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Another post about a streamer upgrade

Hello

I’ve read a lot of the threads here about streamers and moving up the chain.

However, it seems there’s not a ton of info for relatively modestly priced streamers … most threads focus on the Bluesound / Ifi Zen range or the Aurender N200 range.

I have an Ifi Zen Stream with an LPS fronted by an Ether Regen and would like to move on to something better… mainly from a usability and app standpoint but would like to spend significantly less than $2k.

I think the writing is on the wall with the Innuos Pulse Mini but curious if others have a suggestion that would be a sq improvement from the Ifi and a much better user experience for around $1500 give or take.

I currently use the JPLAY app to access Qobuz to stream DLNA to the Ifi but it’s frustrating and connectivity isn’t great. 
 

I don’t use Roon so the Sense app from Innuos is probably the best bet from what I gather.   I’d also be interested in the Aurender system but according to many the N200 is where to start there and that’s significant higher priced than where I want to go at this point.

Are there any other options with great usability and sound that I’m not thinking of.

I typically run Spdif coax out to my dacs but could also run usb.

thanks in advance 

j_andrews

Showing 1 response by dz13

dz13
200 posts
 

Just stepping in for my two cents on the issue.

I was streaming (just AppleMusic) from a computer through an ifi iDSD to my integrated tube amp on my main system. I had a Bluenote X on my secondary system. I got a T+A 200 Dac mostly in trade and then went for the Aurender N200.

Now the Dac and the Aurender is essentially $12k of equipment. I think the biggest thing the OP needs to think about is how resolving his system is. The OP doesn’t say what else he has in his system (amp/preamp/speakers/dac etc).

My previous set up was pretty good even using a computer as the source. The difference with the $12k of equipment isn’t that big. Now there is some break in and I can hear that the sound is more open and seems to be improving a bit as it is breaking in but I’m not sure I would do this upgrade again for the money. Maybe my system is good but not good enough to justify the new units. Sometimes being happy with what you got is the best bet.

There are plenty of midlevel streamers including Innuos (which @soix recommends) and others that will probably make the OP very happy.

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