I'm interested in the CXN V2 - it looks like it's in my sweet spot price and feature-wise (including the balanced outputs) but I wonder about the lack of MQA (which the Node 2i has, but no XLR either.)
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!!
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!!
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- 146 posts total
I meant to mention earlier that if you want to stream over wireless and are looking at a device that doesn't have wireless capability, it's really easy and inexpensive to set up a wireless access point. It's like a wireless receiver that you can connect an ethernet cable to. Here's the device I use. https://www.newegg.com/tp-link-tl-wa801nd/p/N82E16833704052 I have it connected to an ethernet switch that my streamer, roku, TV, Oppo bluray player, and home theater processor are all connected to. Works great! Many recommend a direct wired connection, but that's not practical for everyone. |
I use Roon and have been streaming for several years. I stream both Tidal and more recently Qobuz as well as music from my local NAS. My primary streaming setup is a Schiit Yggdrasil DAC and a Metrum Ambre streamer. They work very well together and are seamless with Roon. Music quality is excellent. The downside for many people is cost as these two units together run $3000 to $3500. Don’t get me wrong, I love them and for me they are absolutely worth it. A few months back I was watching a “Darko” youtube video about a Raspberry Pi music dac/streamer combo from Allo called the Boss Player. It’s a Roon ready dac/streamer in one box and costs $169. You need to add $25 or so to power it, but Darko gave it rave reviews – so I had to try it. When it arrived, it took about 20 min to assemble it and get it on my network. I had decided to use Ropieee software and it is also seamless when interfacing with Roon. When streaming HiRes music through Roon I cannot detect a difference in quality between the two approaches – maybe hard to believe, but true. Doing some further research into the Metrum Ambre, I found that it is also running Raspberry Pi internally and Ropieee software. Without question, the Ambre is a solid, well built unit and has considerably more interface options, but the heart of it is the same. My recommendation for anyone who wants to try streaming without spending a great deal of money should try the Raspberry Pi route – then they could move up to more expensive solutions when they wish. |
+1 for Bluesound Node2i. I have the NAD C388 (integrated Ncore-based amp) with BluOS2i integrated module (occupies one of the MDC slots). Heard NAD is discontinuing this topology - but they work great. WiFi, Amazon UltraHD, no cables, great interface using BluOS on PC/tablet/phone app. Side note: Using C388 for the digital experience, and full range RCA outs to a miniDSP4x10 (for DSP control) to Crestron 12x60 (made by ATI) for class A/B experience. Needed DSP and multi-channel amp for LXmini and other speakers rotating through the demo stable (to compare LXmini against) - currently Tekton DI. LXmini require active crossover, and comparing other speakers requires adjusting gain to eliminate volume bias during A/B - that is all handled by the DSP config. BluOS2i interface works very well by BluOS app. Any service, including Tidal with native MQA unfolding, is available. Or even by Bluetooth (for non-critical listening) from a PC/tablet/phone running any other (not BluOS) app. |
- 146 posts total