Need recommendations for a streamer
I would like to upgrade from a Bluesound Node to a higher quality streamer.
The Node sounds fine with my current system, but I am making a second system for my wife, and the Node is going to that new system. I thought I would take the opportunity to upgrade my streamer at this time.
My criteria are that it be a streamer only (no DAC/storage/CD player, etc), be able to hook into wi-fi/cloud without a physical wire/connection, have balanced outputs to go to my DAC, and cost less than 2,500 USD. Can anybody think of a streamer that fits this bill?
The rest of my system:
DAC: Terminator II
Preamp: Schiit Freya+
Amps: PS Audio M1200 x 2
Speakers: Thiel CS 2.3
Thanks.
I recently bought a second hand Antipodes EX for £2,000 - they are £4,000 new. It is a very high end piece of kit and can operate in lots of different ways streamer/server/roon end point. The EX came out in 2018 so it's still up-to-date tech and ultimately reducing noise and improving timing is what a good server should do. |
+1 @andyrowe I have 3 systems in my home, so when I went for Bluesound I bought a Vault2 and two Node2. Both the Vault and one of the Nodes died at separate times during updates. I have spent many frustrating hours dealing with Bluesound that I won’t recapitulate here. I ultimately purchased a Melco N100 which has been extremely reliable and sound’s terrific. Bluesound is a good starting place for streaming for audiophiles that are unsure if streaming will fit their needs but people shouldn’t view it as some kind of audio jewel that will be passed on to their heirs |
I have the Bluesound Node 2i. I put a new power supply in it for $130. I have richer fuller bass and an open airier sound. This board also has reliability improvements. Also added an aftermarket power cord. Anything you can do to lower the noise floor is desirable. The power supply is made by Pd Creative. Teddy Pardo makes them as well but the part costs as much as the Bluesound. |
Thank you, all, for the great suggestions, helpful responses, and clarification of my apparent misuse of the term "balanced". To those illuminati who were confused and/or offended by my error, I offer my most sincere apology.
Streaming is quite new to me. I have been away from the hobby for almost 30 years (the Thiels are proof, purchased new by me back in the late 90s), and I have found the learning curve to be steep for my analog mind. I will do my best to choose my terms much more carefully in the future. Lesson learned.
For the best result, it sounds like I need to figure out a way to hardwire (I think that's the correct term) the streamer to my modem.
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