Clock vs Streamer advice

@lalitk

I tried apps associated with streamers from Elac, Cambridge Audio, Auralic, iFi Zen and Aurender but none of them was as good as the native Qobuz app. I was unable to find any way of using the Qobuz app with any of those streamers except via Airplay but when doing that I could not stream in Hi Res. I resisted subscribing to Roon for years but eventually succumbed and Roon is easily the best way of managing streamed albums, not perfect but the best. To achieve that I ended up buying an Antipodes CX streamer which was both Roon Ready and Roon Core in the same unit. The sound quality is excellent, on par with an Aurender N200, but not cheap and there is also the ongoing payment for Roon. Is it worth it? This you have to judge for yourself.

blisshifi

1,011 posts

01-30-2024 at 11:21pm 

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I suggest you save a bit more or wait for a higher priced unit to come on the used market. That said, warranties count for something, as streamers are inherently computers, and who hasn’t had computer problems? Many times it’s worth buying new just so that you’re not stuck with a lemon in the long run.

Or the short run.
When you run with the expensive streamer camp, buying used is putting a lot of faith in the in-house software and the parts (from the PCB on up) not malfunctioning. If something goes wrong and an RMA is necessary, out-of-warranty can get costly in time, parts, labor.

Agree w new + warranty, had an “inexpensive” CA CXN V2 and was getting faint crackling static sound from left channel through Klipsch Fortes, high sensitivity speakers. Tried a number of diagnostics and fixes with CA support, DAC chip suspect. Upgraded source in that system, moved the CXN to system two, less sensitive Focals, but still static.  One call to Crutchfield, two weeks later, brand new CXN, no crackling static! Problem solved. Had registered CXN w CA for extra year on warranty.  Have no idea if you could pull DAC chip and replace, but what if that not the gremlin? New + warranty or used with brand where warranty transfers.

@OP. Melco's app is not great either. As you have a quality DAC, and I'm working on the premise that it is USB equipped, you do have the potential to run Roon straight into that DAC. However, you need a purpose built computer to get the best results.

Used Lumin, absolutely!