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Beginner in the Audiophile World – Looking for Streamer & Streaming Service Advice

Hi everyone,

 

First of all, thank you for this amazing community. It’s really encouraging for someone like me—still a total newbie in the audio world—to have a place to learn and ask questions.

 

I’ve recently managed to put together the system below, and I currently use Spotify from my iPhone connected via Bluetooth to my DAC. I know it’s far from ideal, and after reading a bit, I’d really like to explore the potential improvements I could get from using a proper streamer, wired to my DAC.

 

So here’s my main question:

– Which streaming service would you recommend (if Spotify isn’t enough)?

– And which streamer should I consider buying on the used market (Portugal or Spain)?

 

From my research, I’ve found options like the Lumin U1 Mini, Holo Red, and iFi Neo Stream—each seems to have strengths in sound quality, dynamics, and user interface.

I also came across some others like the Volumio Rivo, Pro-Ject Stream Box DS2 T, NP5 Prisma (MK1), and MOON 180 MiND.

 

Some are easier to find used than others here locally, and price is definitely something I need to be mindful of—this hobby is addictive, and I’ve already stretched my budget a bit!

 

My current setup:

 

  • DAC: Topping D90SE
  • Headphone Amp: Topping A90 Discrete
  • Headphones: Audeze LCD-3
  • Tone Control: Schiit Lokius
  • Interconnects: AudioQuest Red River

 

 

Incoming gear:

 

  • Power Amp: Topping LA90 Discrete
  • Speakers: Amphion Argon2 Anniversary Edition (cherry)
  • Speaker Cables: MIT eXP

 

 

Would really appreciate your advice and experiences, especially from anyone who’s made a similar jump from Bluetooth/Spotify to a wired streaming setup.

 

Thanks in advance, looking forward to learning from you all!

andsan76
yyzsantabarbara
5,053 posts
 

I have TIDAL and Qobuz. I think I will drop Qobuz when my yearly subscription is up. I think TIDAL has all the albums that I have tagged on Qobuz. Music discovery on Tidal is better for me than on Qobuz.

I had 3 DACs and 3 streamers.

- Schitt Yggi+ OG + Sonore OpticalRendu ROON ONLY streamer

- Schitt Yggi+ MIB + Sonore OpticalRendu ROON ONLY streamer

- Benchmark DAC3B (sold) + Sonore OpticalRendu ROON ONLY streamer

The OpticalRendu are likely the first streamer to incorporate fibre optical. I noticed the new $8k Infigo (sp?) Audio streamer is only supporting fibre . There is a physical reason for this. Fibre is made of glass, and glass cannot carry the analog noise on the network into your DAC. Ethernet cannot do this.

If the 3 OpticalRendu’s ever fail I will get the new-ish Lumin U2 streamer. I used to own the Lumin X1 DAC/streamer and it was a great streamer, a so-so DAC. The U2 is the streamer part of the X1. The U2 supports fibre in the best way possible by going right into the streamer.

Lumin knows streaming as does Sonore. I have owned both at the same time and compared. They are different sonically and I could live with either one, so I went with the cheaper Sonore.

BTW I used to own the Topping D90SE and the D90LE and it was only a so-so DAC. the Schitt Yggi+’s I own do everything much better than the Topping DACs. 

 

jji666
574 posts
 

Roon with Tidal or Qobuz.

milpai's avatar
milpai
2,462 posts
 

I am going to suggest a slightly different approach, since I see you might be considering the Holo Red.

You can install HQ Player NAA (Network Audio Adapter) on the Holo Red. Then you can use a PC/Laptop to play PCM/DSD files on it and send it to the Holo via your iPhone. The PC/Laptop can be placed outside the listening room. Qobuz is integrated in the HQ Player. So you will not have to use the Bluetooth and thus improve the sound quality.

Of course, you can use the Holo Red as a streamer and not go through the HQ Player route I suggested, if you are not comfortable. But based on my personal experience, HQ Player improves on the listening experience drastically.

Good luck and I hope you end up with a great sounding system.

jond's avatar
jond
5,992 posts
 

I am a Qobuz user myself and an Auralic fan maybe add their new Aries S1 to your list of streamer options.

andsan76 OP
4 posts
 

Guys… seriously? Wow! Super thanks for all your insights and quick replies — what an amazing community!

I honestly had no idea about Innuos, especially with them being Portuguese — what a miss on my part!

 

@yyzsantabarbara Yeah, I’ve read about the Lumin U2 Mini… but that’s Super Champions League territory, and I’m still playing in the School League here — ha!

 

I’ll definitely dig into all the suggestions you’ve shared.

Thanks again for all the support — truly appreciated!

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