Streamer wanted

I don’t know if this helps, and I don’t own the product myself, but the Arcam rPlay works with the DTS Play-Fi app, which has a critical listening mode that is supposed to allow you to listen to hi-res audio.

From Arcam: "NOTE: Files up to 16-bit/48 kHz are streamed without compression or transcoding. High resolution audio files (24-bit/192kHz), are down-sampled to 16-bit/48kHz for transmission. This allows for the most reliable streaming experience over Wi-Fi to multiple speakers. For those who wish to hear high resolution audio as originally intended, Critical Listening mode in the DTS Play-Fi app will enable native rendering of high resolution files up to 24/96, without down-sampling or network synchronization adjustment. In this way, audio files retain their original audio integrity. For more details regarding the Critical Listening mode please refer to https://play-fi.com/faq/entry/critical-listening-mode"


From DTS: "Critical Listening Mode

Play-Fi will normally play back all files it supports in their native formats and encoding. High resolution files are a special case, and though they are not transcoded, they are down-sampled to CD quality to maintain stream and network performance.

For those who wish to hear high resolution audio as originally intended, Critical Listening mode will enable native rendering of high resolution files up to 24/192, with no down-sampling or network synchronization adjustment. In this way, audio files retain their original audio integrity.

Since the high resolution audio files are not down-sampled in this mode, they will remain exceptionally large. We support all modes over standard Wi-Fi, including Critical Listening, but a wired connection may improve the experience for those with network issues.

Enabling Critical Listening Mode. Before selecting a Play-Fi product, tap the Hi-Res button in the top bar of the zone module. This will change the list to display the Play-Fi products that are compatible with this mode. Most Play-Fi products support Critical Listening, but if you’d like to know more about your product, contact info for your brand may be found on the main Knowledge Base page."

The Arcam and DTS instructions disagree about how high the resolution can go, but I wonder if the Arcam instructions might have a typo. Anyway, I think it would be worth giving this a try if you haven’t already done so.

Cm6td,

Thank you for your detailed post.
unfortunately, I HAVE tried the “critical listening mode” option and I’m told that my device is incompatible.

Well, I received the Node 2i and compared it with the Arcam RPlay. With the new DAC thrown into the mix, preliminary tests show the results are the same as with my previous comparison. Comparing the same selections, the Node, even in hi res format, doesn’t sound as good as the Arcam in normal resolution.
I’ll do more testing to make sure, but the odds are I’ll return the Bluesound, and hold on to the Arcam.

Really, the difference in SQ isn’t even close. The Arcam is fuller, richer and more detailed with much better soundstaging. I guess I didn’t realize how good I had it.
I don’t know why they discontinued it. Probably because of the incompatibility problems.

Eh,  see above.