussion really interesting because I too am considering upgrades to the digital side of my system.

Currently, I just have an old iPhone as my "streamer". The iPhone's Thunderbolt USB is plugged into a Shiit BiFrost Multibit DAC.

What am I missing from streaming from the iPhone that I would get through a streamer? What digital component would you upgrade next? 
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,986 posts
 
@ big_greg

Those 2 have risen to the top of the list. I just learned I don’t need the vault. I have a new PC. Ripping to Flac is simple in Win 10. So to celebrate my new learnin’ I’m gonna buy a new set of power tubes for my amp. This is the last day of steroids so I may get some brain cells back...or at least be able to focus.

@whatsthatbuzz

First thing is your files. Using apple (Mac) you are limited to apple lossless. NO Mp3. I also believe that a streamer/server/player would be preferable to a phone. I’m not totally sure of that. But wireless is going to have some part of the problem. Then again, that too is debatable. The Node 2i is popular.I’m not the sharpest knife in this drawer but I have been in the audiophile community for a long time and I know that lossless codec is a must.  And I have used digital music files since Napster.  Others may chime in with more help. Good luck
whatsthatbuzz
7 posts
 
@ artemus_5

sorry to piggyback on your post, but seems like you had good contributors...

I am, unlike you, looking to connect to Spotify and Tidal. I don't understand why a streamer would provide better sound than an iPhone if I am just using internet streaming services, and connecting the iPhone to a DAC..?
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