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Beginner in the Audiophile World – Looking for Streamer & Streaming Service Advice

Hi everyone,

 

First of all, thank you for this amazing community. It’s really encouraging for someone like me—still a total newbie in the audio world—to have a place to learn and ask questions.

 

I’ve recently managed to put together the system below, and I currently use Spotify from my iPhone connected via Bluetooth to my DAC. I know it’s far from ideal, and after reading a bit, I’d really like to explore the potential improvements I could get from using a proper streamer, wired to my DAC.

 

So here’s my main question:

– Which streaming service would you recommend (if Spotify isn’t enough)?

– And which streamer should I consider buying on the used market (Portugal or Spain)?

 

From my research, I’ve found options like the Lumin U1 Mini, Holo Red, and iFi Neo Stream—each seems to have strengths in sound quality, dynamics, and user interface.

I also came across some others like the Volumio Rivo, Pro-Ject Stream Box DS2 T, NP5 Prisma (MK1), and MOON 180 MiND.

 

Some are easier to find used than others here locally, and price is definitely something I need to be mindful of—this hobby is addictive, and I’ve already stretched my budget a bit!

 

My current setup:

 

  • DAC: Topping D90SE
  • Headphone Amp: Topping A90 Discrete
  • Headphones: Audeze LCD-3
  • Tone Control: Schiit Lokius
  • Interconnects: AudioQuest Red River

 

 

Incoming gear:

 

  • Power Amp: Topping LA90 Discrete
  • Speakers: Amphion Argon2 Anniversary Edition (cherry)
  • Speaker Cables: MIT eXP

 

 

Would really appreciate your advice and experiences, especially from anyone who’s made a similar jump from Bluetooth/Spotify to a wired streaming setup.

 

Thanks in advance, looking forward to learning from you all!

andsan76
soix
10,098 posts
 

Avoid iFi — no customer support and subpar software, and theStream Box has reliability issues so avoid that too.  I’d also recommend an Innuos streamer for sound quality and its outstanding Sense app and Qobuz or Tidal depending on which music catalog better suits your tastes.  Best of luck. 

kennymacc
509 posts
 

I have Tidal and Qobuz streaming services.  They both sound great.  I prefer the sound of Tidal.  There's so many real nice streamers in todays market.  I use the streamer in my very high-end DAC, and it sounds fabulous.  Happy listening.   

llg98ljk's avatar
llg98ljk
200 posts
 

Although it gets little respect here, Amazon Ultra HD unlimited is my choice for a source. Assuming it is available in your market. Especially good bargain if you are a current Amazon member. Huge catalogue of music. Apple has also moved to lossless streaming, but I have not tried it. 

yyzsantabarbara
5,036 posts
 

I have TIDAL and Qobuz. I think I will drop Qobuz when my yearly subscription is up. I think TIDAL has all the albums that I have tagged on Qobuz. Music discovery on Tidal is better for me than on Qobuz.

I had 3 DACs and 3 streamers.

- Schitt Yggi+ OG + Sonore OpticalRendu ROON ONLY streamer

- Schitt Yggi+ MIB + Sonore OpticalRendu ROON ONLY streamer

- Benchmark DAC3B (sold) + Sonore OpticalRendu ROON ONLY streamer

The OpticalRendu are likely the first streamer to incorporate fibre optical. I noticed the new $8k Infigo (sp?) Audio streamer is only supporting fibre . There is a physical reason for this. Fibre is made of glass, and glass cannot carry the analog noise on the network into your DAC. Ethernet cannot do this.

If the 3 OpticalRendu’s ever fail I will get the new-ish Lumin U2 streamer. I used to own the Lumin X1 DAC/streamer and it was a great streamer, a so-so DAC. The U2 is the streamer part of the X1. The U2 supports fibre in the best way possible by going right into the streamer.

Lumin knows streaming as does Sonore. I have owned both at the same time and compared. They are different sonically and I could live with either one, so I went with the cheaper Sonore.

BTW I used to own the Topping D90SE and the D90LE and it was only a so-so DAC. the Schitt Yggi+’s I own do everything much better than the Topping DACs. 

 

jji666
573 posts
 

Roon with Tidal or Qobuz.

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