Music streamers

cleeds

Feedback like yours on the Aurender was what steered me away from them. I get that their Conductor app is good, if you don’t want Roon, but if you decide you want Roon later you’re SOL. I’m kind of blown away that the $20,000 Aurender is a top AbSound pick. Something had better be as reliable as a crowbar for that kind of money. I wasn't willing to take a chance.

Yes

No recommendations without further info. They all do somethings better OR not at all.
The five I ended up with range from $250 to $1100
If you just want to pay for Roon a Metrum Baby Ambre or a USBridge Signature will get you there ~$400
Much better than a dirty computer.

Last night I streamed from my iPhone to ROON via AirPlay2 to my brand new Matrix Mini-i 3 Pro DAC. Sounded very good.

I also streamed directly from my computer using Toslink to the same Matrix. It was also rather good.

I also streamed from a Sonore microREndu to the USB-C input on the Matrix. That also sounded very good.

In the past (5 years ago) it was easy for me to tell the difference between such comparisons. However, yesterday it was a bit difficult. 

The Matrix DAC I just got has RJ45 connectivity, Wifi, AirPlay2, something that works on Android. I am waiting on ROON Certification so I can use RJ45 Ethernet directly.

I am currently listening to my Sonore microRendu into my Benchmark DAC3B. It sounds better a bit better. I am not sure if it is the streamer, DAC, or combination of the two. The difference however do not seem that large vs the Matrix ($900 MSRP).

DAC inputs must really be improved these days, at least on the Matrix. A lot of headphone folks are connecting directly to their DACs from a computer. I was thinking that is pretty bad but I am not so sure today.

I’ll put it this way. For years I played local files from a desktop or Spotify (through a Schitt MultiBit), to the whole house dist. network. Remote volume and play functions via RF. Program maybe 50% mp3’s. Even set up a Synology. I was happy until I got streamer #1, a lowly BluSound. Stopped playing mp3’s, changed to Qobuz and never looked back. A $100 rPi will out-SQ any commercial computer.
I upgraded as many of the local files as I could and put them on SSD’s accessible via WiFi from the remote desktop. Including SACD one bit files.
Now that is what goes on the dist. network and the FM transmitter.

The OP asked for suggestions under $1000.
Why can't the Aurrender, Auralic Lumin crowd respect a simple request.
Maybe they can't read.

@cleeds,

Sorry to hear about your experience with Aurender and it appears you’re still pretty miffed about it. I see very little point in dwelling over the past. Move on please....