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Goodbye Sonos, hello ????

I've been a happy Sonos user for over 10 years and will continue to use it in my casual listening areas in my house. However I dont think I am doing my dedicated 2 channel system justice streaming from the ZP-90. In addition, Sonos does not do high resolution. Therefore I am looking for a high quality digital transport/streamer that can replace the Sonos. Here are my requirements:

1. High quality, low jitter digital output
2. Awesome user interface with remote control via IPAD, ANDROID, iphone, etc
3. Wireless and wired digital streaming from music stored on a NAS
4. No built in DAC as I prefer to mix and match
5. Ability to handle various audio formats including high resolution.

So far it looks like my options are the Bryston BDP-2 or DIY my own streamer. I have built several low powered (ATOM) HTPC in my home to stream 1080p movies so this is definitely an option but I am not too sure about how to get the best possible, low jitter digital output from a PC so this would be something I need to investigate. I can build an ATOM based, fanless system running Jriver and my IPAD to remotely control my music. I know there are products from Linn and Accustic Arts but these all come with either a DAC or an amp.

So are there any other audiophile quality products on the market that fit my need or should I just go the DIY route?

Thank you.
128x128tboooe
tboooe's avatar
tboooe OP
1,009 posts
 
Mapman, I have heard that the SPDIF available on motherboards or pc cards have questionable quality. I am not sure about the implementation in devices such as players and DACs.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,159 posts
 
Tbooe,

That does not surprise me at all, though I have never tried SPDIF direct from a general purpose computer. Better to keep noisy computer physically and electronically isolated from music making components as much as possible for best results. Network players especially using wireless network connections make this easy to accomplish.
williewonka
3,075 posts
 
You could go the mac mini route + itunes + audirvana

I use my imac + itunes + audirvana and have 24/192 capability with remote from my droid tablet using a free app called Retune

Retune reads all of the itunes playlists, albums, genres etc... - so it functions the same as itunes

If I changed my dac to something of higher resolution then the associated driver would take care of linking at that resolution

It really is future proof since everything is software controlled

Audirvana streams the actual music file and I have it configured not to upsample, because the Schiit Bifrost dac I have sounds better that way

Hope this helps
williewonka
3,075 posts
 
Forgot to mention that I use the USB port on the imac

Alternately you can use the optical output, but you need the 3.5mm optical adapter - apple puts the optical output in the headphone socket - I am NOT joking! Took me a couple of months to determine this

With both the optical and USB I found the DH Labs cables performed the best.

Back to the music :-)
williewonka
3,075 posts
 
One last thing - Audirvana loads the entire track into memory before playing,so there tends to be a slight delay on the HD tracks, but then you can use wireless without any dropouts while playing

:-)
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