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.....
Oops, forgot one. I had the Innuos Zen MK3 for a while, nice app and also a roon endpoint, but I found it harsh compared to the Aurender.
One other point, I have a bit of hearing sensitivity, and started using Roon just for the DSP. With the Aurender, I don't need any dsp. U2 mini streaming also don't need dsp so much. |
mgrif104259 posts As far as build quality, I think Aurender is best in class at most any price point.
Nothing out there beats a Mytek Empire. |
I run an Aurender N100H with a Yggdrasil (OG) for several years and haven’t had the itch to upgrade. It sounds GREAT. I agree that when I got the Yggdrasil it was a gob-smacking upgrade. Macs may be quieter than most pc’s, but when I replaced my Mac laptop with the Aurender it was another astonishing increase in sound quality. Streaming high-res or well recorded red book Quboz sounds better than cds or vinyl on my system. |
I'm in the same boat as OP, looking at same models. Another wildcard is the Matrix Audio Element S (pure streamer, no DAC) that has an i2S output that is compatible with Denafrips DACS and others. Roon certification still pending, but I think the bigger concern is their app. The recent price drop on the Auralic G1.1 streamer had me leaning that direction, but still on the fence.Innous entry level models don't seem to be a large enough step up.
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