Using streaming as a main source ---DSD, FLAC, MQA Streamers and DACS

Hi,

@kiwiscott this thread would confuse me too

1) Sign up for Tidal, and play it on a MacBook or other laptop (so that’s the source, and the streamer). Plug the laptop into a DAC. iFi Zen2 for $300.

And..you are streaming. You can be up and running in about 10 minutes. Seriously.    That’s it.

Then…reread the entries above & the ideas will make more sense

2) Buy & instal Roon on a computer - Roon is an overlay on all sources of music - Tidal/Qobuz, and will also will pull in any ripped files from CDs, or hi-res files that you buy & download. Roon only runs on a computer (Mac or Windows), not an iPad or iPhone (you can use those as remote controls).  So, I’d recommend using a laptop to start, since you can plunk it by the system when you are playing music

3) Then decide on a more permanent DAC. For the most part, it’s the DAC that will determine if you are able to use MQA or not. I ultimately decided on the Benchmark DAC3, even though it does not support MQA

4) Then go back & decide how you want to stream - a laptop, a dedicated computer, a dedicated streamer etc.

Start really simple (step 1 & 2), and then go back and decide how complex you want to make the chain

Tell us how where you decide to start, and enjoy!

@kiwiscott 

I recommend getting the new blue sound node with an external power supply. It is quite good as a streamer only for about  $1100. That would leave you plenty of cash left over for a stand alone DAC. Good luck!

Thanks all. I’ll start demoing blue sound vs innous to see what I enjoy more as a streamer. Once that’s sorted I’ll get an external DAC. 
 

MQA seems pointless for what everyone is saying so I’ll ignore that for a while. 

OP

 The hobby is supposed to be fun.  Compare the shopping process to buying a car, and the decisions there? SUV or Sedan?  EV?  Hybrid?  Not to mention the different brands and features?

  I’m not a car guy.  I just want to get from point A to point B, safely, as economically and comfortable as possible, and be reasonably eco friendly.  I would much more like to obsess over audio.

  Once you hit a certain price point whatever you buy will probably give you a lot of satisfaction listening to music.  Then it’s a question of flavors.  Do you prefer well made vanilla or chocolate?  
  All of these formats don’t sound exactly the same, but they all hit a certain standard of acceptable quality.  The music is the thing.

  There is a lot of good advice in the previous threads.  I just want to remind you to have fun.  If you get frustrated just buy something, listen to music, and relax.  After a few years you might want to try a different flavor for the heck of it

I think this is an excellent thread for this subject. I agree with @ronboco about the bluesound node. This is good advice and if you add fiber to the mix with s good audiophile Ethernet cable you’re in for a good ride! Hard to beat in many respects However, I’ve been also considering the next level ie: Aurender or Lumin. Aurender has its issues being proprietary (I don’t want to get into it again with the two salesman) but it’s a great product. Lumin is also a great product with more flexibility. What I haven’t heard is an end game streamer, and I consider that to be dCS, which I am now looking at as something that will give me 10 or more years as some have mentioned in this thread. My main focus I’d flac files from ripped cds.
I’m not doing tidal or Quobuz, so my NAS is my server. In any event @kiwiscott I thank you for posing the question the way you did to get such good responses and wish you luck. You’ve helped me!