Streamer options

What is your budget? 

Bluesound Node should fit the bill.
Inexpensive and carries lots of streaming services.
Aurender if you only need Tidal or Qobuz.
Though, no SPDIF. USB and Optical seem to be the most used formats.
Bob

Budget?

^^^Both Bluesound Node and Aurender offers SPDIF outputs. 

Ok, let me take care of this.  

Budget????

Bricasti M5

Budget is flexible- for the right piece - 

like to stay under $2k 

Probably Lumin U1 Mini

If your service is Tidal or Qubuz look at a Bryston Pi.  Manic Moose aint to good but it really not an issue for just streaming a service.

If you have DSD files that you will be accessing thru streamer (nas storage, etc), just know the Bluesound does not support. If non DSD, the Node is great for the money. I no longer have mine because I have all my SACDs ripped.

+ 1 for the Bluesound Node 2i.  Not very expensive and you can bypass the DAC easily.  

I have the 2i and with the right cables it performs way above it's very reasonable price point.

However, whilst the Node 2i is an exceptional value I have had communications from Bluesound that if a higher quality streamer is desired then the NAD range may be able to improve on sound quality.

But that is the limit of my experience on streamers

Regards - Steve   

I read a couple years back that the Node 2 sounds the same as the NAD (same company owns) streamer. 

@aberyclark - So I posed the Bluesound Tech Support this question...

- whilst I really liked the Bluesound Node 2i, if you were to put it in a larger box, upgrade the power supply and revise internal component layout for improved isolation to lower noise levels, the sound could be amazing - so is a larger Node 2 in the works?

His reply...
- If you want all of those things - Buy a NAD

So I assumed the NAD is better. :-)

Regards

Both statements can be true at the same time. Nad might be better, in terms of components and layout etc. but that doesn’t mean it has to sound better. I have no experience with Nad, so my comment is not an opinion one way or another.

Zavato, I might suggest you take a look at smallgreencomputer.com. They specialize in the streaming side of audio.  They make excellent product and have excellent service.  There are many ways to solve the streaming solution.  Their website provides a lot of good information to sort out what you need and how they might use their products to help you create your solution.  I personally use my iMac as a digital music server running Roon, and Qobuz as my streaming service.  I feed my DAC, a Vinnie Rossie LIO DAC2, through the SmallGreenComputer microRendu.  I am very pleased with the quality of the solution.  Good luck with your search for a streamer.

innuos zen

Try Cambridge Audio CXN V2.  I have a CXN V1. It's everything you need in a steamer, almost any input and output combination available. Sound is amazing.