2. digital
  3. 161623-152584

Looking for a basic streamer without a DAC, preamp, storage and all that

I’m looking for a simple streamer to connect to my Schiit Bifrost DAC via USB, coax, or toslink. Every streamer I look at has some combination of features I don’t need: screen, preamp, phono stage, amp, DAC, hard drive, Roon-readiness, etc.

All I want to do is use Tidal Connect on my iPhone or iPad to send the content to the streaming device which will connect to my DAC which is connected to my system. For the sake of convenience, I’d prefer not to connect my phone or iPad directly to the DAC. 

So is there a really basic and pared down streamer that’ll just accept content from Tidal or the like or am I going to have to sort out which streamer has the least amount of features I don’t need and just live with it? Or am I just going to have to accept connecting my iPhone or iPad to the DAC?


pip_helix
tk21
238 posts
 
A DAC chip adds very little to the cost of a device like the Node 2i.
I have one and keep disconnecting it (to reduce clutter), then wanting to reconnect just because it is so versatile.  The DAC is easily bypassed. But its features include programmable remote control, basic bass management, multi-room play, and streaming services that overlap with what Roon offers.  Using the Node 2i, for instance, I can set up playlist buttons on a handheld IR remote, then rapidly switch between TV and Jazz/Indie music. Dunno how to do this using only Roon and a programmable remote.
headphonedreams
527 posts
 
If you don't want to tinker with a Raspberry Pi you can buy a ready-made one. I have a RPi with a HifiBerry hat and Volumio connected to a dac and it works great.

Like Volumio Primo or Orchard. Or Projekt.

https://youtu.be/zSYyudGfX6E

https://orchardaudio.com/shop/ols/products/pcnp-strmr
mesch
3,510 posts
 
I am with those that recommend the Bluesound  for ease of use. Your Bitfrost is likely a better DAC. Likely not paying much for the internal DAC.

 
Post removed 
calvinandhobbes
307 posts
 
I've been impressed by both the sound quality and user interface of the Pro-ject Stream Box Ultra S2. I was thinking of getting a Bluesound Node, but kept reading that other streamers produced better sound quality (probably due to less jitter introduced by the streamer or cleaned up by the streamer). The Stream Box has improved the sound of my current DACs in terms of bringing out more detail and allowing music to sound more coherent and easily understood. I think that not including a DAC or an LCD screen allowed Pro-ject to focus their budget on isolating components from electrical noise.
More to discover