Please help my ignorant a$$, I just want a good streamer...I think.


For starters let me get this out of the way up front. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND COMPUTERS OR THE LANGUAGE. 

My current set up consists of A custom built Aric Audio 6SN7 line stage, Peachtree 300 amp, Marantz CD6007, Denafrips Pontus II and a Node 2i. All cables DIY Helix design per My Audio Alchemy. Speakers are Monitor audio silver 500's.

In my head I should be able to improve upon the Node. I have been reading threads here and some other forums. I think I want something like a Lumin U1 Mini. Maybe one of the Innuos units with the ripping capability. Just not so sure about the Ripping CD's as that is going to involve hard drives and stuff. Which I would probably have to hire someone I can't afford to make it work. 

Then there are the folks who chime in on most threads at some point. These guys seem to challenge themselves to see how many pieces of stuff they can hook up to stream. How can a chain of 4,5,6 components with all their connections and power supplies not have negative effects not to mention where do they put all this stuff?

I have a cable that comes into my house that plugs into the thing my desktop computer plugs into. I plug an Ethernet CAT8 cable into that (the box not my computer) then into my Node. 

What is the benefit of all individuals pieces? It sure doesn't seem like it saves any money at all. By the time you buy a few pieces of pie some hats, switches, clocks, sonores, rendues and whatever else I am forgetting. Then power supplies and cables to hook it all up.

Then there is the Roon camp. My best bud has Roon. Took Him a few grand including gear and a computer guy from the place he bought it ( he was nice enough help on his own time) and a week to make it work. So that kind of soured me on the Roon idea. 

Don't get me wrong I am a hands on person, pretty mechanical. But when my computer has problems if unplugging it for a day doesn't fix it I go buy a new one and start from scratch (usually have to send the wife to a friends place for a weekend it gets ugly real ugly). Complete idiot! 

In the end I would like the best streamer option I can get under say $2500. I need it to be as "plug and play" as possible or come with amazing instructions/guidance or even better someone that could actually teach me. Someone that can explain on my level. 

I am going to stop here as it seems I am rambling! I am probably leaving stuff out I am sure so please ask and I will fill in. 

I have a great sense of humor so feel free to have some fun with me, I will return it! I just want to make a good decision. Show me what I am missing or not!

 

Cheers.

J.F.

johnfritter

Thank you for the input!

I found a Zen mini MKiii with LPS this weekend locally. Paid about .40 on the $1.00 and couldn't be happier. Took me maybe 10 minutes and I was playing from my Tidal library, even ripped a few CD's!

Very surprised at the improvement to the overall sound stage also.

Thanks again.

J.F.

Great choice!  

I AM computer savvy and went Innuos about a year ago. 

The operating system is rock solid and the interface is friendly.  Fast!  Search is easy. I was using a dedicated Windows 10 computer prior and moving to Innuos did certainly upgrade the sound to my ears.  I didn't think that it would.  I use a Zen Mk3 with 1tb drive to an MHDT Orchid DAC.  I ripped many CD's to the Zen Mk3 drive in flac, but with Qobuz I don't listen to my ripped files much; in general Qobuz HD quality streaming is fantastic and selection is unlimited.  Amazing.  

Congrats! To me, a used Zen Mini with LPS is close to a Zen Mk3 on the cheap and glad to hear you’re happy. Do you have the latest Sense software upgrade? That apparently is a significant upgrade. And how great is it that you now can easily rip all your CDs and have access to all your music and an open world of new music from your chair? Awesome! I could imagine just hitting random play and being thrilled. Again, CONGRATS!!!

I went simple: Chromecast Audio

Dude, what the hell are you even doing here?  Go back to Reddit.