I wouldn’t waste funds on making mac mini better as a streamer. Also, with any dedicated streamer you will be using an app to control it. Tablet, i.e. iPad is great for this.
At around $3,000 a used Lumin U2 or Aurender N150 or N200 (closer to $4,000 used) will be nice.
Streamer Options Needed
This question is a spinoff from this previous post: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/upgrade-from-martin-logan-sequel-ii-s-to
Since I decided to double my speaker budget, I will have to wait later in the year or perhaps 2026 for that purchase.
With that said, based on the comments from the previous post I am now looking at a streamer.
As stated before, I’m using a 2018 MacMini to stream Qobuz and passing it to the McIntosh C49’s built In DAC (for now at least). Streamer options to consider are: I do not, nor will I have digital music files stored anywhere so I do not need that option. I do not own or want to use a Tablet. I am a Boomer so I would like to steer away of phone apps.
Ideally I would love the MacMini to control the Qobuz connected streamer that is connected to the C49 DAC.
Just for starters I played with a WiiM Ultra using the Mac OS Beta App. Not too bad, the Mac App controls the WiiM’s music library functions and most settings but not Qobuz. The phone app pretty much uses Qobuz and directs the stream to the WiiM then to the C49 DAC.
I would like to keep the cost under 3K.
Also, If they’re any suggestions on how to make the MacMini sound a bit better I will take those as well. Currently using BitPerfect. Are they any other programs that work similar to BitPerfect they bypass the Computers Audio Engine.
Sorry for the long winded post. So much knowledge to gain.
Suggestions please!!!!
Showing 2 responses by audphile1
I forgot to mention…if you’re not willing to try a nicely laid out user interface on a tablet and want to make your user experience as frustrating as possible by sitting in front of a computer to control what you’re listening to, Bryston makes a very nice streamer BDP-3 that uses a hideous web based UI called Manic Moose. That streamer is also bundled with Bryston BDA-3.14 DAC and with that you can kill all 3 birds with one stone - get a great sounding streamer, DAC and one of the worst user interfaces on the market today here it is for $2,250 https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisbecf5-bryston-bda-3-14-da-converters?refsource=hifishark |