I too have been shopping for a streamer, seems like 6 months, and I’ve read every review and article on the ones you listed above. I think it’s important to get a newer release with the technology and/or features changing I was on board with the Innuos Pulse until I read they did not update the cpu with the new Pulse. Might not affect you but with digital processing speed is important. The few reviews seem quite positive on the Pulse and Innuos apparently has a more musical sound compared to Lumins more relaxed or forgiving sound. I went with the U2mini for the time being but plan on the Hifi Rose rs130 if it is well made and no issues. It uses optical and has i2s, which both are supposed to improve sound quality. Not sure if that’s a top priority for you. The Auralic g2.2 gets good reviews. If you can stretch your budget, the Innuos Pulsar sounds like an awesome option. It’s essentially the Statement minus a couple of features. The Statement is quite well regarded in reviews. Anyway, good luck and let us know which direction you choose.
P.S. Not sure if you want to go this path but some dacs now have servers in them. Not streamers so you just have to download Jriver or Audirvana and use Tidals app and you don’t need a streamer. I know Bricasti does this and so does Rockna. A bit more money but you eliminate the need for a streamer. May as well sink tha into a dac for better sound quality.
Streamer Selection - Thoughts Requested Please!
I have been talking way to much to myself on my next purchase - a streamer, no DAC. I have reached the point of going round and round with the same three streamers - Innuos Pulse, Auralic G1.1 and Aurender N150. Mid $3K price range max. The Auralic G1.1 list just dropping by $1K to $2,249. The Innuos Pulse list is $3,250 and the Aurender N150 is at $3,500. Would be open to lightly used to upgrade my choices but the upgraded next step in each product line is a significant jump.
I began streaming with a Blusound Node 2021 Gen 3 which I converted last year with the PD Creative board LPSU and added an SBooster P&P Eco power supply. This was an improvement in my digital listening using the BS node for the DAC and streaming mainly TIDAL. Six months ago I added a Schitt Yggydrasil LIM (Less is More) and oh my goodness what a difference overall. I have the BS Node connected by an ethernet cable to my router. Use an iPad to run BlueOS and the Tidal app. The BS node is connected via USB to the Schitt Yggy.
I don't have a need for storage or playing CD's. Reading a few threads here have convinced me that a streamer upgrade with my system will provide better sound overall. How much is certainly an open question but I am willing to go forward. The rest of my system is a First Watt F8 amp, Modwright LS100 and Modwright 9.0 along with a Clearaudio Concept table and Zu Dirty Weekend Supremes.
Whats important to me would be the sound quality, an app with solid integration with Apple and TIDAL. I am leaning to Aurender as their players/transports are "streamers" / no DAC, they seem to integrate well with Apple and the Conductor app gets mixed reviews but mostly is well liked. I am just not sure if with my present system it makes sense to be over $3K for a streamer, although if down the line I move on from the Yggy, I wouldn't want to then add a new streamer.
Please jump in with thoughts, suggestions and let me know if I have missed any important criteria or other approaches/audio streamers. Thanks in advance.....