Need recommendations for a streamer

Whenever I see posts for advice on specific streaming hardware to purchase, the amazing variety of advice given makes me think a whole lot of people believe their streaming setups are providing great sound quality. Not here to dispute that, I take reported positive experience at face value.

But with so many differing and positive experiences reported, how would novice know where to begin. I just know I'd be totally confused. I like what Rich said in post, nice comparison of differing topologies, this is where I'm at presently, still experimenting after nearly ten years streaming. Optimizing within each of these topologies is critical in understanding potential of each.

sns

Whenever I see posts for advice on specific streaming hardware to purchase, the amazing variety of advice given makes me think a whole lot of people believe their streaming setups are providing great sound quality ... But with so many differing and positive experiences reported, how would novice know where to begin. I just know I'd be totally confused.

Yes, it's easy to be confused by it all, in part because the vocabulary isn't really standardized. Then there's the mountain of silly misinformation, such as this gem from @jays_audio_lab on another thread, supposedly quoting a guy with a $2.5 million system and room:

I have been communicating with a top audio industry expert who brought to my attention something quite interesting. I am copying and pasting -

"Streaming quality is inferior to playing files from a HD, and it is always changing based on your current bandwidth. You just never know what kind of compression you are actually listening to (it does not matter what Qobuz telling you about the quality, it is passed their control - think about the times you see Netflix/amazon and the quality changes) .

I’m using a Cambridge Audio CXNV2 

and it’s  great- it works - upgrading is easy-

I’m hard wired to the internet router

sometimes the signal is awesome 

most of the time the signal is awful!

this morning real early I was listening to a broadcast and the system never sounded so good! 
 

the moral- poor signal poor sound quality!

So if you are an internet listener  don’t spend a fortune

since  the quality of the source and the quality of the signal will 

be critical

I have a zen blue and I love it. Easy to us and great sound.

The SMSL SD-9 is a excellent streamer with USB and I2S outputs and connects to the internet wired or wireless. I use the USB output to a USB to I2S adapter to my Musician Pegasus DAC. You can use Bubble UPnP to connect your Tidal and Qobuz accounts to stream through the SD-9. All this for $399