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  3. 156548-145014

Another streaming newbie

Guys, I have tried to search and figure this out, because I know this topic has been well-covered. But I am still wandering in the dark, so plz forgive my redundant questions....

First, here's my current rig,: I built a Lenco table 15 yrs ago with a JMW 10 arm/London Super Gold that I run into a phono pre that I built from a pretty high end kit  (can't see the name, have no idea what it is now!) thru a VTL tube IT-85 integrated amp and then thru some SF Electa Amator II, supported by a sub I built.  So pretty mid-fi setup, but it really works for me.  Sounds great, to my ears.  

The Covid thing has me home (no golf in Los Angeles!), listening to music more. Would love to stream something that approaches the vinyl sound quality with a music service, but being retired, budget is more a concern now... I just subscribed to TIDAL with its premium level (MQA) that I was running straight from my iphone 6 to the VTL. Meh.  Then my daughter ran same stuff through her iphone 11 and, hey, that sounded better.  So, clearly, I am in need of a streaming DAC.  

I know MQA gets mixed reviews. I have no way really to test this or to go listen to stuff. Everything is shut down here. So here's the criteria that matters most to me:
  • A great UI app because now streaming is like going to the Smithsonian.  There's a lot to organize. 
  • Great sound. (whatever that means!) 
  • One box.  Cables get expensive & messy.  
  • I'd like to keep it under $2K. I'd really like to keep it under $1K, but that may be wishful thinking.  I mean, is Bluesound Node 2 up to it? I am sure it would beat my daughters iphone 11, but ... what are reasonable streamers/DACS?  Where's the killer solution that isn't $10K?  I know it's out there....
I am not so far into TIDAL that I can't change. My system is in the same room as my router, so I can run an ethernet cable to the DAC.  As I have looked at all of this, it has occurred to me to get an older, much higher quality used DAC that I can somehow mesh with TIDAL (or another service with high quality streaming) and forget the MQA.  But this has to somehow hook into my internet directly and be able to be run by a remote UI.  So now my head is spinning.

Thanks for your input.  Chuck
chuckccs

Showing 3 responses by headphonedreams

headphonedreams
529 posts
 
If you like to tinker with things one of the cheapest ways is to build a Raspberry Pi based solution yourself. I have done this and it works great for me. I use an external dac but you can also build a dac into the computer. With everything built-in it could cost as little as $150 and with an external dac it is around the same plus the price of the dac.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BUjj2mZ4o0

Card to make it possible to use an external dac (you also need the RPi and probably a case and of course, a dac)
https://www.hifiberry.com/products/digiplus/
headphonedreams
529 posts
 
The Orchard looks like it would fit you perfectly. 
https://orchardaudio.com/pecanpi-streamer

Or buy Volumio Primo and add a dac of your choice to get even better sound.
https://volumio.org/product/volumio-primo/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSYyudGfX6E

Another way with maybe slightly less good audio quality is to just buy a tablet, a cable and a Dragonfly Red or Cobalt. That would give you a nice interface compatible with all major streaming solutions.
headphonedreams
529 posts
 
Congrats on the Yggi! 

I have a cheaper dac and still I don't think the sound is nearly as good with my phone as a streamer as it is with a computer. You might want to order an Allo or something else pretty quickly.

You had an earlier question about software and I just use Volumio on my RPi and controls that from any phone. We mostly streams Spotify on it by just choosing "Stream to device" and choose the RPi but I store flac files on it also. If you want to use Tidal or Qobuz you probably need a subscription from Volumio. They are around €29 per year or less than €3 per month if you pay for a year. You might also be able to use Roon but I have not tried that.
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