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.
When you experience a really good streamer personally, in a system you know well, it will make you feel like youve been spinning your wheels for a long time while you believed that part of your system was on solid ground. When you experience a truly great streamer, others will sound to various degrees broken. I was in your camp until I heard the difference. All too often, people neglect to recognize that digital output over a cable is an analog waveform representation. You would too. Best. |
@ghasley I'm in the camp that you have to hear for yourself before discrediting or promoting. Otherwise, I would discredit First Watt due to relatively high noise and distortion and go with Hypex Ncore or Emotiva. Also, there has to be synergy with the DAC and the different connections....AES, USB, Optical, Coaxial, etc. |
I apologize if I gave you the impression that I hadn’t heard for myself. I started streaming years ago and was in the Mac mini is good enough camp. It was when I heard the difference between the Mac and the Innuos Zenith Mk3 and the differences between usb cables when I truly began to understand that a streamer was sending an analog representation of a digital wavestream and that all of the analog variables applied to digital streaming.
I was satisfied with the Innuos until I heard the next level of streaming solutions.
Properly utilized fiber improves things in many cases, however, I did not find it favorable. There are many roads to Damascus huh? Best. |
Sure @ghasley but I will take the road to anywhere else and pass on Damascus. The Moon by Simaudio 680D did it for me. Mind2 in this DAC is outstanding. Enlightenment comes in many ways and until you try you will never know. |
