Want to get into Streaming

I’m not sure what the actual question is.. 

Do you know the per posted person that posted this "primer."

Here’s a link to a recent thread on this forum about getting into streaming:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/streaming-5

I wouldn’t call it a primer, though. Just search the forums for streaming and a bunch of threads will come up.

What are your goals? Budget? What existing equipment do you currently have?

I want to stay under $10,000. I think I have found out, I would like to at least try Tidal and Qobuz. McIntosh C-500 tube pre, Berning ZH270, TT & CDP.

Might have been Hans Beekhuyzen. He has a YouTube channel with many interesting entries.  https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCR4tuhqPppVp-PD0q17sPEA/videosGood luck, and have fun!

Merlin speakers

@sabrejet .
Okay, a primer for streaming:
1. A streaming service via the web.
Qobuz, Tidal are high resolution services. 
Or
1.5 A streaming unit like-
The Bluesound Node (lots of streaming applications) or Aurender N100 (Qobuz or Tidal, only).
2. A good DAC
Ayre Codex, Schiit Yggy, Mytek Brooklyn-All good DAC's at a great price point- Around $2K new, much less used.
All of the aforementioned will be well under $10K, and will be a good introduction to streaming music. If you want to spend more, I would be glad to provide additional information.
Bob

Tidal. Lumin U1 Mini. Shiit Yggy. Pocket $6k. Enjoy.

Streaming is a subset of digital source. 
HD digital digital from local storage should be considered.  
You can get downloads in various resolutions.

I've had TIDAL and Qobuz for many months and recently stopped TIDAL as my bandwidth was fine and I saw no need to compress/uncompress - or fold.  
If your data rates are up to the task it does not matter how the same digital source gets to your DAC.  SSD, CD, SCAD, USB, Bluetooth, WiFi or hard wired.  
There is a difference in bit rate.  16/44.1 vs 24...  Sometimes the sound engineers mess with the same track in different rates.  
Typically the lower res stuff is louder.  

M19D - Fein DAC II
Made in Australia. This DAC punches way above it's price point.

Around USD$1300 with current exchange rate.

PCM - 32bit 384KHz max

DSD - DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512

**No MQA**

Well, if you got the Innuos Zen Mk3 server/streamer and an Audio Mirror Tubadour Mklll SE DAC that cost about $2500 each you’d have a pretty damn nice sounding streaming setup at half your max budget.  The bonus with the Zen streamer is it has onboard memory and its own disc spinner so you can easily load all your CDs into it and have access to your entire music collection through it in addition to streaming from Qobuz or Tidal.  No more getting up to change CDs, and you can make your own playlists, play songs randomly, etc.  Best of luck. 

Topping D90 (MQA) $799.99! 

jeffjoeblob

... You don’t have to decide about resolution, etc. When you rip a CD, it’s automatically ripped to CD quality ...

You'll want to check your software settings rather than listen to this guy's advice. Every example of ripping software that I've ever used allowed ripping to lower resolution files.

Sabrejet - I got lucky and got into streaming 5 years ago - my journey atarted with the help of an audio shop - they sold me a LUMIN D1 for $2000. The LUMIN is a streamer and DAC in one box. The LUMIN software to run the unit is the best in the industry - IMO. I stream Tidal HiFi with MQA - the audio quality is top drawer. I just sold my D1 and upgraded to the LUMIN T2 (got it New in the box for $3600). Just show around .

this approach will save you a lot of headaches and get you to enjoying the music much quicker.

just my 2 cents.

There are several steamers with built in DAC's...one less box.

I have heard many but these two stood out (could have also have been the systems/room/lunar pahse)

Lumin T2. w/ Sbooster external power supply

Also PS Audio DirectStream DAC (on sale at upscale)

NAD M12 all digital, DAC and can serve as a pre amp as well.

In my case, I simply use a PC that runs Audirvana to stream Tidal and to play my ripped CD's and hi-res audio files. The digital audio signal goes to a Chord DAC. 

If you are a music lover you should investigate Roon.  A Nuclueus can plug directly into a USB DAC and that's all you need for hardware.  Mytek Brooklyn+ is a good one and it decodes MQA from Tidal Masters, which while not a panacea, are worth having available as an option.  That setup will run you 40% of your budget max plus cables, and will give you an excellent listening quality.  Given your resources, you can go large on  cables...something like a Nordost Tyr USB 2.0 and ICs to match.  You do need a hardwire link to your router for the Nucleus, BTW.

PS Audio Directstream.  To my ears, the best DAC under $15k, and — again to my ears — better than the much more expensive dCS Bartok.  I’ve owned one for a few years, have upgraded everything in my system at least twice, except this component.  In fact, I just bought a second one for a second system.  And I can’t count how many times I’ve seen major reviewers cite this DAC as their home reference choice (John Atkinson included).  Moreover, it gets better, for free, each time they upgrade the FPGA software, which you download for free (and, you can experiment with the previous software choices, making it 5+ DACs in one box).  Buy it with the Bridge option, hard wire it with an ethernet cable, and you’re basically done.  All that’s left is deciding between the compatible tablet app, or Roon, and deciding between Qobuz v. Tidal.  I’m not in the industry, I’m not affiliated with PS Audio, and I have no stake in your decision.  But from one stranger to another, I highly recommend it.  

I tired Roon but unless I missed the boat it didn’t play hi res files off of Qobuz or from Qobuz playlists. Did I miss something?

I suggest you “ease in” to gain perspective and start with the Node 2i.  
After all ..with no comparison baseline...how can you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been ? The Node 2i should check all of your boxes and keep you waaaaay under budget.

*note*        native MQA playback is a nice plus +