2. digital
  3. 174792-154522

Please help my ignorant a$$, I just want a good streamer...I think.

For starters let me get this out of the way up front. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND COMPUTERS OR THE LANGUAGE. 

My current set up consists of A custom built Aric Audio 6SN7 line stage, Peachtree 300 amp, Marantz CD6007, Denafrips Pontus II and a Node 2i. All cables DIY Helix design per My Audio Alchemy. Speakers are Monitor audio silver 500's.

In my head I should be able to improve upon the Node. I have been reading threads here and some other forums. I think I want something like a Lumin U1 Mini. Maybe one of the Innuos units with the ripping capability. Just not so sure about the Ripping CD's as that is going to involve hard drives and stuff. Which I would probably have to hire someone I can't afford to make it work. 

Then there are the folks who chime in on most threads at some point. These guys seem to challenge themselves to see how many pieces of stuff they can hook up to stream. How can a chain of 4,5,6 components with all their connections and power supplies not have negative effects not to mention where do they put all this stuff?

I have a cable that comes into my house that plugs into the thing my desktop computer plugs into. I plug an Ethernet CAT8 cable into that (the box not my computer) then into my Node. 

What is the benefit of all individuals pieces? It sure doesn't seem like it saves any money at all. By the time you buy a few pieces of pie some hats, switches, clocks, sonores, rendues and whatever else I am forgetting. Then power supplies and cables to hook it all up.

Then there is the Roon camp. My best bud has Roon. Took Him a few grand including gear and a computer guy from the place he bought it ( he was nice enough help on his own time) and a week to make it work. So that kind of soured me on the Roon idea. 

Don't get me wrong I am a hands on person, pretty mechanical. But when my computer has problems if unplugging it for a day doesn't fix it I go buy a new one and start from scratch (usually have to send the wife to a friends place for a weekend it gets ugly real ugly). Complete idiot! 

In the end I would like the best streamer option I can get under say $2500. I need it to be as "plug and play" as possible or come with amazing instructions/guidance or even better someone that could actually teach me. Someone that can explain on my level. 

I am going to stop here as it seems I am rambling! I am probably leaving stuff out I am sure so please ask and I will fill in. 

I have a great sense of humor so feel free to have some fun with me, I will return it! I just want to make a good decision. Show me what I am missing or not!

 

Cheers.

J.F.

johnfritter

Showing 5 responses by johnfritter

johnfritter OP
62 posts
 

Ok gonna have to study the Innuos products a little deeper. Lumin supports tidal connect which is the control I prefer out of what I have tried.

@mahughes Boy you hit it on the head, its music! Thank you for you thoughts on this.

@danager "buy a book take a class" Ha you funny guy! Tried a book once. You do realize the books are basically useless to someone that has no knowledge right? By the time the book is published the programs have updated, things have been rearranged, changed or have been eliminated. Makes hard to figure stuff out when your reference is not the same as your computer. As far as classes you have space in your schedule for that hats off to ya! I don't. 

@soix Exactly! Thank you.

@chorus Thank you.

Thanks to everyone else also!

Cheers.

J.F.

johnfritter OP
62 posts
 

@mahughes Thank you. I was curious as I didn't see any reference to it on their site. I did dig around and found the current, planed, and coming. That is very cool!

I will do my studying it may not matter. I will look for some videos about the app also. Thank you.

 

Cheers

J.F.

johnfritter OP
62 posts
 

@danager Ive been streaming with the node 2i for two years now. I bought it to see how I liked that platform. Ive decided that having access to a library like that is pretty cool. So now I have decided to up my game a bit. So its not like I can't open an app and play music. 

Cheers

J.F.

johnfritter OP
62 posts
 

@danager Thanks for the link. So you have to down load 5 or 6 different apps just to make it work? When I decided to buy the node. It took 10 minutes to have music playing. 1 app down load it fill out the info, plug in the power, ethernet cable and coax to DAC. Turn it on play music.

Also I am guessing that is just the entry level as it seems to be missing 4 or 5 components that everyone says they have their pie chain.

Cheers

J.F.

johnfritter OP
62 posts
 

Thank you for the input!

I found a Zen mini MKiii with LPS this weekend locally. Paid about .40 on the $1.00 and couldn't be happier. Took me maybe 10 minutes and I was playing from my Tidal library, even ripped a few CD's!

Very surprised at the improvement to the overall sound stage also.

Thanks again.

J.F.

More to discover