For those that have separate Streamers & DACS


What are some of your favorite streamers/servers strictly from a sound quality perspective?  Please assume a stand-alone DAC.  I've read such a variety of opinions on streamers and was interested in opinions from those that have tried different streamers on with their DACs.  

badgerdms

Showing 7 responses by verdantaudio

What I find funny is no one asked what DAC you have.  The best solution can vary depending on the DAC and what is the best input.  Many devices use USB.  This may or may not be the best input on your DAC.  

Also, you have not mentioned a budget.  These things range from $600 (Bluesound Node) to $47K (Pink Faun Double Ultras) that I am aware of.  Best I have heard have been Taiko, Pink Faun and Antipodes but they tend to be pricier.   

The point is there are are lots of brilliant solutions.  What DAC do you have?  Do you have a budget in mind? 

@sns Couldn't agree more.  Actually running a separate server and player, even modestly priced ones (Roon Nucleus & Bricasti M5), will outperform many server/player combos and give you flexibility in the long run.  The key is making sure the server is only a server and getting rendering duty into another computer (dual computers in Antipodes K30 & K50) or into another device (Bricasti M5, Lumin U1, Weiss DSP 501/502, etc...). 

So, the Bricasti M5 is a player/renderer and lacks support for streaming services like Tidal or Qobuz.  It needs a server to pair with it to work.  This can be a computer, Roon Nucleus or a myriad of other servers.  
 

The Antipodes S30 will serve as a server and player.  It is not my first choice for that duty.  It is good as a Roon server assuming you aren’t running any DSD files but is best when paired with a player like the M5.  
 

if you were to opt for the Bricasti M3, best option is to get the network card.  It is a $1000 upgrade and is literally the same card that is in the M5.  That with a Nucleus, Nucleus+ Or Antipodes S30 or S40 (Nucleus + or S40 is necessary for DSD) will be your best performing options.  The M3 with network card from an S30 would be VERY nice.  
 

I believe the Merason and Ideon don’t have player options.  Assuming the same $4k cap, I would look at a Roon Nucleus with an M5.  This is a better combo than you would think and I know will outperform the S30 on its own.  
 

So, Anipodes S30 could be setup just as a player and you would just run Roon core on the Zenith.  I have never had a customer match an antiopdes player with another brands server.  It would only connect via USB.  This is not my first choice.  

The Bricasti M5 would be a first rate option.  The M5 is at its best when connecting to a DAC via AES. 

The Chord 2Go/2Yo which is slightly less expensive is also excellent.  It has a digital coax and BNC output that are very good.  I would argue it might be slightly better than the M5 if you prefer USB.  

If you got the Bricasti M3 with network card, you would simply run an ethernet cable to it.  That is likely the best performing and least expensive option.  

@badgerdms in the Roon “audio” menu under settings you need to find the M3 and enable it.  Once you do that, you need to select the M3 as a zone.  If you have done that already, then I need to dig a little deeper.  

@badgerdms odds are you aren’t getting an IP address on the device.  Restart your router.  If you have a Mac Mini on your network turn it off while you try to connect the M3. Restart the server feeding the M3.  
 

those are next steps

Did you get a connection finally. Other macs shouldn’t cause an issue.  Did you restart the Innuos?  There is something wonky preventing the two from talking.  Does your Innuos have a direct Ethernet connection between device and DAC?  I think it does?  Or are you connecting the M3 to the router?