I own an Innuos Pulse, the best streamer I’ve ever owned. Your selections are all excellent but if your budget allows it, give the Pulse a consideration. The bonus is the excellent Innuos Sense app which allowed me to get rid of Roon. And their support is the best I’ve ever seen experienced too. Enjoy the journey!
New streamer
I recently opened a discussion on upgrading my DAC. I started at the beginning of that discussion, that I was a vinyl guy, but with my purchase of the Chord Qutest, I realized that digital music can be outstanding and want to now upgrade my Node.
That will provide 2 benefits: Maximizing my current systems digital, and allow me to move the Node & Schiit Modi Multibit 2 to the family room, a small HT setup with a Yamaha AVR driving a Goldenear soundbar. Streaming there is currently MusicCast using the AVR DAC. The improvement there should be very nice.
My 2 channel equipment is as follows:
Rogue RP-1 w/ NOS Brimar’s, LSA Warp 1, KEF R11’s, Rhythmic F12SE, Pro-ject 1Xpression w/Hana ML, Rega Aria, Bluesound Node w/Qubuz, Marantz CD6007, Chord Qutest. Good to very good power, speaker, interconnect cables.
My weakest link (I believe) is now my Node.
I don’t want or need amplification or volume control, ripping storage, nor an internal DAC. Sound signature should be neutral.
My budget is $2,500, but willing to spend less. My current favorites are:
Lumin U2 mini. Very well reviewed, beautiful, perfect form factor, good app & controllable via my Harmony One remote. It is currently my #1 choice.
Auralic Aris. If new, the G1.1, if used G2.0 or 2.1. Very well reviewed, good app, OK form factor, but not controllable via harmony.
Naim ND5 XS2. Considered the best high end streamer by What Hi Fi Would need to buy used to stay close to budget.
EverSolo DMP-A6. Included based upon reviews, but may not be a serious contender.
HiFi Rose RS250A. The streamer EverSolo seemed to copy
Aurender. Don’t think they have anything within my budget, but included for discussion.
LPS upgrade for Node. Included because I know it will come up. Plan to reuse my node downstairs, so out. Would prefer LPS upgrade for one of the above.
Please let me know your thoughts and/or recommendations. Thanks!
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@signaforce I have a U2 mini with an S-Booster. I’ve had a Lumin P1, Auralic G2 Streamer, Node 2i and a Lumin D2 wSbooster. Have also had various DAC’s. I haven’t but wish I had the opportunity to try an Aurender Streamer. The U2 Mini w/ SBooster is really hard to beat for the $$. I have a PS Direct Stream MKii DAC, Krell 300xd Dou and a PS BHK pre. The U2 Mini is right at home. Lumin makes great products that offer great build quality. I wouldn’t hesitate to add it to your system. If you are talking to Upscale they’ll give you great advice. They recommended Lumin to me when I started my digital journey. From what I have read Aurender would be a can’t miss as well. Good Luck. |
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