Best streamer for a returning audio guy

I started the same path a year ago. I was certain I was heading for a Bluesound Node,etc. I ended up with an Auralic Altair G1 and have never regretted it. You can download to its hard drive, it sounds great, and I’m streaming Tidal with ease and constant enjoyment.

Cambridge Audio Cxnv2.  The app works great, the sound is fantastic.  Best bang for the buck.  Balanced or rca out. 

OP,

”With regard to streaming audio vs lp. To my ears now there is no comparison.”… and why is that? Your particular components. Change those and the output changes.

Grace Digital Link....yes, I said it yet again...

@twodogs112 ,

I started much like you are. 

My first streamer was the Bluesound Node bought used on Ebay.

It worked great. The internal DAC is good for the price, but the good part is you can insert a better DAC in the future.

As you have heard, your LP's produce a better quality sound. This I don't doubt.

But, when you get really serious about it (and have a bit of disposable income available), digital streaming gets very close to vinyl.

PM me if you want more detailed information.

Bob

Thanks for all the suggestions. I’m currently using the Tammy as a pre amp b cause of the ht capability. My wife likes the movies on the system. I’m currently looking for a reasonable pre for 2 channel as well as ht. I already have an Adcom preamp with my Adcom amp( white faceplates, very rare, bought new!!!). Ran this for years before I could afford a tv!!!

  Sound like blue ode is for me. Like the options available. I already have a stand alone Dac. It made a real difference in my cds listening. So no problem there. 
  With regard to streaming audio vs lp. To my ears now there is no comparison. I have several direct to disc recordings, a few Gail recordings, and lots of mobile fidelity lp recordings as well. Comparison between supertramp, the planets, king james( on direct to disc) . Lp’s win every time. A reasonable turntable helps. I like cd’s for the convenience.

  Thanks for the advice, all suggestions are welcome. On a funny note, I just discovered Apple TV has music. Who new. Thanks, twodogs112 ( I really have 2 dogs), a westie, and a one eyed beagle!!!!

“I see a lot of recommendations for the Node.  I used one for a while and agree it is a good streamer.  I don't like that you have to buy a DAC with it.  I recommend a stand alone DAC.  The DAC is a much more important component of your system than your streamer.  I'd keep using a computer and do without a streamer until I had my DAC.  --Jerry”

The Node has an internal DAC with RCA outputs. The newest model’s DAC is pretty good. Easy to add an external DAC later if OP decides streaming works well for him/her and wants to upgrade.

First streamer Bluesound. Period.

The Zen next and keep them both.

After a DAC investment.

Unless you're satisfied with the Mode you are going to spend a coupla $K.

I see a lot of recommendations for the Node.  I used one for a while and agree it is a good streamer.  I don't like that you have to buy a DAC with it.  I recommend a stand alone DAC.  The DAC is a much more important component of your system than your streamer.  I'd keep using a computer and do without a streamer until I had my DAC.  --Jerry

Seriously and very much feel strongly about it. Try the iFi Zen. For the money, for someone wanted to try to see if they like it it really has no equal in its price range.

Sound, ease of use, access to all you need.

I’ll give you $2 if you find better for the money. My opinion of course (-:

OP,

Welcome back. I think the Bluesound streamer is a great recommendation.

I’m an old guy also. Just a note on today’s audio world. Streaming can sound just as good as vinyl… for around the same price if you carefully choose the components. This is a pretty new development although the trend of improving digital has been going on for decades.

This is important, because unless you just love fiddling with vinyl (nothing wrong with that… but as I get older I am less happy getting up every 15 - 20 minutes), streaming completely opens up the world of music. Qobuz has 1/2 million high resolution albums. 
 

So, I would just keep in your mind that if you like what you hear, with work and money the sound can be as good as vinyl.

Another vote for the newest Bluesound Node. Certainly there are higher end units but a great place to start. Just as important, if not more, is that the user interface and setup are very simple. I use an external DAC with mine but that is something to consider down the road. I am about to buy one for my dad just for these reasons. 

So your path is very similar to mine (and many others here)...I elected to keep my system vinyl centric and am putting my streaming system into the room we entertain the most in....I started streaming thru an AVR system to understand what was out there... I settled on Qobuz... from an equipment perspective I elected to go the Bluesound route as many others here have and recommended ($599)...the main resons for this is that the user app is very similar to the mConnect app I use now, the set up is very easy and the performance is very high given the price point above...should u feel the need to upgrade later, u can still use the Blusound as a streamer and connect your upgraded DAC thru it...

Good hunting, I had a blast researching all the variables and the folks here are very helpful

I like the idea of a raspberry pi set up as mentioned above (Allo). But be aware that you will need some level of network and computer proficiency to make it work. It's not too bad, but not plug n play either. The Bluesound Node is your best bet for something inexpensive that's easy to set up. The onboard DAC is not bad and will be adequate until such a time as you upgrade to a better external one.

I’m also in the market for a budget yet still very good streamer and have done quite a bit of research, and the best option I’ve found considering performance, cost, and ease of setup/use is the iFi Zen Stream that retails for $399, but there are new units available from an authorized dealer for $325 that makes its value even more attractive. As others have said you can use the DAC in your Yammy to get started, but you’ll get much better results by upgrading to a better standalone DAC. Another component that should be at the top of your upgrade priorities is a dedicated stereo preamp as the pre section of mass market AVRs are huge bottlenecks in a system and are a death sentence to achieving good 2-channel performance. Just my $0.02 FWIW, and congrats on your return to this awesome hobby and have fun rebuilding your system.

(p.s. The audio gene never dies — it just lies dormant until something, like an awesome wife!!!, reawakens it.)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265670303159

@twodogs112  - What streaming service(s) do you plan to use? A super inexpensive, but easy to use setup is the WIIM Mini Streamer available on Amazon for $99 (sometimes on sale for $89). I own one and find it super easy to use. It does sound the digital optical output into an external DAC (you have a DAC in your Yamaha AVR), but you can also use analog outputs.

It does native Spotify and Tidal. I think it will do Qobuz, but not in native mode, so it may be a little more complicated.

So, for $89-$99, you can try out streaming to see if you like it, and then upgrade to a higher level streamer that should produce better sound.

If you want to skip over the inexpensive trial hardware, a good first step-up option is the current version of the BlueSound Node.

Good Luck, and Enjoy....

Bluesound Node can be gotten used, so I will join in with others on that option. The best thing (less aggravation) is to run a hard wire Cat5 cable to your router or USB to a computer if you are playing files from your computer.

After owning the original Bluesound Node, I bought the Bluesound Vault and have gradually made copies of all my CD's. Now I have the original compact discs and a copy to play in the Bluesound hard-drive which is also a streamer. That option would cost you more cash....

I have a Bluesound Node 2i for streaming. The newer Node is fairly reasonably priced. It works great for me as an addition to my high end analog system, and you can add an outboard dac at a later time if you feel you need the upgrade (I do not at this time).

Bluesound

Thanks, I’ll look into it.

A very reasonable streamer, and a nice upgrade from a computer at a reasonable price, is the Allo USBridge streamer with the Shanti power supply.  

There are much more expensive streamers out there and I'm probably going to buy one eventually but the return per $ invested on this upgrade is much lower than just buying into the Allo unit.  

Jerry