New to Streaming


Is Spotify a Hi Fi source for streaming? What streamer is good at $1000

shiner3237

@1happyman +1! I second your choice of the Wiim Pro! Die-hard 'philes won't like it because how can anything so cheap be any good? Doesn't Wiim have a budget version for like $70? 

Forgot to mention the Bluesound Node X also has Bluetooth and Amazon HD offers a great alternative to qobuz that way. I now use both.

@mjcmt the WiiM Pro is a great streamer but the DAC in it is only so-so, maybe not even "so-so" but it could serve as a streamer to a better external DAC of course. The newer WiiM Pro Plus has a much better DAC in it for only $220 and many reviewers say it sounds as good as the Bluesound Node (but not the Node X). They also say it has a better clock circuit for less jitter as well. 

The software app in the WiiM is great (I have a cheap WiiM Mini in one room feeding a Schiit DAC), at least as good as BlueO/S. But the Node offers HDMI Arc, a subwoofer out, and bass management if you use it as a digital preamp. $220 vs. $600.

Just want to say Quobuz is highly recommended and works well. But I much prefer Tidal with its "Connect" app which many streamers support that passes off the URL directly to the streamer.  Wish more streaming platforms would roll out these "Connect" apps.  I believe the popularity of lossy Spotify can be attributed directly to them being one of the earliest platforms to have a Connect app and it being supported by so many streamers. 

If Deezer or Quobuz had a Connect app, I'd switch from Tidal. Tidal recently decided to not honor the 1-year subscriptions sold by Best Buy and has forced users to sign up for a monthly subscription. That sux. 

@moonwatcher Is the streamer part of the WiiM Pro Plus the same as the Pro, with just a better DAC ? I thought I had read that somewhere..loving the WiiM Mini in bedroom system...agree on Tidal Connect possibly being a huge advantage...Qobuz "supposedly" finally releasing their connect this Fall...

 

Tidal was always my pref, because it has great choice and best sound I'd say per variety of releases. 

I'm always looking for outside of mainstream material via bandcamp and stuff and almost never had been disappointed if I find such desirable material in Tidal. 

TBH I do get happy when I get CD quality from streaming and I don't even expect having super-hirez from streaming just by following Asian wisdoms I guess of not setting too much expectations. Most of the newer releases I've been pretty happy with in Tidal such as Snarky Puppy,  Pat Metheny -- real hi-rez releases, Jazz-Baltica artists from Northern Europe and a lot more than I even thought having near-CD quality. I can tell you that having WIRED connection to internet will solve lots of streaming performance issues. 

I use ultra-quiet Lenovo Q90 PC specifically built for entertainment. It's model of 2011, but haven't been lately looking for replacement. Maybe I'll come across streamer at garage sale for cheap and replace it when time comes -- no hurry there:)