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Need DAC/Streaming Advice

I currently own a Bryston BDP-2 digital player that I run through a Bryston DAC.  As far as playing high resolution files via a thumb drive or other external drive, the BDP-2 sounds great.  The streaming part leaves a lot to be desired.  I can stream Tidal but it is extremely slow and the IPad controller is pretty lousy.  I can listen to Sonos through the DAC into my main system but obviously there is no hi-Rez via Sonos. I would like to find a better solution and am willing to start over (I can move the Bryston components to my secondary system).  What I would like to find is a higher end streamer for my main system that would allow me to stream Tidal, Spotify and Deezer if possible while also playing digital files via thumb drive etc. I have no idea if that can be done in a one box solution or if I would need a separate streamer and DAC.  I would very much appreciate any and all thoughts.  Thanks in advance.
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Showing 3 responses by johnkay74

johnkay74
4 posts
 
Like mahler123 above, I I also encountered significant problems with Bluesound and ended up returning. I initially purchased the older Node 2 and Puse 2 about a year ago. Used them for 3 months and then sold as I could not deal with the bugs I encountered. More recently I purchased a Pulse mini 2i and a Node 2i. Different bugs and not a good experience with customer service (similar to mahler). Ended up returning as I was in the window. I think that a lot of problems occur when multiple units are installed and used as a multiroom system.
johnkay74
4 posts
 
Jonkay
sorry to hear about your Bluesound problems. Did you try a different streamer?
mahler123, I have gone back and forth with a number of solutions:
- Sonos connect (with external dac + amp)
- Naim Nova
- Allo Digi One with Volumio (feeding the above external dac + amp)

The Nova sounded great but it is super expensive and it needs careful partnering with speakers (a bit bass heavy). The Naim app was occasionally buggy.

The Allo Digi One used with Roon is (to my ears) the best sounding and also the cheapest. Unfortunately, scaling this to include additional units (RPi3 based) is not easy and it involves a lot of hassle.

I have resigned to using a single Allo Digi One feeding my main system for critical listening and then a Sonos Connect + Sonos One units for multiroom around the house.

The combination allows for listening options but it results in multiple boxes, cables and switching. Not a problem for me but my family will not go near the system...
johnkay74
4 posts
 
@ghulamr 
Sorry for the very late response. I understand you would like to keep using Apple Music but at the same time you are not very fond of airplay 2. Just my opinion here: I think a sort of a compromise can be achieved where you improve the main system (living room) but accept the use of airplay in less important zones / end points. To that end you could use a Mac mini / MacBook Air etc. feeding your dac directly (you can even add a usb to spiff bridge for even better results). This means that you would have your iTunes library on the Mac mini and then you use the iTunes remote from your phone to control playback etc. You can send airplay streams from the Mac mini to other rooms. All this means a Mac + dac for your main system (avoiding airplay) and airplay for the rest of the rooms where you can accept a (potential) quality compromise. Even a 2014 Mac mini with a reasonable SSD would do the job and then you can go crazy if you want with improving the output with DACs etc.

One thing to keep in mind with the above route... avoid DACs or DSP that may introduce delay. For example, older Chord dacs or Naim Dac V1 etc... they use a buffer which introduces a delay. Why does this matter? You will not be able to have perfect sync between your Mac mini (living room) and any other airplay enabled room. The annoying echo will drive you nuts :-o. Most DACs are fine though (no buffer).

Just an idea, hope it helps
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