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Streamers and software

It's been a battle.  I have had a Bluesound Node 2i for 5 yrs.  I upgraded the power supply.  There is nothing wrong with function or sound.  I switched to Qobuz a few months ago.  I transferred my songs from amazon to Qobuz.  Qobuz works great when using the Bluetooth function.  When I want to play Qobuz thru BluOS, I am missing several thousand songs, called Favorites.  Loading and searching times are not usable.

Finally after 2 months BLUOS says they have no solution.  QOBUZ is working on a direct connect app to the streamer, but no release date.  

So, reluctantly, I started looking at a streamer.  I find several other streamers but have buggy software.

So, from what I see the Innuous pulsar mini has good software I would like to spend as little as I  can but it looks like $1-$2k?  It would be nice to have a linear power supply. Thanks for any suggestions are welcome.

Here is some I looked at.

Holo Audio Red, Ever solo, Innuous, Volumio

 

128x128daledeee1
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,887 posts
 

Avoid Eversolo.   Their support , if you can call it that , is their forum.  They have no repair facility but they will have your dealer replace it within a year.   

My Dads A6 stopped recognizing his DAC 5 days before warranty was up.  Auto update killed USB.   Solution?   Roll back firmware and wait for next FW.   3 updates and 5 months later still no USB.   

Aurender is the best support I've ever experienced.   I've used innuos and its a good machine too.   Don't waste your money on Eversolo.    The hardware may look great and sound good but as a company they suck.

soix
9,571 posts
 

Since you’re open to used this Innuos Zen is well worth a look.  No need for an external LPS since it already has one, and it has an onboard drive/storage so you can load your CDs into it as well and have all your music available at your fingertips.  Just another option FWIW. 
 

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650163113-innuos-zen-mk3-2tb/

daledeee1's avatar
daledeee1 OP
570 posts
 

Eversolo, Wiim,Geselli are all the buzz now. I see too many for sale used already. They would all be a step back from where I am.

There is a good selection online of Aurender, one Simaudio, innous but might cost close to $2000. I guess that is a realistic cost to move up a notch. I haven’t been able to get responses on USAM. I have never bought anything but lots of Ebay

jond's avatar
jond
5,846 posts
 

I use Auralic and their LDS app is excellent and not especially buggy. One thing to keep in mind streamers are essentially computers occasionally you may find a bug.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,550 posts
 

@daledeee1 

With any software, implementation and hardware are the key to a worry free operation. Out of all the apps being mentioned here, Sense (Innuous) and Conductor (Aurender) are the least likely to experience problems due to their proprietary operating systems. Initial investment is high but you get worry free operation, stellar sound quality and customer support. 

Any offerings from Aurender or Innuous would be a step up from BS Node in a decent system, IMHO. 

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