The time has come and I request advice...


To my fellow audiophiles the time has come and I am going to attempt to improve my digital source in one audio system I have, Currently running a Bluesound Node X into Denafrips Pontus 12th Anniversary and it sounds great but i am ready and willing to update the streamer. Looking for a dedicated streamer that will play Tidal or Qobuz. Might be interested in going the Roon route. Budget is about $2500. Right now the Lumin U2 mini and Aurender seem to be at the top of recommendations. Looking for advice from those who have used the streamer they recommend.

I listen to Jazz, Blues and instrument music mostly...also going to add a turntable to my other audio system and will post another question...

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Any experience out there with Silent Angel? They make an audiophile network switch, streamer and power supply.

The Pontus II 12th isn't (and won't be for some time) the limiting factor in your set up......it will be a very good pairing with an updated streamer

I’m running a lightly used HiFi rose 250a into a Venus 2 12th.  I’ve played fairly extensively with Aurenders, & while conductor is good, I find HiFi rose app to be equal or better.  IMO these 2 for less than $5k to me is big value & I want for nothing in user experience or digital sound quality.

@ghdprentice 

There is a question of how long it will take… but the time will not be measured in decades but likely a few years.

Any thoughts on what that might look like?  Would Roon be likely to migrate users to a new platform in order to maintain the revenue stream, sell their metadata to a competitor, or simply cut bait, return to the dock, and sip margaritas?  Don’t you think they might have a strategic plan?

I am an early lifetime subscriber so have already gotten my value from the platform, but would like to see it continue.  I recently considered going with an Innuos Zenith Mk3 as a server into their Pulsar streamer but their not being a Roon partner caused me to pause, and I hedged my bet by going with a more generic server option. I may still try the Pulsar streamer, which apparently works fine with Roon but would allow me to also try the Sense app. 

Most likely the functionality of streamers continue to improve, leading to reduced subscriber numbers until they get bought and incorporated into one company’s products. Or they try and hold on, updates become less frequent and customer support goes away, and they slowly disappear into obscurity. Or they shift to licensing direct to manufacturers to incorporate inside components, instead of separately sold to users. 

 

Today’s special purpose software gets incorporated gets incorporated into the operating system of integrated suite. That has been the way since, well, the first computer language.

 

If you’re a lifetime user, then just enjoy it until you need to buy something that doesn’t use it. It’s nice not having a monthly fee.