First, if you are interested in high quality sound you choose Qobuz. If you are not wanting the very best, then you pick Tidal. So, if they have these two… there is no benefit to a longer list. The rest are much lower sound quality and only interested to folks not interested in sound quality.
Streamer quality is critical in the sound you get out of your speakers. As a gross generalization, you get what you pay for (assuming you have appropriate associated equipment), I have used iPods, iPads, PCs, Macs, a $2K streamer… and $5K, $10K, and now a $22K streamer… the later is the best I have ever heard an well worth the cost.
You want a separate streamer of equal cost to the rest of your components (generalized rule of thumb). So if your preamp cast $1k, and you amp cost $1K and your speakers cost $2K… then think of the best you can get as a $1k streamer (Bluesound is a good entry).
The iPad app that is used to control your streamer is critical. Aurender (my favorite) and Aurlic produce some of the best streamers. I owned an Auralic, I now own two Aurenders now… I believe these to be the best streamers on the market today. I own an N100 and their flagship W20SE). The Aurender’s Conductor app is available on both the iPad and iPone and most folks love it. When you have access to nearly unlimited music… the app you use to locate, play and store music you want to find again is critical.
