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DAC + NAS streamer combo (NOT Tidal/Qobuz etc)

Hi, I’m looking for a stereo DAC and streamer that can stream from my local NAS server. I DON’T care about Tidal/Qobuz and all that crap: just my own music. An example is an Exasound e32/Sigma Streamer combo (I have their e38 + Sigma and it works beautifully).  I’ll connect to the streamer through a Roon core running on my Mac. Budget 3-4K. Used ok. Recommendations please?  
Most important to me is that the DAC be as neutral as possible (and of course work with Roon). All the ones I looked at that are Roon-reconnected on their website are for hi-res  streaming and seem to have a lot of bells and whistles with touch screens and other junk.  I want a basic but high quality DAC. 

Am connecting it to a Pass Labs xp32 preamp, First Watt j2 amp and Tannoy speakers.  Listen exclusively to classical and jazz. 
Thanks!!!


ssmaudio
nekoaudio's avatar
nekoaudio
489 posts
 
@ssmaudio the Exasound Sigma is your network streamer already. It's just not a DAC + streamer, since it only outputs digital audio.

Functionally, there is no advantage to you purchasing something else given you already have the Sigma network streamer and e32 DAC. But if you want a single box, or something that sounds different/better, or supports some other feature, then it makes sense to look at other options.
rego
378 posts
 
+1 @nekoaudio 
So is there any advantage to a network streamer?  
This question is where the discussion (streamer) begins. 
One way to 'Stream' would be to use the NAS as the Server.
Your current Flow / NAS > Ethernet (WiFi) > Roon Core > Sigma Streamer > DAC > Input ...
The Sigma Streamer appears to be Roon Ready so the Mac Core is redundant in the flow.
Typically an App (Roon for iOS / Android) is used to control the playback.
By the time you have a file input to the DAC the media source (your files from the NAS) or a Streaming Service is not the focus of how the gear matters.
Local files or Service (HD Audio) files are more or less equivalent for Streaming.
Only a handful of DACs / Streamer DACs offer the capacity to run an Ethernet connection from DAC to PreAmp input-not to mention the Pre.
The Pass Pre does not appear to have an USB input ... ???

nekoaudio's avatar
nekoaudio
489 posts
 
Actually, the Mac is not redundant. You need a Roon Core somewhere. Your Mac computer is acting as the Roon Core. The Sigma Streamer cannot act as a Roon Core, only as a Roon Ready endpoint.

Some audio components can run Roon Core on them, with hardware and processing power in them similar to a general purpose computer to run Roon Core, but the Sigma Streamer is not one of them.
rego
378 posts
 
@nekoaudio, would you please show where the Sigma Streamer is not being used as the Roon Core ... or how Sigma Streamer does not function as a Roon Core ...
If the Sigma Streamer is not functional as a "Core" please show where this is stated.

From exaSound website: Roon Ready -
"The exaSound Sigma connects your exaSound DAC to the home network and turns it into a streaming device. It delivers seamless, top-quality sound with Roon, HQPlayer, UPnP and Airplay. "

The Roon website states:

Nucleus (Roon Streamer)

or 

Apple
Windows
Linux
NAS (gee none of this is confusing at all ...) -_-

What am I missing here ... ?



nekoaudio's avatar
nekoaudio
489 posts
 
@rego Roon Ready is not the same as Roon Core. A Roon Ready device is like a Roon RAAT Client, while the Roon Core is like a Roon RAAT Server. The Sigma Streamer is only ever described as Roon Ready.

From the Sigma Streamer manual, page 10:

The Roon playback engine - Roon Core must be installed on a music server like the exaSound Gamma Server or any third-party music server. Roon Core can also be installed on Mac or Windows computer. Your Roon server must be connected to your home network and to the Internet.

For all music streaming, there are three components: the music server, the music client, and the control UI.

The Sigma Streamer is never a "server" as far as I can tell. For any of Roon, HQPlayer, UPnP, or AirPlay. It is only a client. Sigma sells servers separately.

For the four examples listed, the server is:
  • Roon Core is the Roon server. It can be installed headless (no UI) on Windows, macOS, Linux, supported NAS operating systems like QNAP and Synology.
  • HQPlayer will run a server when installed and running on your computer.
  • A UPnP server might be MinimServer running on your computer or NAS or, sometimes an audio device like the Marantz ND8006 that can UPnP serve the CD inserted into it if I remember correctly.
  • An AirPlay server is your Mac or iOS device.
For the for examples listed, the control UI is:
  • For Roon, that will be the Roon UI app which might be running on the same computer as your Roon Core, but it could be the Roon UI app running on an iOS or Android device.
  • HQPlayer is itself also the control.
  • A UPnP server could be made use of via an app like BubbleUPnP (not BubbleUPnP Server) or Glider.
  • AirPlay is usually controlled by the AirPlay app on the same device as your AirPlay server, but not always. An example of not always is when using the Apple Remote iOS app, where your music might be on your Mac but you use the Remote app on your iPhone to tell your Mac AirPlay server to send music to some other AirPlay client.
Roon has a handy chart showing these three components of control app, server (Core), and client (audio device) for their software downloads. The chart doesn't show hardware, like the Sigma Streamer, but Roon Ready and Roon Tested essentially fall under the client / audio device column.
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