To the OP, you have a very good system. But it sounds like streaming is a "new fangled" idea to you. Perhaps you have a nice vinyl set up or play a lot of CDs.
Given that streaming will likely "take hold" and you will love it and its convenience, I'd suggest getting at least a Bluesound Node (the ones with USB out if you need that). Nothing wrong with the WiiM products for their prices - I have a couple of them in various rooms and one in my garage. They work excellently and their software puts that provided with some $4000 streamers to shame.
The Node can always be sold or repurposed or given to an interested relative later on when you decide to get "something" better. Or you might be perfectly happy with the Node feeding your integrated and call it a day.
You didn't mention if you have ethernet near your stereo or will have to use Wi-Fi. If Wi-Fi, beware the iFi Zen. Unless iFi has done anything to fix it in the last year or so, it has a lot of bad online reviews for its frustrating connectivity that drops often.
Ironically the extremely cheap ($99) WiiM Mini in my garage NEVER drops its signal.
Have fun! You'll be discovering a lot of new music to enjoy.
Streamer only
I am not tech savvy and I have a DAC already in my integrated amp.I just wanted to try streaming. I would like to use Qobuz and need to purchase a streamer. I don’t need the dac included within the unit. I hate to pay a large amount for a unit that has a high quality DAC included. Are there any high quality streamers where I am not paying for the higher quality DAC included in the unit? My system is a Levinson 585 and Acendo C8 R speakers.
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One thing people seem to ignore (correct me please if I am wrong) is that to use the "better" clock in your external DAC over the one in a "cheap" streamer, you must use asynchronous USB or I2S, otherwise the clock in the streamer is doing the "driving". The use of Toslink optical or coax outputs from a streamer limits you to however good the clock in the streamer is. At least this is what Hans Beekhuyzen implied in a recent YouTube video of his. |
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@moonwatcher +1 |
- 79 posts total