New to Streaming

I have a Bluesound Node 130, and found its DAC quite adequate, with barely discernible improvement (if any) adding an outboard Denafrips Ares II DAC.

The Bluesound app lets you see the strength of your Wi-fi signal. Mine is excellent when my network is functioning well (most of the time), and I rarely have dropouts even with hi-res streaming. Maybe in some congested areas wi-fi is more problematic than an ethernet cable, which apparently introduces its own set of problems.

So in sum, I think you may do fine with wi-fi streaming with a Node for under your target price.

I use both Qobuz and Tidal for streaming, Qobuz most of the time. They lack some titles Tidal has, so then I use Tidal. One virtue of the Bluesound app is it organizes your favorites and playlists for whatever streaming companies you subscribe to, and it supports many of them. So in addition to Qobuz and Tidal, I subscribe to TuneIn for "radio" stations all around the world.

I had so much unused audio stuff in my garage mothball yard that I decided to make a bedroom system to listen to in bed.

I had unused Denon 4311 with totl audessey , gnp speakers , Hisense tv with built in roku , a Dayton 15 sub and infinity ssw212 sub.

I have one year sub to Apple Music ( around $100). Tv is connected to receiver with toslink.

I’m shocked how good it all sounds.

For those of you into watching YouTube reviews with a grain of salt, here’s a recent one (Tharbamar) that compares the Eversolo DMP-A6, the WiiM Pro (unfortunately not the better Pro Plus), and the Matrix i4:

3 Best Buy Music Streamers Comparison, EverSolo A6 vs. Matrix i4 vs. WiiM Pro - YouTube

As for Spotify, I simply got tired of being lied to about when they were going lossless with at least CD quality. I’ll never go back to them, even if they offered it for $1/month. Their bait and switch kept me on lossy Spotify needlessly for a year.

While we’ve been discussing these streamers and more, there are the NAD CS-1 ($349) and the Cambridge Audio MXN10 ($499) which haven’t gotten a lot of press (so far) that might be worth a look. The MXN10 says, "Spotify Connect, TIDAL & Qobuz built in". 

Thanks for all the input.

What do you think about the Cambridge Audio CXN V2 ?

What do you think about the Cambridge Audio CXN V2 ?

I haven’t heard it but it has gotten many favorable comments here and has many happy owners so it’s hard to see going wrong with it.  I’d just say for a little more you have the Innuos Pulse Mini and for a little less there’s the EverSolo DMP-A6, both of which are also excellent and well worth a look.  If it’s me I’d spring for the Innuos for the pedigree and trickle-down tech from higher models, Sense app, and excellent customer service, and I’d add a linear power supply (good ones can be had for around $200) as soon as it was in the budget.  But honestly I don’t think you can go wrong with any of these three streamers and would be very happy with any of them.  Just my $0.02 FWIW, and best of luck.