2. digital
  3. 179322-96

Anyone else feel like it’s the Wild Wild West?

I’ve been following the streaming threads here for a while now, and I find it both exhilarating and intimidating.  I mean, we all know everything in high-end audio matters to some degree or another, right (Ok, maybe except for the flat earth contingent)?  From what I’m reading and from my own experience the process of optimizing steaming has near unlimited potential, and some even say it rivals or even surpasses vinyl if taken to the max.  Cables, routers, optical, filters, extenders, power supplies, switches, etc., they all seem to make a significant difference despite the naysayers who say bits are just bits.  I’m all in on this steaming renaissance, but most of the jewels of useful info are buried in other posts, so I’d like to have this be a consolidator post of your best streaming experiences and recommendations for others who could benefit greatly from your hard-won victories and maybe save a lot of people the agony you went through to get to streaming nirvana.  So have at it — let’s empower this community in this noble task and help everyone realize the amazing potential of this magic gift to audiophiles.  What say you?

soix

Showing 2 responses by moonwatcher

moonwatcher
512 posts
 

When a iFi Zen Stream has far more issues with operation and glitches than a $79 WiiM Mini streamer I think it is incumbent upon iFi to FIX their product or stop selling it to unsuspecting customers and wait until they can come out with a "MK. 2" version that works as it should. 

I keep looking at a Bluesound Node, but hate paying for a DAC I'll never use, even at the $600 price point.  Might look at the new Musical Fidelity MX - Stream as a solution in my budget for a streamer and the Denafrips Ares II as the DAC and call it a day. 

But the Ares II has been on the market now for a good while. Should I wait and see if any other DAC in the $1000 range would be better? 

moonwatcher
512 posts
 

@soix yes, please let us know if you find a solution to some of the iFi Zen Stream’s issues. At it’s price point and the better fidelity reviewers have noted over the Bluesound Node used as a streamer only, it would offer a great bang for the buck - if it didn’t have those issues...bad Wi-Fi connectivity, stuttering or glitching on the 1st song every single time in Tidal, etc.

I use Tidal and Wi-Fi so until those issues are ironed out it will be a non-starter for me, hence the reason for looking at the MX-Stream by Musical Fidelity at $1100. Considerably more expensive but it does offer a lot too, and there is some value to be placed on less aggravation. I’m tired of being a Beta tester. Been doing that too long for too many companies and their products and software with little to show for it other than a few extra grey hairs.

As others have noted, this "streaming game" is still in a state of flux. I’m not looking to upgrade every 6 months when something "new and improved" comes along. Instead I want to get something and be happy for 5 to 6 years at least and then if I’m still alive and kicking, maybe upgrade. Thanks.

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