Wanting to upgrade my streaming sound quality.


I would really like to get my streaming sq up to my analog sq. My equipment is a McIntosh MC 452, C47, TD 124 with an AT 150 SA on a SME M2-9 tone arm, a Rega P8 with an Alpheta 3, a restored MR 74 tuner, driving Aerial 7t speakers. My streaming now is an iPad with a usb cable into my preamp with Tidal. I would be willing to spend around $2500 . A one box solution would be preferable for a steamer/dac combo although two boxes could also work. I’m not interested in multiple clocks and separate power supplies etc. Also I don’t use CD’s for a source.  I do have AT&T fiber internet with up to 1000 mb speed and my modem is only around 5 feet from my audio rack. Balanced inputs is preferable but not a deal breaker. I’ve looked at the HiFi Rose 250 and the 150 although the latter is more money than I want to spend. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’m an Analog guy in a digital world.

Greg

128x128gphill

With only $2.5k to spend, you'll have to be very judicious with purchases, otherwise may be disappointed. Many good and not so good choices, be prepared for possible letdowns. With so many innovations, products and directions one may take with streaming, hard to give advice. I prefer two computer setup and optical network, others prefer one computer and ethernet, and this is just two of so many choices that need to be made.

FWIW, I've actively avoided digital audio for the last 30 years because just about everything I listened to would induce listening fatigue pretty quickly along with the tonal quality of digital being not as pleasing to my ear as that of vinyl on a turntable.

I'm quite happy with this setup which would fall under your $2,500 budget:

Supra Cat 8 Ethernet cable ~$60

Pro-ject Stream Box S2 Ultra streamer (~$800 new, $400 used) >

Audioquest Jitterbug USB cleaner ~$60 >

Stordiau Lush 1 USB cable ~$250 >

Denafrips Pontus II DAC ~$1700

Each of these components was selected to make the sound smoother and more pleasing to my ear. I can now listen for an entire 8-10 hour work day to digital music.

 

Although over your limit, Bryston make a combination DAC and streamer that I've been looking at - the BDA 3.14 for about $4,195. 

Also, ditching Tidal for Qobuz would be a substantial improvement in sound quality. Even Spotify Premium sounds better than Tidal to my ears. I'd be happy to post my listening impressions of the major streaming services if that would be of interest.

Calvin, your set up looks good to me and would be right at my budget or a little over. Everyone is pretty much a Quboz fan instead of Tidal, is there really that much difference? It’s easy to change. I’ve also heard good things about Amazon’s Prime new music streaming service.