Streamer with decent app


Hey all:

I like to control everything from my phone while chilling in bed. Mostly Spotify and Tidal. I have a Yamaha WXA-50 that works pretty well but ready for an upgrade.

I tried a Sonos amp because it offered more music services but didn’t feel that the sound was as good.

Looking for an all in one solution (amp, streamer) that has a nice app that works well with the music services.

Budget: <$3k

 

Thanks!

wrecked

The next two steps up the ladder would certainly include the Step 1 Marantz PM7000N ($999) and the Step 2 Marantz Model 40 ($2499). Both have plenty of power, decent phone apps, voice control via Amazon Alexa if you want, and way better than average SQ. You can cobble components together streamers and DACs and amps, and perseverate over interconnects if that's your thing, but with the exception of maybe the Rose RS250 (Step 3?) at $3695, nobody is building better quality, better value, integrated streaming platforms. 

Thoughts on the bluesound powernode?

If you like the Sonos interface you can find Sonos Connects for cheap on the used market. Then for $500 have Wyred 4 Sound modify it, they replace the S/PDIF output stage and clock. I have been using one as a ROON endpoint for many moons on a secondary system and it sound purdy dang good and has been totally reliable. Then you got $2.5K to burn on a DAC/AMP. Like a used Hegel H190 or Rost

 

https://wyred4sound.com/products/sonos-connect-modified

 

If you go Bluesound just get a node and go digital to a integrated with DAC. Beat the pants off a powernode. Tidy 2 box setup.

 

Aaaand if I am not mistaken you can use airplay (16/44 only) with the Rost or H190) . So you use phone app to stream with a native music service app but control the Rost with remote.

ROON, and use it’s ARC for remote listening, and your choice of streamer, done!