For years I have used a PC as my source. I just moved to a larger office/listening room and it is not as practical. I bought a Node 2i last week and the app is OK, not great. Tidal integration is decent, but I find it frustrating that I can't click on an artist or album to go to that item. You basically have to use search for everything. I have some experience with the app on the Naim streamer and it appears better than BluOS. I have been told by many people that Roon is the best right now. That's my very limited 1 cent opinion.
Streamers with best apps?
I tried this question on an Australian forum with no luck, so I'm hoping a more audio savvy community might do better. I currently have a Cambridge Audio CXN which as I discovered has 2 hopeless apps when you want to find classical albums saved on Tidal My Collection. So thinking of ditching the CXN and getting another streamer/server , preferably without a DAC as I will be running it through a Pure Audio Lotus DAC 5. Most reviews of streamers seem to focus entirely on sound quality but as I have discovered the apps used are of almost equal importance. I have considered an Elac Discovery DS-S101-G which is controlled by a Roon Essentials app. So first question. Does anyone know how the Essentials app lists classical albums in Tidal My Collection and does it have a search function for the albums saved? Second question what streamers can you recommend that at least are equal and preferably better than the Tidal app which does have a search function but very little logic as to how it lists classical albums. I have thought about the Bryston BDP Pi, Innous Zen mini or an Auralic streamer but know nothing about the usability of their respective apps. So anyone out there who can help.