I too own a PS PWD2 and I think for the used price, it's the best bargain out there. As for the usage of streaming company, it's about trading off the availability and maintenance. I have a 10TB NAS full of music but it would cost me close to $1K in the hardware cost and building up the libray. For the same amount of money, you can buy arguably 3-4 year of TIDAL membership that is available anywhere, especially when you're on the road. It can play on multiple devices at the same time and the quality is equally good if not better in addition to the latest materials. The interface is super easy so you don't need to have a separate PC to run in addition to the NAS to have JRiver. Having said that and like everything these days, you pay for the availability, easy to use interface and instant quality.
Can anyone recommend a good streamer/DAC?
I have tried streaming on an Astell& Kern Kann Cube and love it. Now looking for a streamer DAC combo (or both integrated in one box) to put on the rack with my living room system. I have read good things about the Cambridge Audio 851n and their CXN v2; $1,500 and $1,100, respectively. Also about the Bryston BDA-3.14, at $4,200. I am willing to pay for good quality sound and at the same time I worry that the technology may be moving fast enough that as with computers and HDTVs there will be a much better version available soon for a lot less money. Anybody know if Cambridge Audio or Bryston has anything new in the works for streamer/DACs? All recommendations will be much appreciated.
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PS Audio Perfect Wave dac works marvelously. And one can find them used for less than $1200. They sold new for $2500. I don’t stream. Why pay a streaming company when I already have tons of physical media. And what I don’t have I can get for free by downloading it on YouTube. All you need is a YouTube downloader. They’re available for a heckuva lot less than streaming fees, and buying it is a one time charge and the use is available for life. |
I have the Cary Audio DMS600 streamer/ DAC. Incredible piece of equipment and hard to beat. Dennis Had won’t involve his name unless it reaches a certain Class A level. Check these reviews out. I hope this helps. https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/dms-600-owner-review https://www.thesoundadvocate.com/2019/05/cary-audio-600-audio-players/ https://www.stereophile.com/content/new-cary-dms-550-and-dms-600-network-audio-players-sli-100-integ... https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/rmaf-2018-digital/ |
I also highly recommend the Auralic Vega G1. Superb DAC and streamer. I also have in another system the Auralic Altair G1--less expensive than Vega G1--sound is excellent but the Vega G1 is noticeably better. I also used to have a Cambridge 851N, which while good, is not in the same league as the Auralic products. |
Ditto on Blusound Node 2 You can find a pretty good deal on the version 2 vs 2i of this product, and as i understand it, the 2i advantage was a better dac only, so i using outboard dac no real advantage. They are cheap enough to try and you can get back 80% of your purchase price if you don't like it or want to upgrade later. My .02 |
I bought a "factory refurbed" CXNv2 on Cambridge outlet on Ebay. just over $500.. Now , it doesnt appear to be anything but new as far as I have noticed and there have been no issues with it whatsoever. I really don’t know how it would compare to a Metrum DAC I had and sold to ultilize the Cambridge for DAC duties with an old school PS Audio Lambda transport. As far as streaming music no issues what so ever. Although I do not subscribe at this point to any pay for music sites. I am an FM junkie for years and had preferred my high end vintage tuners but moved out of the area that had some of the best FM stations in the country (which are really hard to come by at least for my taste) So , the world ’s FM is available . I like the CXN as it also shows the bit rate as well as track playing even from just fm station at least on some that I listen to. The bit rate seems to give some indication of station quality although not always. I have had a few others and not at all worthwhile for a few hundred dollars less (they were primarily internet tuners although likely would stream from a HD.. but at some point I am going to try and compare it to an original Burson HD 160 (dac only) I have . I do notice at times if I am playing videos on my Macbook and streaming the audio that the audio sync may be off at times but likely that is certainly not the issue with the streamer as I’m talking about an 8 yr old Macbook not to mention streaming audio from u tube vids doesnt exactly count as even entry high end architecture. Or, I was just playing the other day on my Mac a Yakuza flic with subtitles and was not exactly sync’ed up. Doubt that is the streamer. Older technology abides in the Mac . |
Pretty happy with my Cary DMS-600. I use it direct to my Pass Labs amps and it sounds very dynamic, musical yet still great detail. It replaced a PS Audio BHK Pre with Telefunken tubes and Luxman DA-06 DAC combo. Sound no comparison, but I do think the PS Audio was the limiting factor for me. I also tried an Aries G1 to replace the streamer portion of the Cary. Cary was so much more dynamic and live sounding. |
I use the LUMIN U1 Mini with a PS Audio DS DAC and am very happy with that combination. Additionally, all LUMIN streamers can be updated through firmware to use the LEEDH Processing algorithm which results in an even better volume control. Moreover, the LUMIN app is really outstanding to control the DAC ICs and music selections. |
+1 with @mahler123 I have the Bryston Pi which is a DACless streamer and Brystons entry point for streamers. The Manic Moose software is pretty bad but like @mahler123 said it dont matter if your just streaming Qobuz. I know you said yo want Streamer DAC combo but think about seperates as well. I found the Pi for ~$600 US. That leaves lots of $$ left over to get a good DAC. I like the idea of separates , especially in this case were DAC technology is moving at a rapid clip. Gives you the flexibility to upgrade the DAC. The Bryston components will be a step up from the Node. I am also testing roon and right now the way I am configured the MPD service in the Bryston beets the paints off Roon for SQ |
Check out the MiniDSP SHD https://www.minidsp.com/products/streaming-hd-series/shd Does streaming via Wireless or wired, does DIRC Live, includes the mic to do the job, and does streaming This basically is your streamer, DAC, Pre Amp and DSP all in one, simplifies things dramatically. My music is on a USB Drive connected to the MiniDSP SHD, with outputs to my Crown Amps, then to my speakers. Really simple, great sound |
@lukaske I wonder if you have listened to the wolf. i have compared it extensively with the flagship lumin , innuos and aurender streamers and the wolf sounded better in my system . Yesterday I listened to the aurender streamer w20 Se through the Berkeley ref dac and the wolf was better . IMO wolf is a company anyone who streams music should listen to before deciding on their next streamer . |
Ok, here’s what I would do in your shoes. I would sell the Rogue and then with some of the proceeds up your spending level to $5K and buy the new NAD M33 which has what has been described as a “revolutionary” new Class D 200 wpc “Purifi” amplifier, which reportedly has nearly undetectable noise and distortion and has amazing reference SQ. It also has room for upgrading with two expansion slots. It also has a streamer and an excellent ES Sabre DAC. The best thing to do right now would be to go to their website and read all about it, you will be impressed. I traded my NAD M10 in and am awaiting delivery of a new M33, sometime in mid to late August. To say I’m excited would be an understatement! |
Ps Audio DirectStream is a winner for me after testing many manufacturer in my home. I was suprised how big the difference was compared to others (Mcintosh, Hegel, Mark Levinson) . I pass preamp from it. Also it is cheaper on long term because you get free software updates from manufacturer and they really make difference. I highly recommend tha you test DirectStream if possible. |
To the op , I have tried innuos statement and lumin u1 streamers . I had the lumin in my system for over 6 months. i now have a wolf streamer. The best . Far superior to my lumin in every musical way . Most importantly the people behind wolf are friendly and the nicest of folks. Joe Parvey is a very nice person. To me personal connection is very important as important as the sound quality is . Wolf streamer have both. I strongly recommend you give joe a call before you decide . Wish you all the best in your quest . Please don’t settle , buy the product you are most happy with. https://wolfaudiosystems.com/servers/ |
To the OP. I two systems. I have the cxn v2 and the bluesound 2i. I have compared them both in both systems so I may be able to help. My only complaint on the cxn is it doesn’t play MQA. Of course the bluesound does. If I did it over again I would have bought the upper Cambridge model that does play MQA. However I actually prefer the sound of the cxn playing cd quality over the bluesound playing MQA. The cxn just has a pleasent sound signature. With that said I recently added a Hegel HD25 dac after the bluesound and it sounds great so you may want to consider looking into that route. Hope this helps, lots of choices. |
Very curious about the Araulic G series, please let me know how you like the sound quality. I’m in the same boat except kinda new to digital streaming; always played vinyl and cd on my tube system. I’d like to add streamer for the convenience beyond low level Spotify/Audioengine D2 and purchase a serious music streamer that allows me to use its DAC for my CD player w/ digital out (no cd rip needed). Thanks Resolution Audio Opus-21 NS Mod CD Van Den Hul Crimson Black cart CAT SL1 Renaissance BPA v2019 pre Mcintosh MC275 x2 amp Wilson Audio Sophia 3 speakers |
The TEAC NT-505 is right around your budget if you can sell your blue ound and get about three hundred bucks for it. Having compared the teac to the option of adding a much more expensive DAC to the bluesound, I preferred the sound quality of the teac. The Orchid is a really nice unit, and it's what I use in my computer system. Just realize that its output is limited to 16 bits and it won't do DSD or MQA. |
I’ve already got the BlueSound Node 2. The 2i fidelity-wise is the same. I’m happy with it, but I’m looking at offloading to a DAC to improve the sound even further. Two that have caught my eye in particular are via the links below. The MyTek fully supports MQA, which is nice since I primarily use Tidal HI-FI. The second, the MHDT Labs Orchid especially caught my eye because it has top notch processing and its tube based for a very affordable price. https://mytekdigital.com/hifi/products/brooklyn/ https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/mhdtlab/ |
Push your Ethernet and server noise to Fibre Optical cable and lose the noise. Lot more talk about this nowadays. The Lunin X1 is the only DAC that has direct Fibre input on the DAC. I think a lot of networking streaming products become obsolete when this Fibre input becomes mainstream. So for today if you do not have a expensive Lumin X1 DAC you can do something almost the same with the following. https://www.sonore.us/opticalRendu-rr.html (If only using ROON) If no ROON, here are the other options from them. https://www.sonore.us/index.html |
I have the Cambridge CXC transport, which I'm very happy with, and have been researching a streamer to pair with it. If you haven't watched the John Darko video on the Cambridge CXN I would recommend it. It's a very hands-on explanation of what it does and what it's like in a system. https://darko.audio/2020/06/a-short-film-about-the-cambridge-audio-cxn-v2/ |
I have the Bryston BDA-3, connected a Bryston DAC3, which was an upgrade over Bluesound, which I still own. Bryston sounds much better with Qobuz (and everything else, for that matter) Played into the Bryston DAC. The player that you are looking at is a fantastic bargain compared to what I paid, which was purchased before they came out with the combo product. The Bryston Manic Moose control software is pretty bad, the Bluesound beats it easily, but if your main source is Qobuz it won’t matter, because you will creat favorites or playlists on another device . MM then has tabs for that then just pick rom there |
