Wanting to upgrade my streaming sound quality.


I would really like to get my streaming sq up to my analog sq. My equipment is a McIntosh MC 452, C47, TD 124 with an AT 150 SA on a SME M2-9 tone arm, a Rega P8 with an Alpheta 3, a restored MR 74 tuner, driving Aerial 7t speakers. My streaming now is an iPad with a usb cable into my preamp with Tidal. I would be willing to spend around $2500 . A one box solution would be preferable for a steamer/dac combo although two boxes could also work. I’m not interested in multiple clocks and separate power supplies etc. Also I don’t use CD’s for a source.  I do have AT&T fiber internet with up to 1000 mb speed and my modem is only around 5 feet from my audio rack. Balanced inputs is preferable but not a deal breaker. I’ve looked at the HiFi Rose 250 and the 150 although the latter is more money than I want to spend. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’m an Analog guy in a digital world.

Greg

gphill

Showing 1 response by pabs85

@gphill if you have settled on that shortlist, my advice is to go and look at the app used to control them. With streaming, the app is your hands-on experience with the unit; imagine if your turntable was horribly fiddly to use and didn’t react to what you wanted it to do while being unintuitive. These challenges with the control software will make your user experience unenjoyable and could stop you using the unit. Sound quality is of course the primary target but the software is an incredibly close second. As you’re getting into this, I would avoid roon as it adds another complication, which means the software is even more important. I can’t speak on the Cary, but I’ve seen and read up on the Lumin and Rose software, the Rose is known to have an exceptional control app while the Lumin would come in second from that list. As I say, go and look into the app and buy the unit that you will enjoy using more, that is what will make you fall in love with streaming.

For what it’s worth I’d suggest the Rose would be your best fit, the software, extra functionality and the screen showing album art could all be a game changer for you.