Melco N100 works for me. Can you suggest the price range and other required features?
Best streamers WITHOUT a DAC
A year or so I jumped into the streaming world with the Bluesound ecosystem. Overall I'm very happy with it. Still, I think I can do better than the Node 2i on my "reference" system, basically a vintage high end setup (Sonic Frontiers SFD-2 Mk III, Krell KBL, ML no. 332, factory rebuilt Maggie MG 3a's). I've compared the 2i's internal DAC with the SFD-2s and it isn't even close. Not surprising, as the SFD-2 Mk III is certainly one of the best DACs ever made despite its age. So, can anybody suggest a suitable DACless streamer? Comments appreciated, thanks.
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Thanks, will look at that. Price range kind of open, would need to look at some alternatives. As for features... - decent OS with Android phone and Windows control - support for Tidal, Qobuz, other hi-rez streaming services, presumably similar to BlueOS, Sonos etc. MQA too (why not?) - Ethernet/wired network - Support for Plex, Roon, JRiver or other network streaming apps &/or its own native network streaming app (I've got a 1Tb library)
Both BlueSound and Sonos do all that stuff and presumably other, mixers streamers do as well. Don't need anything more exotic than that featurewise. Fwiw I've had a hard time even finding comparisons of streamer comparisons where the digital output is feed through a reference DAC.
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You haven’t specified a budget but the Antipodes K50 would meet all your needs and deliver reference level performance. It is $15k but one of the great servers in the world. A hybrid, 2 Box approach could be interesting. Something like an Antipodes S40 with a Bricasti M5 would be half the price and is a pretty incredible solution. $7400 combined and again, would do everything you are asking for. the Lumin U1 is a little older at this point but still offers great support for current platforms. It is a streamer only at $6k the U1 Mini is a smaller, more streamlined version at $2100. All of these are a step up from a Node. I am an Antipodes and Bricasti dealer. I am considering Lumin at this time but am not a retailer at this time.
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@verdantaudio wouldn't the OP just need the Bricasti M5 for what he is asking about? Why the Antipodes S40? Just curious. |
@rsf507 i will use Roon as an example because it is so common. The Bricasti M5 is a Roon Endpoint but does not run Roon Server. You can run room server on a ton of devices but a PC or Mac Mini can perform poorly and mitigate the benefit you are getting from the Bricasti. Mac Mini’s in particular are awful IMO and any dedicated server; small green, Roon Nucleus, etc… will outperform it. the OP mentions they are looking for flexibility and reference quality which is why I suggested Anyipodes. For Roon in particular, an M5 and a Roon Nucleus. to run Roon with Lumin you would need a separate server as well but since it has its own streaming software option, you can avoid the separate server. Not my preference but it is an option as I personally see a lot of value in a service based on my experience. |
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