Digital music questions

cmb13,

I am an engineer, but I still let my ears (and my budget) dictate my purchases. I am not a "bits is bits", or cable disbeliever, or power disbeliever; and that has only come by hearing the differences with my ears in my system. I'm also not going to disagree with those that have differing opinions, we've all got to make our own minds up on what does, and does not matter.

Most any dedicated streamer has outperformed my old computer based streaming. My current system of a Bluesound Node 130, LHY linear power supply, along with good high quality cables provides an excellent streamer set up with an excellent interface for a combined $950.

You might buy a Node X (latest model) $750 or an Eversolo DMP-A6 $899 and try for yourself. If they better your current streaming set up, then keep them.....if not then you can return them for a restocking fee.

But most are correct, better streamers (also more costly) form Aurender, Innuous, Lumin, etc do provide better SQ.....I've tested Aurender and Lumin products in my system and they were much better than my current set up, and I'm saving for it's replacement

@yage

I consider your opinion and the opinions of most others on this website, whether or not I am in agreement with them, as being important. I agree with others that you should purchase and will enjoy having an entry level streamer such as a Bluesound, which I happen to own one and thoroughly enjoy, to dip your toes in the streamer waters. Although I don’t have their names on the tip of my tongue, there are members here with rather expensive systems who use and enjoy it.

Unfortunately, emotional outbursts by one member here are getting to be the norm and do not represent the main of this website.

@cmb13 I have a C2700 with the DAC2 module running into MC275s. Do you know which device is decoding the streaming music? Is it the laptop or the C2700? If it’s the laptop then it will never get beyond 48kHz. The DAC2 module is capable of hi-res files up to 32 bits and 384kHz through a USB connection. Roon software will let you use the laptop to stream Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify and any downloaded Apple music files you have on the laptop to the C2700 and use that Dac to decode. I started off using a Mac mini set up this way and it worked great. It also gave me time to set up my system using a dedicated streamer using the C2700 dac. I still use the Roon software (it’s brilliant) and let it manage all my music files. It’s also cheaper to try this software than spending thousands on a high end streamer to figure out if you can hear a difference in your system. 

Apple Music sounds pretty good via Chromecast, definitely a step up from AirPlay.

I think you need an Android Device to do this.  I unsuccessfully tried to enable Chromecast on my iPad a while ago and couldn’t.  I am guessing it’s an Apple vs Google thing.  However, it works well from my Android phone and Android tablet.  If someone knows how to Chromecast from an Apple device Iit would be a service to share it.

+1 for Bluesound, but get a decent coax and use the McIntosh DAC.  For well under your $1000 budget you will enjoy a significant improvement in SQ.  You could upgrade to an LHY lps and still be under budget.  Eventually you may feel it worthwhile to spend the $$ on an Aurender or Innuous streamer - but maybe not.

One additional point for the OP that has not been raised in this thread: the quality of the user interface (UI).  If the UI is poor no amount of technical superiority will compensate.   I had a MiniDSP SHD streamer, an excellent piece of hardware for the money, but the Volumio OS/UI drove me nuts.  So much so the my wife encouraged me to buy a new streamer, never mind the $$.  Now when was the last timer your wife encouraged you to spend more on your sound system?  The UI is one of Bluesound's competitive strengths.  Just something to keep in mind.

Enjoy the journey & best of luck.