Please help: best streaming solution for McIntosh Stack.


Hi..new here. I am exhausted with researching the best music streaming solution for my Mcintosh system. My system is from the late 80's. I stream through Tidal and want to get the MOST out of my system, and there are so many choices ranging between $500 and $6,000! I certainly don't need to drop 6K, I don't think. Im just looking for a solution that streams Tidal through my system at (or above) CD quality. I would say my max budget would be around 2K. 
Thanks in advance!
gibbyt

Showing 1 response by williewonka

I bought a Bluesound Node 2, replaced it with the Node 2i and have never looked back.
- plays digital sample rates up to/including 24/192
- plays most streaming services
- performance improves with great IC's and power cables
- nice, intuitive interface that’s available on PC’s Tablets and phones
- "The Vault" version has a hard disk for your CD music
- plays from Ethernet or Wifi
- plays music from streaming sites, blue-tooth devices, USB devices and NAS drives
- regular software updates install once you confirm and work flawlessly

It is very affordable, sounds great and easy to install and use.
You can always add a DAC later if desired, but mine sounds amazing without one.

If you want to use it in wifi mode then I would recommend getting a good wifi router and not the one often supplied with your internet provider.
- I did just than and I have great wifi all around the house - even in the back yard - I also have the Pulse mini speaker for outside music.

One little caveat - some people have reported a hum when using the NODE2/2i - this is due to it having an isolated (2 pin plug) power supply - and mixing ANY source device of an isolated design with some amps can cause hum issues.
This can be remedied simply by grounding one of the inputs on your amp/pre-amp to a ground point on the house outlet
If you do not get a hum then your system is properly grounded

The Node 2/2i has a small footprint, so If you feel you would like to step up to something more "substantial" take a look at a sister product from NAD - it uses the same BlueOS interface

Regards - Steve