An Innuos Zen Mini 3 sounds like it would work for you. However, as you already have a DAC then maybe go up a level to the Zen 3. The CD ripping could not be more user friendly. Pop a CD in. Set it to fast or quiet (slower) mode and it pops out about 5 minutes later available to play via the Innuos Sense app. You definitely wouldn’t need to hire anyone. There are plenty of other no doubt sensible options to come but in terms of simple plug and play user friendliness allied to great sound the Innuos likely wins.
Roon is a divisive product. Many are evangelical about it. Many don’t see what the fuss is about. One further advantage of the Innuos route is that the former sounds better without Roon whereas many other products can be improved by it.
You have every right to ignore people who want you to now learn about streaming or how x and y will help you do z. Streaming should be as plug and play as playing a CD. The fact that it isn’t is not your problem. Innuos is one of the few products which is plug and play. Simple instructions with good pictures on cabling. Download their Sense app and the rest is easy.
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I recommend an Aurender streamer.The best you can afford, used OK. Streamers are user friendly and sound better (in general and definitely as costs rise). Aurender has a well loved app for ipad or phone Conductor to control. These guys at any level know how to,build a streamer… high fidelity. I use a Aurender N100 for my headphone system and their flagship W20SE for my main system… same sound quality as my great analog rig.
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Sounds about right. You gotta pay to play. Time is money. Blah blah blah.
You can match the MK3 for $20% to 30% but then you have to do the work.
Just pay 'em. The 1T is plenty to start, you will know what yo do.
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I am like you- techno challenged. When I chose streaming as my primary
source I wanted something, well, idiot proof.
I also did not want anymore boxes than necessary.
I did not one with a built-in DAC as that technology improves too rapidly.
I wanted it to be Roon ready as that is another simplification.
I have now owned the Innuos Zen Mk3 for a full year and am very pleased.
Why? at $2,200 new ( Some dealers deal) I have the ability to rip CDs to the
built-in storage.
Aurender may exceed it in SQ but not in functionality and value.
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Having auditioned the Aurender at length I would say the app is okay but doesn’t come near the Innuos Sense app in terms of depth of functions and fundamental user friendliness. Aurender make good streamers but, as observed, lack the actual functionality being asked for here.
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Digital audio, simplicity and function (the app) mated with reliable simple hardware. Less is better in my mind. I've got a Netgear wireless bridge feeding the ethernet cable to my Aurender N100h, going usb into an integrated's dac. No reclocking, LPS or super duper cabling.
- If I unplug the ethernet cable, the N100h continues to play for at least 30 seconds so I'm assuming enough caching (storing) is going on that everything critical...is happening in the Aurender. So for that reason all my network stuff is pedestrian, nothing special...but reliable. Others have different opinions and results.
- The app is very important. Like many, I enjoy Aurender's conductor app. It easily let's me enjoy a large library of Qobuz playlists, songs, albums and many internet radio stations. Play-Fi is quite horrible, I've wanted to try the Blue OS (think it's called that). I've watched some videos on it and it looks pretty good. Of course there are many others including Roon, which is supposed to be the end all of apps. I just don't feel the need, so I'm not paying for it or dealing with it's complexities. I've heard it's pretty great though.
- Streamer > Dac > rest of your system > play awesome music. That's the idea right? I've always taken a balanced approach to most things so I assumed this for digital audio as well. Recently I had to test a new dac using it's fiber inputs from an AudioEngine B1 (Bluetooth) streamer. So it looked like this Streamer (B1 bluetooth, horrible compared to usb/coax/fiber) > Dac, Chord Qutest...AWESOME > my system is pretty decent > and it was the best I've ever heard my system sound...period. After this I wouldn't hesitate to invest less on the streamer, and more on the dac. I am NOT saying the streamer isn't important, and there are certainly other valid points and results.
- I think a tremendous value proposition for many would be a Node with a nice outboard dac. More universally adopted app, really nice streaming performance and VERY versatile. Even if you outgrow the Node, it's not hard to image it taking place in an office or bedroom system. Wireless for me is a huge plus. I don't have a wired connection close by and the N100h is strictly a wired device so I have to use a wireless bridge. Not a big deal...just more cables and such.
- One last thing, besides the goal of simplicity and less is best, I never assume that I HAVE to do something for it to sound right. I use baseline quality power, digital and analog cabling (Pangea and Audioquest mostly, quality but nothing special). And I'll experiment and tinker around from there, always as fun experimentation rather than I have to fix something.
I've been in IT for over 25 years so digital audio comes pretty easy to me. I've also been into high end digital audio since the beginning and it's remarkable to see the transformation that streaming has brought to us. With it we literally have an endless supply of music to discover. Enjoy!
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OP
I feel your pain. Streaming has been a Rabbit Hole for me as well, with many expensive false starts. In your situation you probably should have got the Vault instead of the Node. If you like the Node (and it sounds pretty decent if you use an external DAC, as you are doing), and the Blue OS, see if your dealer will give you some credit for your Node and sell you a Vault. The ripping function of the Vault is drop dead easy--insert disc and wait about 5 minutes. 2TB storage will buy you a lot of discs, and you won't have a new learning curve associated with learning a streamer, or getting it to interface with your home network, since your Node is doing that then the Vault should as well.
If you wish to forego the Vault, the cheapest way is to get an Optical Drive to burn CDs to a Hard Drive, using a program such as dbPowerAmp. You will need a PC to do the burning. You then cross your fingers and hope the Node can recognize the HD, whether it is attached to the Node by USB or alternatively leave the HD attached to the PC and have the PC be part of the system.
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I would think that the Lumin U1 mini would certainly best your Node 2i. I have the Lumin T2 and am really happy with it. One caveat, the Lumin app is not the most user-friendly or intuitive at times. As treynolds155 said, I too have been in the IT field for nearly 30 years and the Lumin app still gives me agita occasionally.
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The beauty of streaming is you can make it simple or complex. Simple, get a server, plug in usb cable to dac, done. The software side is something you get familiar with over time.
Streaming became complicated when manufacturers came up with usb thingies, streamers, ethernet filters of all kinds, audiophile switches, etc. And they still keep coming. Now, over time some persist in marketplace because they provide some benefit for at least some people, others disappear if they provide no benefit or bested by newer product. I suspect these products will persist forever, or at least until there becomes a single standard or benchmark product that all will agree is best. NOT counting on that!
And, then I haven't even mentioned all the music player software available, and the means to control it.
Complexity is the audiophile standard operating procedure. Back in the day my family had stereo console, receiver, turntable, speakers, integrated amp, phono pre all in one cabinet. Plug it into wall, shazam! Now I've lost count of all the components, cables, etc in my system.
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I went simple: Chromecast Audio
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I wound up with an NAD M33. It looks great, sounds great and is extremely convenient and reliable as a one piece solution. Read some reviews. The Bluesound on board program has an easy to learn system and, if you buy from Crutchfield you can benefit from competent and patient handholding at no charge for life. I use Qobuz, Tune-in, and Radio Paradise primarily, all of which (and about a dozen more) are preloaded into the Included BluOS app. This approach saves on confusion and eliminates cables.
Go to Crutchfield.com and read about the M33 before making things even more complicated by listening to well meaning purists. Unless, of course, you aspire to extreme purity yourself, in which case don’t listen to me.
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Buy a book take a class. It's 2022 and computers are everywhere. Without a simple understanding of what's going on you are an easy target for every slick ad out there and without a trusted source (Audiogon... I kid) you will surely overpay and very likely not get the sound or convenience you're looking for
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Yeah, you and I have the same brain when it comes to computers. To me, it’s a black box containing a black hole of problems I can’t hope to understand — nor do I want to.
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.
To me, and as others have recommended above, the Innuos Zen Mk3 was pretty much made for you (and me). Just feed your CDs into it and done — all your music now available from your chair along with worlds of new music. The new Sense app gets great reviews for features and sound quality, and if you ever have a problem Innuos’ customer support is first rate and will walk you through solutions. No brainer if you ask me. Best of luck!
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Gotta love social media. Bloke takes the time to write 11 full paragraphs on what he does and doesn’t know or want. There’s still someone who thinks the solution is re-education and still someone who wants to talk technical. Who’s the “ignorant ass” here? The OP or the people who skim read the OP and came up with the exact opposite of what the OP explicitly says they wanted.
I’d be the first to despair that people don’t know the basics of IT 22 years into the 21st century but equally it’s not a contractual obligation and, frankly, no matter what the advances, it simply shouldn’t be required in order to “play music”. That it often does is not a reflection of poor user knowledge so much as poor user interfaces.
Thus why Innuos keeps coming up. The product od plug and play. The app is streets ahead.
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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.
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In fairness to you John then it must be said straight up that the Innuos Sense app does not yet have full Tidal integration. In practice what they do they have works very well but it does mean that if you want your fave Tidal albums to show up properly in Sense you have to add them as faves in Tidal or the Tidal app first. Playlists are a bit more clunky too but… the next major update for the Sense app is clear. We’re currently on v2.08. I would expect 2.09 to be preparing for Tidal Connect and I’d expect 3.0 to be full Tidal Connect integration. They have an excellent site which shows their full roadmap and, rather wonderfully, it’s user led i.e. we can use their app to not just report bigs but to also make feature suggestions and then seen how many others have asked for the same thing and what Innuos are doing about it.
Although you can thus get more instant gratification from elsewhere by going for devices which already have Tidal Connect I’d suggest you talk to people currently using Innuos Sense.
There are two good reasons to do this. Firstly, they will all talk about the sound quality since Sense came along, which is outstanding. Secondly, they will talk about the Qobuz integration i.e. the way Qobuz (French version of Tidal) is seamlessly integrated into the app so that, even though there’s no Qobuz Connect, it feels like there is.
If they do half with Tidal of what they’ve done with Qobuz then it’ll be worth the wait. It’s just ludicrous and way ahead of all other apps from manufacturers.
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John it's about desire.
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
With the above mindset I just can't imagine you'll be happy very long with any streaming product. Things are gonna glitch there's no way to really avoid it BUT with some basic understanding and a troubleshooting strategy most of the time they can be fixed. Actually turning it off and restarting usually fixes over half your issues so you're part of the way there. If you have time to listen to music you have time learn a new skillset and it could actually be fun. OK, I'm stretching it a little but it is satisfying when it starts working again.
Your only other option is to find a family member who has spent the time and lean on them. I couldn't fix anything until I learned about it but today I can do lots of stuff.
I just retired and should start computers ed class like drivers ed for all the people who no longer can rely on company tech support.
Cheers and good luck
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@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.
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@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.
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Look at HIFI Rose and their cd ripper.
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@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.
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No it just takes two apps. One app to convert the the Volumio download and put it on a micro SD card and then the Volumio download.
What it provides is an extremely clean signal to your DAC. I can’t find the review but it out performed some really expensive streamers. Volumio free version allows you to play all the music from your hard drives, all the web radio programs and Spotify. If you want to use Tidal or Qobuz they charge you a yearly fee.
I can’t use it because my music comes from Amazon HD and Amazon doesn’t support Linux so I have to use a PC and attach my DAC using a USB cable.
Volumio is cool in that when it’s installed it has it’s own WiFi network that you log into and then set up your own WiFi and choose the correct DAC hat. You then reconnect back to your network and use your browser to access your music. You can use USB hard drives or if you have a NAS (networked attached storage) it indexes everything and then presents it like an internal web page. Volumio has a great user interface As long as you’re on the same network you can control your music from your phone, tablet or PC. With Volumio you now have a NAS. The Volumio software will share your hard drives anywhere on your network so by just adding another PI you can access your music in another room. There are also DAC cards that plug into the PI and you don’t even need another DAC. The DAC hats are pretty good but won’t compete with a $1000 DAC.
It’s really pretty strait forward and the instructions on how to set everything up are really good. I felt like such a Guru when I got it working but actually it was more like virtual Ikea furniture. It was already built I just had to screw it together.
Another link :) https://goldensound.audio/2021/07/22/pi2aes-streamer-measurements-and-5v-psu-mod-instructions/#:~:text=ChitChat%3A%20The%20Pi2AES%20is%20a%20device%20I%20love.,even%20beating%20out%20the%20%241000%20Denafrips%20Hermes%20DDC.
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Fourth paragraph. Brilliant. Every streamer app ever being described there in terms of functionality. Only the rest require next to none of that set up. Open app; connect to wi-fi; find network storage; log into Tidal etc. Press play.
My paragraph is shorter than yours… for a reason :)
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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.
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Great choice!
I AM computer savvy and went Innuos about a year ago.
The operating system is rock solid and the interface is friendly. Fast! Search is easy. I was using a dedicated Windows 10 computer prior and moving to Innuos did certainly upgrade the sound to my ears. I didn't think that it would. I use a Zen Mk3 with 1tb drive to an MHDT Orchid DAC. I ripped many CD's to the Zen Mk3 drive in flac, but with Qobuz I don't listen to my ripped files much; in general Qobuz HD quality streaming is fantastic and selection is unlimited. Amazing.
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Congrats! To me, a used Zen Mini with LPS is close to a Zen Mk3 on the cheap and glad to hear you’re happy. Do you have the latest Sense software upgrade? That apparently is a significant upgrade. And how great is it that you now can easily rip all your CDs and have access to all your music and an open world of new music from your chair? Awesome! I could imagine just hitting random play and being thrilled. Again, CONGRATS!!!
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I went simple: Chromecast Audio
Dude, what the hell are you even doing here? Go back to Reddit.
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Glad you got sorted. Now just enjoy the music.
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