Suggestions for a DAC/Streamer to replace BlueOS Node Streamer

@sgnevling I dumped Apple Music and switched to Tidal. My library is pretty small and missing about 20 songs on Tidal. No biggie; I’ll buy those individually and put them on my drive. I contacted McIntosh and tech support said to use the USB in to the C2700 DAC. My Node 2i does not have USB out but some songs are playing at 96KHz while most are 44.1. 

I upgraded from node to Cambridge Cxn v2. I only use the streamer portion to mainly stream tidal. The soundstage and holographic effect of Cambridge made a huge difference. I've seen reviews on new Cambridge 100 that says it's better sounding than the one I have. 

@sgnevling Well well well! Thank you for that pointer!  Looks like I am already doing what seems best with what I have. I have an optical out from the Node into the C2700 DA2.  According to the BlueOS website this bypasses the Node DAC. I am very pleased with what I hear with what’s on my USB connected to the Node. 

I guess I should cancel my Cambridge Order as the Node app suits my current needs and I’m only using it as a streamer? 

@toro3 I will try Tidal. Thanks for the suggestion.

I think Bluesound is still the best streaming platform. Dollar for dollar, it is the best value in streaming.  No company will ever have the resources that Lenbrook has. 

It's all about software. FW, and gui in the streamer category.   Is Bluesound perfect? No , there are occasional problems but in my experience rare and quickly corrected

Spending big on the Eversolo master or A8 is foolish , terrible support.  Real amateur software development at Zidoo / Eversolo.   Cumulative updates should include all revisions prior.  

Not cool to have a perfectly good working product and hobble it with botched firmware .   I believe USB out is important whether you use it or not.   Don't take away features!!!!   Every update seems to negativity affect a feature or omits something.   

I was initially impressed but have lost all confidence that they will correct issues.  

I upgraded from an early BluOS Node to an eversolo to a NAD M33, which also uses the BluOS, so no need to learn another app. Used M33s are around $3500 on ebay. Thats an all-in-one device. You can also plug that SSD into the M33. 

I upgraded from node to Cambridge cvx v2.

The Cambridge dac didn't come close to the sound my Black ice dad fx glass dac. So I'm using the Cambridge as a streamer funning coax thru black ice Dac . Then thru Schiit saga plus and finally threw A Mac mc152 and on to Lsa signature 20. ( Similar to b an w 802's). The sound is amazing. Why aren't you using The Mac dac2? It's supposed to be pretty too notch. 

Apple is a great streaming service, but they really attempt to keep you in their ecosystem which can be limiting. Unsure if you’ve checked lately, but Tidal’s Global and Indian categories have grown over the past three years - may be worth checking out. 
 

And if Tidal meets your needs I would use Soundiiz to transfer playlists and albums from Apple Music to Tidal, and then utilize Tidal Connect with your Cambridge EXN100. Tidal Connect will be lossless while allowing you to stay within the Tidal UI for controlling (playing) and exploring music. Food for thought.

Sadly confirmed what many have said. Lossless Apple Music is only playable via a dongle attached to iphone/ipad that’s feeding an external DAC. Might do that or re-look at other streaming options and purchase songs/CDs they don’t have and have them on USB drive.

I have the Eversolo DMP-A6 ME and it has worked flawlessly until the last update. Now Roon doesn’t see it on the network unless I reboot my router every morning.

Eversolo won’t work via USB with your McIntosh pre.    I have been waiting since June for this to be corrected.   Unit worked flawlessly for almost a year.    FW 1.2.98 rendered USB inoperable with McIntosh DA2 card.   

@dinosore. Thanks, I concur. I did listen to WAV files ripped from my CDs via USB into the NODE and out via optical to my C2700 etc. Boy! What a difference to Airplay. Blown away. I’m thinking of PC to NODE for now via USB and replace NODE with maybe Cambridge EXN100 when it ships. Same USB in from PC but XLR out to the C2700. The EXN100 seems to have alot of other nice features/music sources as well as a great DAC from what I read.

@sengha The Eversolo streamers will have an app where you can control them from your phone or tablet. Your other alternative with Apple Music is to connect your iPhone or iPad directly to an external DAC if you want high-res lossless. But then your device is tethered to your stereo system.

Unfortunately, you don't have many options with Apple Music.

@dinosore Yes I am. And so uneducated about streaming/lossless. I used to use Quboz but swapped for Apple Music as the former’s content for Indian music is very poor. Before that I had Spotify and switched thinking Quboz is what I needed for lossless without any thought on how streaming from my iPhone works. So, can I/how can I feed lossless to my pre-amp with a streamer/DAC combo and still select what I want to listen to via my phone using an App?  Thanks.

@sengha How are you using AirPlay now with your Node? If you are streaming from an iPhone or iPad, the Apple Music app will down-sample the stream to a lossy 256kbps. If you are using a MacBook Pro (according to Bluesound) the AM app will stream at 16/44.

The Cambridge unit you mention uses AirPlay2, so you will get the same lossy stream if you are using an iPhone or iPad. So if you stick to Apple Music, you might not see any improvement.

I believe only Eversolo and Fiio have the ability to get the AM app and a lossless stream since they use an Android OS.

Thank you Mahler123 and other replies. I meant Airplay. Exhausted from hours of my own “research” - reading here from previous related posts and numerous online reviews. I’m going to pre-order a Cambridge Audio EXN100. I hope I can tell the difference in sound once I have it.  I like the interface, numerous I/O options and being able to use XLR out to my pre-amp. It looks well made by a reputable company. My budget was ~ 5K for a streamer and a DAC. No real reason for 5K; seemed a reasonable figure based on my upstream analog gear spend. With this single unit there will be fewer wires too and I can connect my existing SSD library. I’ve read about streamers and DACs costing 2-5x more but frankly I suspect I wouldn’t hear enough difference to spend 5K or even more. If it turns out there is no noticeable sound improvement using my typical listening library (vs the Node), then my experiment done for now.

What’s “Apple Play”? Is it different than AirPlay?

No budget was specified in the OP. We need that before spending time recommending anything.

I would look at the Cambridge Audio lineup

Eversolo has gotten high marks for sound and low scores for customer service here

You might try the Eversolo A8. Very good, streamer and dac for the money. 

@sengha

I bought a better DAC to go with my BS N130 and have been a happy camper. Check out the Denafrips Aries. There are reviews everywhere on YouTube and the web. They have a new and less expensive model, the Enyo. I’ve only read about it and have never heard it, but the Enyo might fit your system well.

All the best.

Start with players that do Apple. I am not aware of any others besides BluOS. IP radio is usually better than terrestrial - no multiplex or commercials. Try Llinn & Naim radio for high quality. Radio Paradise is freely available in lossless but I don’t care for their programming you might like.

I've tried others, always came back to Qobuz.

Look into a used or demo Bricasti M3