New streamer needed

Thanks, makes sense! Now just need to find the right streamer model that can be tried at home in my system. And then trying to eliminate confounders...

@mdalton Okay, I get the noise reduction purpose now. Thanks

@audphile1 The only way to test it is to buy it new, or very cheap so you can sell it again. No, I don't have dsd files. That's another advantage of being older...:-)

I wasn't comparing. Old and new CDs sound great with my APh transport. I am just curious which streamer would perform on a similar level and how much one should invest te get that.

Thanks for your recommendations, I will look into these. I have the Merason power supply. Perhaps difficult to comment on, but now I am considering selling the Accuphase and replacing it by a streamer like the N100. Will the sound quality be on par with the/a CD transport?

- I am looking for a streamer only, as I have a separate Merason Frerot DAC, preamp and power amp

- Roon is not important, Volumio maybe yes

- It's for my main system

- Headphone option not important

- Wifi

- (Needed) budget is part of my question, but preferably <2500. Can be used too

- The Accuphase can be used as a DAC by the streamer, but sounds better with the Merason

Unfortunately the N10 is beyond my budget. I am in Europe. Used the only N100s still available here are the H versions with the USB output.

Thanks, but I am not in the US...

mdalton, indeed there are many threads on the topic. However, my initial question about this was related to the fact that my current (older) streamer broke down and I then connected my (older) Accuphase transport to my DAC, which sound blew me away. What should I invest, and which ones to check, to keep me blown away :-)

Thanks for all the suggestions of brands and models. Not sure about the Eversolo, but the Volumio Rivo seems to match very will with the Merason Frerot. However, I prefer a streamer with the option of adding an internal 4tb ssd card. And then, of course, is the question is how it will natch with the rest of my system (Audible Illusions Modulus 3A, Belles SA-100, Audio Physic Caldera. Still some work to do to find this out...

@mdalton 

It is an Accuphase DP-67, Sony KSS 240A transport. Lots of detail, depth, transparency and so on....

Fo What I was saying is that my streamers broke down and because of that  I returned to my Accuphase transport to play cds ans was amazed about the sound of cds through my Accuphase and Merason dac. I am looking for a streamer that sounds just as good as my Accuphase dp-67 transport.

'In your case the Accuphase machine is top notch. It’s going to be an uphill battle for the lesser streamers to reach or beat the baseline set by the DP-67.
Stay the course. Don’t let any of this sway you away from trying a good streamer. It might take some more time and a bit more funds to get to that level but once you do, you will probably never play another CD again unless it’s a rare album not available on streaming services (you can also rip those to a nice SSD and enjoy playing those local files thru your streamer)'

Spot on response, the Accuphase DP-67 is a fabulous machine, difficult to surpass by the average streamer. That's why I asked for advice which ones to look for. If you have suggestions where to start and/or in what price range I would appreciate that.

Thanks!

Sonos Connect Ultimo, a Sonos upgraded to a highend streamer by means of a better clock, power supply and spdif output. Done by Magna, a Dutch company, you likely don't know. But it doesn't matter as the cd transport was my reference.

As to the other points, I have asked a question in this forum. I am convinced everyone has tried his/her best to answer it, and I appreciate that. Some answers are more useful than others, but that is okay. It's my view that every answer has its merits.

It can handle 192, but that doesn't matter. I am looking for a streamer that matches the CD transport, not my previous streamer. I received some ideas what to look for, so that is good.

Thanks, I will look into that!

@riccitone No worries, I am not offended by anyone who is trying to help. I can appreciate that.

@mdalton I guess the W4S version you have tried will have been similar to mine, though mine didn't have an internal dac. Upgrading my external dac to the Merason was a big improvement, but nothing compared to after having hooked up my Accuphase transport. The sound just 'feels right'.

@audphile1 Great suggestions. The Merason dac with power supply is +2000 so that is a good starting point to try a few you mentioned. The internal dac of the Accuphase is also not bad at all, but the Merason sounds better to me. The ultimate aim, of course, is to replace the player with an at least similar sounding streamer, including internal SSD to store my own CDs. It may take while before I get there.

Might be true, I don't know. I like(d) my streamer but it doesn't function anymore, so that's why I need a new one. Bottom line is that I am trying to find one now that comes close to what I hear/like from my CD transport. That's all.

That sounds like a good price. Which CD-Player are you using? Vinyl is also my number one.

@audphile1 No worries, as long as it is funny and ethical. Indeed, I would prefer a double blind experimental setup.

@moonwatcher I am using Qobuz since 2015.Good point about the interface.

To make a wireless connection, is Is anyone of you using a TP link plugged into your router in one space and a slave unit put into the room the system is in, and from there to your streamer? Would that work for high resolution files?

Thanks, I will try that.

Because of all kinds of security issues, it appears I cannot install a mesh network in the house. That means I would need a streamer with WiFi connectivity. The Métronome DSS2 ticks all the boxes, but is expensive and not available on the used market. The previous model, the DSS1 has WiFi connectivity but uses a dongle antenna for that. So it is not integrated in the streamer itself. I have no experience with using a dongle, so I don't know if this would work in the same way as built-in WiFi. Maybe some of you have an opinion on this? Also, perhaps you have other suggestion for streamer with WiFi? Thanks

63mbps

Does anyone know if a higher end wifi streamer is better able to 'neutralize'  the lower quality of the wireless connection (vs wired) than a cheaper streamer?

Measured again. Speed is 144Mbps, strength -42 dBm. I assume that is good enough for WiFi connection I guess.

I have seen the 432 EVO but it's not wireless, I think. The Italian  Volumio Revo looks great too at an affordable price.

Actually, I am hesitating between the Volumio Rivo and the Metronome DSS1 which is much more expensive but I can get for a good price. It's from a high-end french company.

Yes it does with a usb WiFi antenna. Should be the same as built-in WiFi. Not sure if I would need dsd and more than 192k. List price was €3490 versus €990 for the Volumio. Something will account for the price difference....

Thanks, the Auralic G1 looks interesting and on the used market affordable. You say it's at the bright side. I guess my Merason Frerot dac can handle that. But does it also have an Android app?

Better silly talk than silly walk. (If you are old enough then you know Monty Python had a ministry for that).

It sounds unbelievable in 2024, but Auralic doesn't support Android. BTW was wondering what makes an Auralic such a good wireless streaming device, compared to other companies that also include WiFi in their streamers?

Not to open another can of worms, but is the possibility of streaming dsd files something that would be needed these days? I am asking because I am pretty sure I won't hear the difference with flac files. But maybe there are other reasons to have that

@audphile1 Sensible suggestions again, thanks!

Thanks, I will look into that too.