Improvement of MacBook Air for Streaming Tidal


OK, admittedly I am a bit ignorant on streaming digital. My analogue gear and knowhow is up to par, but digital...not quite. When not listening to vinyl, for ease of use I usually stream Tidal via my MacBook Air to a DAC (Hegel HD30), then to a preamp(Aric Audio Motherlode) then to amp(Coda Model 16) to speakers(TAD CE1's). I like how easy it is to navigate my Tidal account and library via the MacBook, but I am also smart enough(I believe) to know that I am losing a lot of the fidelity having to use the USB port out of my laptop. 

I ask my audio brethren, what are reasonably priced solutions to raise my digital methodologies so that I get the most out of Tidal? 

 

I thank you in advance for your assistance!

laaudionut

Hey laaudionut! I would suggest a streamer such as a Lumin D2- which is what I use. It will connect directly to the Motherlode using RCA cables (it also requires a cat5/6 cable to your router) and then you download the Lumin app onto your Macbook. I use an iPad, but it should be the same functionally. You can then use Tidal, Spotify, Airplay, etc, to stream music from the Lumin via the wireless Macbook controller. I love mine and find the fidelity to be quite satisfying! There are other streamers I'm sure as well. Another feature of the Lumin, is you can try it using its built in DAC, or run a digital coax to your current DAC from the Lumin. I'm not sure which you'll find to have better sonics, but it's easy enough to compare (and then possibly sell your current DAC to recoup some of the cost of the Lumin). 

 

All the best, Aric

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