2. digital
  3. 179080-171520

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.

cowhorn
jbuhl's avatar
jbuhl
902 posts
 

I used Bryston BDP-3 checks all those boxes I think.  I also agree with previous post that a mesh network with a hardwired node at you rig has worked well for me.

 

 

arcangles
18 posts
 

I currently/recently have the same interest in getting a streamer only to existing dac, coming from the Bluesound. I did a head to head comparison between the Bluesound and a Lumin u2 mini. Every part of me wanted to say, these will be identical or close to identical and it’s not worth the extra cash outlay. But to my chagrin, the Lumin was audibly better in terms of “tonal saturation” (whatever that means. It went from grey and hard to analog color sound), slightly cleaner treble and more open, smooth sound. Basically it decreased digititis almost completely. I believe they are priced at $2400. The app was excellent and IMO superior to Bluesound OS. 

 

I couldn’t stomach the cost at this time however so I am about to try the ifi zen. We will see…

 

good luck. Check out Lumin if you have the funds. It was really great and left me wishing I could justify the spend. 

tomaswv
208 posts
 

I’ve been very happy with my Cambridge Audio 851N. Discomuntinued but you can find them for about a grand. I also just bought  a Cambridge Evo 75 for a little second system in the living room.  Very happy with the streaming and their Streammagic ap is reliable and not bad. I stream Qobuz and run a NAS with ripped files.

tomaswv
208 posts
 

I’ve been very happy with my Cambridge Audio 851N. Discomuntinued but you can find them for about a grand. I also just bought  a Cambridge Evo 75 for a little second system in the living room.  Very happy with the streaming and their Streammagic ap is reliable and not bad. I stream Qobuz and run a NAS with ripped files.

jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 

i think a reasonable assumption as to why the lumin u2 mini sounds superior (’more saturated sound, cleaner treble, etc. ’) than a node, as a streamer source, is because the lumin manages noise management/filtering much better, and allows for an upsampled digital feed so that the downstream dac can do its job better in putting the analog music together better...

the good sounding zenstream (with clean external power supply) does very well on the first aspect, don’t think it does the second

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