2. digital
  3. 175408-120426

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
gphill's avatar
gphill OP
130 posts
 

It just started working. It’s like it’s haunted!

gphill's avatar
gphill OP
130 posts
 

I am gobsmacked at how good this sounds. Everyone of the MQA or master songs I’ve listened to on Tidal is as good or better than my best albums. The imaging, soundstage and tonal quality is just amazing. I saw the reviews on line that praised this unit and its every bit as good as they say. I will say that I have gotten a bit of buffering over the course of 9 or 10 hours of playing. I hope this is fixable. I may email Rose and see if this is a problem.

I never imagined digital could be this good.

mbolek
172 posts
 

Just saw your PM.  Glad everything is now working...

 

Enjoy!

spankedmonkey's avatar
spankedmonkey
18 posts
 

Gobsmacked is good, especially if you can assess an in depth opinion while being so! Thanks for confirming sound stage, imaging, and playback of MQA on how playback compares to best vinyls. These among other features 150 has my sights on the 150 for sure. Maybe I missed it but are you using the XLR connections? Also curious if you’re using the wired Ethernet connection? May help with buffering as I was told by my ISP.

ghdprentice
7,019 posts
 

Hopefully soon you will get all working seamlessly and it just becomes as reliable and predictable as a CD player or turntable. It should be. Also, operating from your iPad and creating a library of stuff you like is mandatory. If this is not true soon. Think of changing. 
 

Living in the streaming world is much different than in the world of collecting vinyl or CDs. I seldom listen to stuff I listened to in my vinyl or CDs any more. You can get lost in nearly infinite music. You need to easily find the stuff you like… and writing it down would not be an acceptable solution. So, hopefully it sounds fantastic and you can comfortably move around.

 

Also, start up your free month with Qobuz. By the end or the month you will drop Tidal. I did… and all my audiophile friends. 

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