2. digital
  3. 194346-139617

Hlep chosing a streamer/server for my DAC

Greetings Audiogoners, I took the dive into digital last year. I bought a Gustard A26 and loved the sound it produced. Close enough for me to analog—I currently have an Audio Research VSi75, a Herron Audio pre-amp and a VPI table.

I have been streaming through my MAC laptop. I know, not optimal. I want to make the next move to a dedicated streamer where I can sit in my chair with my tablet and drift off into sonic bliss. My problem: I'm unclear as to which streamer to pursue. Can you guys demystify things for me; dumb it down for this vinyl guy to understand? I just want to ensure that I'm able to stream the highest possible audio resolution between my DAC (32BIT/768kHz PCM, DOP 256, Native DSD512) and my streamer. I also want to avoid compatibility issues with whatever connection I choose to use between the streamer and DAC.

For example I have read that some streamers will only stream at a certain resolutions despite the streamer and the DAC being capable of much higher. Is this really a problem to be concerned about? Also, which connection should I favor 
AES, SPDIF coaxial, TOSLINK, I2S or USB. I have been using USB but I find that I can only stream at 24/96 even though higher bitrate files are possible (probably the limitations of my MAC). I currently use CAT 6 Ethernet to my MAC and USB to my DAC.

My budget is around $3700 tops. Can you help make make the right decision? Some of the streaming choices I have considered are the Lumin U2 (used) or U2mini with an S Booster, Innuos Pulse (used) or Pulse mini with power supply, Roon clone with a linear power supply or an Eversolo DMP-A10.

I freely admit I know next to nothing about digital audio. I need just the basics to make a wise purchase. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

diminishedchord

Showing 1 response by rog5878

rog5878
4 posts
 

 

You have received some great suggestions.  However, before you start making some hardware purchases, I suggest that you give audirvana and qobuz a try with your macbook. I recently purchased a mac mini and installed audirvana on it streaming qobuz and tidal and roon to my Sony Oled TV and Martin Logan motion vision soundbar with SVS subwoofer and was truly amazed at how great audirvana and qobuz sounded (to my ear better than roon). Now, it is not at the level of Linear Audio Tube aero dacs with ray reserve tubes and aurender streamers in a sophisticated headphone system or over the top speaker system with ancillary wywires platinum and cardas clear cabling  — getting audiophile level reproduction can be a lengthy process requiring hefty expenditures and a fair amount of effort in getting the system you want.

You should be able to run Audirvāna from a MacBook. Audirvāna is fully compatible with macOS 

• macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later

• At least 4GB of RAM (8GB recommended for optimal performance)

If you plan to use the Audirvāna Remote app to control playback from another device, the Remote app itself requires macOS 11.0 or later and an Apple M1 chip or newer for Mac, or iOS 12.0 or later for iPhone/iPad.

Both audirvana and qobuz have a nice free trial period.

Audirvana — 30 day

Qobuz — 60 days offer in May 2025, I believe.

Have fun.

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