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Streamer with digital inputs to be used as a DAC ?

Dear all,

I have modest Hifi system with the following components, and looking for some changes around it.

Speaker : Monitor Audio Rx6
Amp : Creek Audio Evolution 50A
DAC / Streamer : Pioneer N-50A. and Chromecast Audio
CD player : Marantz Cd67mk2

The problem is not the sound quality but the form factor (with the addition of wider TV) and some aesthetic (usage of TV stand as well as wife factor). My amp is quite slim and can be placed under my new tv and looks fine but not the other components. I will keep the CDP as it does the job, lacking almost nothing at all.
I would like to replace Pioneer N-50 with something bit more slimmer (something not more than 6cm height) or considerably narrower ( to stay next to Tv).

What Pioneer does very good for me is to provide two inputs to be used as a sole DAC as well as some streaming capabilities (works for me as I am streaming from Spotify and from my NAS mostly). I use one of these inputs to connect my TV digitally and one of them for my Chromecast (not very necessary though as N50 can be used for the same purpose as well,

As the DACs and the streamers are improved a lot (as well as the market!) , I am seeing very nice devices around SMSL and topping range but couldn’t found what I am looking for except two here.

Arylic S50 Pro plus
Omnia WR-1

and also Matrix Mini i-3 Pro (it is bit above my current budget but evaluating) 

 


Do we have any other option within this price range and similar form factor ?

Alternative option would be something like SMSL SD-9 and connecting TV via bluetooth (but need to turn on the blueetooth every time) .
and the last option would be going for DAC, using ChromeCast Audio as a streamer for Spotify, and my mobile phone to stream the content from my NAS via bluetooth. Yes.. not very practical...

 


What do you think ?
Which way should I follow ?

 


Thank you

atoprak
danager's avatar
danager
948 posts
 

Have you looked at the Raspberry PI streamers with the I2s hat?  Lots of different flavors to look at. The Allow Boss2 player is already built if that's what you want and will play Spotify directly using free Volumio software.  Not sure about Moode but it should play it also.  

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,600 posts
 

miniDSP SHD Studio streams Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Highresaudio, Pandora (yes the free version works), UPnP, DLNA and USB-A.
It also has 3 selectable digital inputs.
(And of course DSP)

You can run the TV and the CD through it.
Just pick a favorite DAC.

atoprak OP
2 posts
 

@danager @fuzztone Thanks for the recommendation. I have both of them. I am sure that I can buld something around Raspberry PI .. that might be good DIY as well. 

For miniDSP, this way above my target budget .. It is definitely a very nice evice but again it is pricey even compared with Matrix audio mini pro, which I was considering...

I was checking bluesound node (range) for a while and even If I thought that they are great in many ways (design, OS, decent sound and convenience mostly) I had an impression that they are not giving any digital inputs... I checked the most recent one again I saw that they are providing optical input and most importantly HDMI eArc input to make it perfect combination with my new TV. 

 

What I see is convenience and practically on these are second to none in the price range. I will probably go to that direction,

 

Thanks for your recommendations.   

mahler123
3,322 posts
 

It helps if you specify a budget in the beginning.

I am not familiar with the CD Player.  If it can accept a digital input then you can use it as a DAC.

  I bought a MiniDSP unit for it Room Correction that included a streamer which I’m not using and it was only about $200 more than the Node a year ago.

Pro-Jett and iFI make tiny DACs and might have DAC/Streamer in your range.

  You could also consider powered speakers, that come with amp and DAC fitted within

atoprak OP
2 posts
 

@mahler123 

My budget is around €600. 

I am living in Netherlands and the costs vary a lot for some particular brands & items... i.e. miniDSP SHD studio is has retail price of €1099, which is the double of Bluesound solution... 

Powered speakers are not option for now as I have separate amp and a decent pair of speaker which I would like to kept at least in short term. 

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