@soix thanks for the recommendation and link. Others here also spoke highly of Innuos, from both a musicality/SQ and user interface/app perspective. So, I went ahead and bought that Zen Mk 3 unit on USAM!
Streamer upgrade advice.
Hello to The Gon Community,
I've come to the point there my digital front end is the weak link in my system. Some years ago, I jumped into streaming with a Cambridge CXN (V1). I think it's still "fine" in as much as it's delivering music that is pleasing to the ears. But, having upgraded the rest of my system over the years, and recognizing that streaming is a different game compared to 2018 or whatever when I got the CXN, it feels like time to "move up in the world". The problem, of course, is the massive number of options out there. Here are a few points I am considering;
1) I am a Mac user and so have always imported digital files using the Apple Lossless codec.
2) My only streaming service is Apple Music and I don't intend to make a change there. I've got plenty of files locally. Paying for Roon or something like that is not in the cards.
3) I don't particularly care about a screen on a streamer. I sit far enough away from my hardware and my eyes are old enough that no component-sized screen is going to be useful.
4) I do like a streamer with some sort of remote app for control from my iPhone.
So, that's where I am. Budget is somewhere in the "up to $2k" range and I don't mind buying used. I'd have already moved to a PS Audio Airlens except that those don't seem to play nice with Apple (only ethernet in and no Airplay compatibility).
Any thoughts appreciated. Remainder of system listed below.
DAC: PS Audio DS Jr
Pre: PS Audio Stellar Gold / Luxman CL-38uC
Amp: PS Audio M700 / Luxman L-550ax2
Speakers: Tocaro Model 40e + REL T-Zero Subs * 2
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- 41 posts total
@bimmerlover You’re welcome and congrats. You got a great deal on what’s basically a new unit, and I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on it versus the Cambridge if you could. |
It's an interesting aspect of our hobby. We can spend thousands on a streamer, but then hesitate on the software that truly makes it shine. The combination of annual subscriptions for Roon and Qobuz comes out to about $23 a month, yet the improvement they bring to the experience and sound quality is, for me, one of the most significant upgrades you can make at any price. |
If your files are stored on a NAS or some kind of computer on your wifi network, you can stream them using only software. No extra hardware required. Software will read the data from the files and stream it to a digital output port, which can be connected to your DAC. Could be Roon, JPlay, BubbleUpnp, or Synology DS audio software. Sure, it can be convenient to get a cheap hardware streamer like a Bluesound or Wiim, but that's just a convenient way of creating a digital audio stream. Its makes no sense to spend thousands of dollars on that. The bits that affect sound quality are the dac and amplifier. |
- 41 posts total