2. digital
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Re: streaming recommendations for newbie

Hi,

I'd like to finally enter the streaming world with my hifi system and am looking for recommendations.  I have streaming music in my car and on my computer, but I can't currently access any streaming services on my hifi system because I have tube gear and neither it nor my old backup gear have streaming capacity or a DAC (other than the CD player).  

 I guess that I need to buy both a streamer and a DAC?  I now have a pretty decent hifi system, but I want start out with modest priced streaming gear.    

Can anyone recommend a streamer & DAC, or unit that does both?  Does it make sense to put more $$ in a DAC or in a steamer?  Not sure about budget, but I'm thinking $500-1000 used for both as a starting point. Thank you.

Terry

tlh28

Showing 3 responses by jbuhl

jbuhl's avatar
jbuhl
900 posts
 

Couple of Blue Sound nodes over on TMR for around $300 and a Bel Canto DAC 1.7 over on USAM for $550.  

 

 

jbuhl's avatar
jbuhl
900 posts
 

@aheydorn 

 

Just register for a free trial of Tidal and Qobuz.  Install the app on your computer and stream out to your DAC.  Make sure you set it up to stream the highest resolution you can configure.   I think it also possible to get Jriver to stream Tidal but somebody else will have to chime in for that. 

jbuhl's avatar
jbuhl
900 posts
 

To throw out another consideration: My CD player is a Simaudio 340D. One reason I considered a separate DAC is to use it as an external DAC for the CD player as well. But I don’t really know just how good the internal DAC is in the Simaudio or

 

@tlh28 uh in think the Simaudio 340 is a integrated amp? Do you mean your CD player is the 260D? If so that is a well regarded DAC implementation and it has spidf and optical inputs. I would just get a streamer and run it through that DAC first. Do the Blue Sound with external Power supply and I bet you be happy camper until the upgrade virus takes holt again.

 

 

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