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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 2 responses by rbstehno

rbstehno
1,510 posts
 
Bluesound is an entry level player. For the same $$, look for a used Auralic mini, will sound better and the lightning interface is better. Even this is an entry level player.
You don’t need a dedicated server like an Auralic, Aurender, etc.. These are just proprietary computers. IMO, 3 things you need to figure out:
1) do you like MQA? If you do, the most important thing to do is get a compatible dac that supports MQA. IMO, MQA sounds better than vinyl, but so does dad and sacd.
2) buy Roon. Sounds great and has the best interface and metadata. 3) you can run Roon on any computer or if you are not comfortable with computers, then get a nucleus. Then keep this computer in a separate room from your audio system and buy the best dac you can afford that has a network connection with MQA support, this gets around using the flawed usb interface and keeps the noisy computer away from your listening room
rbstehno
1,510 posts
 
Chuckccs- your better dacs have a network interface or i2s. Any computer/3rd party streamer with attached disks will be noisy plus most users with computers/streamers in the audio room use usb which is a flawed interface, even when you tweak it out with the many different products on the market. Sure, people will tell you to get a nas or use ssd, both unnecessary. 
My ps audio ds sr dac has a network interface and roon allows this to be an endpoint So thru my iPad/iPhone, I can direct my music to the ds dac or any of my other 6 endpoints in my house. Very simple with the best sq.
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