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New streamer

I recently opened a discussion on upgrading my DAC. I started at the beginning of that discussion, that I was a vinyl guy, but with my purchase of the Chord Qutest, I realized that digital music can be outstanding and want to now upgrade my Node.

That will provide 2 benefits: Maximizing my current systems digital, and allow me to move the Node & Schiit Modi Multibit 2 to the family room, a small HT setup with a Yamaha AVR driving a Goldenear soundbar. Streaming there is currently MusicCast using the AVR DAC.  The improvement there should be very nice. 

My 2 channel equipment is as follows: 

Rogue RP-1 w/ NOS Brimar’s, LSA Warp 1, KEF R11’s, Rhythmic F12SE, Pro-ject 1Xpression w/Hana ML, Rega Aria, Bluesound Node w/Qubuz, Marantz CD6007, Chord Qutest. Good to very good power, speaker, interconnect cables.  
My weakest link (I believe) is now my Node. 
I don’t want or need amplification or volume control, ripping storage, nor an internal DAC. Sound signature should be neutral. 
My budget is $2,500, but willing to spend less. My current favorites are:

Lumin U2 mini. Very well reviewed, beautiful, perfect form factor, good app & controllable via my Harmony One remote. It is currently my #1 choice.

Auralic Aris. If new, the G1.1, if used G2.0 or 2.1. Very well reviewed, good app, OK form factor, but not controllable via harmony.  
Naim ND5 XS2. Considered the best high end streamer by What Hi Fi  Would need to buy used to stay close to budget.

EverSolo DMP-A6. Included based upon reviews, but may not be a serious contender. 
HiFi Rose RS250A. The streamer EverSolo seemed to copy  

Aurender. Don’t think they have anything within my budget, but included for discussion.

 LPS upgrade for Node. Included because I know it will come up. Plan to reuse my node downstairs, so out. Would prefer LPS upgrade for one of the above.  

Please let me know your thoughts and/or recommendations. Thanks!

 

 

signaforce

Showing 1 response by cdtd

cdtd
27 posts
 

I just tried a few streamers because my setup changed due to one of my kids taking part of my system to college.  

A lumin U1 mini w/sbooster into a Ps Audio strata as preamp feeding meridian g57 amp & ProAc 3.8’s sounded amazing- detail, tone & soundstage, liquid/coherent and musical.  Loved it - but my kid took the ps audio. 
 

I borrowed a Lumin D3 w/ internal power supply and used the pre outs w/loss less digital volume control into the same amp & speakers.  Noticeably less musical, tone and coherent and a little fatiguing.  I was a little dissapointed.
 

I used a node 2 into an audio refinement pre pro then into the meridan/proac set up and it sounded about the same as the Lumin D3.

I then used an Oppo Sonica w/ Mod Wright mods and external power supply direct into the Meridian and it sounds almost as good as the Lumin U1 mini.  Just a little less liquid/coherent but also a bigger/bolder sound.  This is what I am staying with for now. 
 

I did spend 10 days with this project so all set ups had time to burn in.  None of the gear was new in box and all had been very recently powered up.  Using Quboz, Prime, Spotify, Airplay and network attached dsd.
 

What I got out of it was that an external power supply for the streamer and a quality dac are very important.  The preamp is almost as important as the dac.  At least at the $2k streamer price point.  
 

 

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