2. digital
  3. 160337-88923

Best WiFi Music Streamer Does it exist?

I have been looking for months and I can not find anything that will fulfill my needs.

I need the following:
Music Streamer or Server, internal DAC not wanted or needed, that can accept WiFi. I know the quality is allegedly better with an ethernet cord, but I do not have one available at the location of my system.
Accepts Tidal, MQA, Roon. MQA not mandatory but highly desired.
If it needs a smart phone, it must accept android. Apple products are not available and will never be.

I do have a Dell Windows 10 Computer nearby. It gets music from a hard drive and WiFi.
a) How would the Music server sound with a USB connection from the computer?
b) Should I get a special sound card or software for the computer and ignore getting a separate Music Server?
c) How will the music quality from the Computer to the DAC compare to a separate Music Server used in between the computer and the DAC?
d) How will the music quality from the Computer to the DAC compare to a separate WiFi Music Server to the DAC?

Quality is more important than price.

It will be hooked to good equipment;
Denafrips Terminator,
PS Audio BHK Signature Preamplifier
Pass Labs x260.8 monoblocks
Martin Logan Expression ESL 13a electrostatic speakers

If there is an audible difference, I will be able to hear it (within reason).
firstonetallguy
mattmiller's avatar
mattmiller
1,506 posts
 
If your serious about making this streamer your primary listening device then you have to connect with a CAT 5, and If your DAC has a USB 2.0 Audio connection then it has to be the Aurender XL100 (they do make other models with smaller internal storage). This will be the finest digital source (by far) you will ever need. The SQ from this alone is reason to purchase, but after you add in the Conductor app it is special indeed. And think about this...IF wireless could handle the high rates that streaming requires then Aurender would make a wireless streamer....They dont.

Aurender.com


Matt M





fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,638 posts
 
I love my Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra. It has WiFi and BlueTooth. I use neither. I'm running Cat8 from a Silent Angel switch.
It uses an embedded custom version of Volumio that does not require additional fees to stream Roon, Amazon, Qobuz, Tidal and Spotify. It's THE BEST for playing local files via 2 USB ports, PCM AND native DSD. The only thing it's light on is radio - no Tune In. Maybe in future updates.
My BluNode does most radio stations.
gdnrbob
4,472 posts
 
Bluesound Nodes or an Aurender N100.
The former has a formidable list of streaming services, the latter is either Qobuz or Tidal.
Bob
firstonetallguy OP
90 posts
 
mattmiller

If your serious about making this streamer your primary listening device then you have to connect with a CAT 5,
"I know the quality is allegedly better with an ethernet cord, but I do not have one available at the location of my system.

If it needs a smart phone, it must accept android. Apple products are not available and will never be."

I have looked into the Aurender products, but they do not fulfill my needs, because they do not have WiFi and they do not have android applications.  At least I can not find that they do.

Thanks for your ideas.

djones51
4,947 posts
 
Auralic Aries G1 streaming transporter. Connect your hard drive to it connect it to your DAC. If you want an all in one with internal storage and DAC they have other products.  It can be controlled with BubbleUPnP, Kazoo instead of the Lightning app which is iOS.
More to discover