I used a Logitech Touch for several years, upgrading the streaming capability, first with wired ethernet instead of wireless (would never go back) and next with Touch software mods making it - in theory - able to playback PCM 24 - 196. It was not able to stream DSD "native" (only, converted to PCM), and since this was important for me (with a lot of DSD vinyl rips on my hard disks), I decided to upgrade. I went for a one-box solution, the Teac NT-505. It is not exactly cheap, but it does the job, in my case. No problems connecting to the home network, playing DSD or other hi-res files from my hard disks, or streaming from Tidal. The sound quality is clearly a big step up from the Touch, and also, from my former solution, with the Touch as streamer, using the Tascam DA-3000 as DAC. It remains to be seen, how much the AK DAC chips in the Teac outperform the Burr-Brown in the Tascam, there is a bit of "polite" sound, but it is still playing in. Although this solution costs more, it takes all customers, so to speak, all file formats, and you dont need cables and better power cords for two or more boxes. I have no idea, what happens if Tidal shuts down, or Qobuz, or Spotify, or if MQA is still supported - from Teac, but for now, this solution works trouble-free and offers very good sound in our living room. It uses a combination of the Minimserver app (which is free, so far, on the web) on the server, and player control software on the remote (mobile phone, etc). I use the Lumin app, which is quite good, and adds to the convenience.
Where are the cheap home streamers?
When CD players were first introduced, they were $1000 and more new. And this was in early 80's dollars. New ones would eventually drop to under $200, and new players that also play most all formats can still be had around at that price or less. Sure, not the best quality, but they work well enough for most.
The new frontier is of course, streaming. Whether from a local host, online, and so on. Many options in the high end, but what seems odd is the lack of budget options. Probably the least expensive that's of decent quality is the Sonos Connect. Oh sure, you can pair a computer or tablet with a cheap DAC, and get by. Or roll your own with a Raspberry Pi solution. And yes, most disc players are "smart" and can stream audio and video just fine. Among other issues, is that the budget options are defaulting to HDMI out, and omitting Optical, Digital, and Analog out.
There were some early efforts by Sony and Dlink a few years ago. Both not only required a display, but were pretty terrible implementations overall. We recently tried one of the Dayton WBA 31s. For a mere $50, expectations were of course also modest. As you might imagine, analog audio out is not great. Below that of many phones we'd say. It does however had an optical output. A dealbreaker for most of our clients in terms of added complexity. If produced in sufficient number, there is no good reason such a unit with a decent DAC couldn't be built and sold for $200 or so. Or maybe someone is doing this, and it's just not well distributed?
The new frontier is of course, streaming. Whether from a local host, online, and so on. Many options in the high end, but what seems odd is the lack of budget options. Probably the least expensive that's of decent quality is the Sonos Connect. Oh sure, you can pair a computer or tablet with a cheap DAC, and get by. Or roll your own with a Raspberry Pi solution. And yes, most disc players are "smart" and can stream audio and video just fine. Among other issues, is that the budget options are defaulting to HDMI out, and omitting Optical, Digital, and Analog out.
There were some early efforts by Sony and Dlink a few years ago. Both not only required a display, but were pretty terrible implementations overall. We recently tried one of the Dayton WBA 31s. For a mere $50, expectations were of course also modest. As you might imagine, analog audio out is not great. Below that of many phones we'd say. It does however had an optical output. A dealbreaker for most of our clients in terms of added complexity. If produced in sufficient number, there is no good reason such a unit with a decent DAC couldn't be built and sold for $200 or so. Or maybe someone is doing this, and it's just not well distributed?
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- 79 posts total
- 79 posts total