What are you using as a streamer? Constructive feedback please.

@jerryg123 -- do you have a specific price point in mind? I currently have three streamers in my systems. Bluesound Node 2i (listed for sale on this site), Sonore opticalRendu, and Innuos Zenith MK3. I also did in-home auditions of the following models in the last 36 months: Lumin U1 Mini (with Sbooster LPS), Lumin U1, Innuos Zen Mini, Sonore MicroRendu, and Cambridge Audio CXN v2.

I think the key question you should ask yourself is what kind of sound signature you’re after. For example my goal, after listening to a friend’s very well sorted vinyl rig, since last year has been to get closer to the analog sound but without the associated hassles.

If your budget is under $2k then I can heartily recommend Sonore opticalRendu. It was a big step up from Node 2i. The fiber optics conversion allows the noise floor to reduce considerably and lets you hear more into your music. I still use this streamer in my second system and feel that it is great value for the money. At least in my experience, the opticalRendu is better than Innuos Zen Mini and Lumin U1 Mini.

I use Innuos Zenith MK3 (paired with Network Acoustic Eno passive filter) in my main system. At first, I didn’t find it any better than opticalRendu, but as I put more hours on the Zenith it has clearly surpassed the opticalRendu. However, I will say that the opticalRendu is still no slouch.

The Innuos Zenith MK3 + Eno has pretty much taken care of most of the usual digital gremlins in my system. It sounds smooth yet rich, detailed, and three dimensional. It is very good in creating a realistic sense of space and ambience especially on genres like jazz, classical, and acoustic music. In short, it allows me to connect with my music at a more emotional level.

I know Lumin gets a lot of love on these forums, but I for some reason never warmed up to its sound signature. But of course, all this is system dependent.

Hope this helps.

I went from a Vault 2i to a Auralic Aries G1 and have been very happy with the upgrade.

I tried the Lumin U1 Mini and not only did I not like the sound but their app if horrible. I see you use Roon which eliminates my latter complaint but the sound of it wasn't for me.

@arafiq $1550.00 to $3000.00

@sunshdw I have been eyeballing the Aries G1

In acquired order I use:
Bluesound Node N100        BluOS
miniDSP SHD Studio          Volumio Custom
Magna Mano Ultra               Orange Squeeze/LMS
Pro-Ject S Ultra                   Volumio Custom
Allo USBridge into Matrix 2   Orange Squeeze/LMS
Ras Pi 3 into Topping D10s   Orange Squeeze/LMS

BluOS is by far the worst, the Pro-Ject version is more restricted
Orange Squeeze is by far the most customizable

DoWhatYaLike

@fuzztone thanks. Appreciate the information.

That doesn’t look too shabby. What’s the issue?

No real issue just wondering if there are improvements I am missing??

Kind of like when I was racing motorcycles Got my Aprilia to 198mph and wanted to hit 201mph opened up the airbox (removed it) and remapped the EFI went changed gearing and 206mph.

Cheers.

I have used about every form of Apple product, PC with different software. Also, many DAC variations,  Then I discovered dedicated streamers: Aries G2, Aurender N100, Aurender N10, and Aurender W20SE. The sound quality at the beginning of this list varied little… not until I hit the N100 did the sound quality start jumping in huge bounds. My W20SE is equally satisfying with my very excellent analog leg. You can see my systems under my user ID.

I think @mapman indirectly brings up a good point. What is the point of your system and strategy. Is there a “good enough” objective so you can quit or are you looking for ongoing better sound and as long as significant cost effective improvements are possible? I have had life long interest in achieving better sound and have been rewarded at every turn with greater enjoyment. If the later, I highly recommend getting on the Aurender ladder. Dead quiet background, natural and detailed sound with a great interface to control and explore your music is what this provides.

@jerryg123 Hi Jerry I like Aprilia but the Panigale of severs is Aurender the N20 is the best bang for the buck. Fantastic machine.

@lordmelton My RSV4 is faster than my Panigale or my R1.

Yet Yamaha, Kawasaki and Honda win all the championships. 

Aurender is on the list.

Just bought an iFi Zen Stream. Just a streamer, and goes directly into my Denafrips DAC.

Really like it, read how it was much better than the Bluesound node 2i as a streamer, so jumped on it. Also have my external hard drive attached to the Zen Stream as my ripped CD server.

By the way, I’ve heard really good things about QLN speakers. A friend owns QLN 3’s and thinks they are amazing. I bet the 5s are in a different league. I wish I could audition them but no local dealers near me. 

They are special for sure went from the Sonora to the 5's.

The Sonora's ended up at the youngest son's house.

Looking at the P-1's for a bedroom system

In my main system I have a Roon Nucleus for the streamer and an Aqua La Voce DAC.  I have a TEAC NT-505 in two other systems.  It's in your price range.

What sources are you streaming or want to stream? That will narrow down the candidates.

With streaming these days , it’s hard to find bad sound quality. What is good or better can be highly subjective and difficult to determine with certainty. However streamer features vary widely. The right one is probably the one with the right features. Then use an external dac of choice from there if needed.

My streaming sound setup has been in place for a number of years now and still sounds great. I’m considering trying some newer stuff but have not settled yet.

I run primarily squeeze box touch to mhdt Constantine DAC. See my system page . I’ve heard a lot of good setups in recent years and nothing yet has convinced me I must upgrade.  

@mapman Mostly Jazz, Blues and Classical.

Well Roon claims to be very well structured around composers for classical so that is a plus. But what sources are you wanting to stream? Your own files? Spotify? Tidal? Amazon? YouTube? Others? Also what other devices do you have that you might want to cast from? Sources and protocols the streamer can support will come into play. It can be very confusing but varies a lot among streamers. One of the reasons I am not too quick to make a jump quite yet personally. Features in general can vary widely especially when factoring in the app choices for use. Way more than absolute sound quality, which is best addressed via the dac you choose to use with the streamer. Could be internal built in or external.

You should about this in three parts:

1. Music Server

2. Streamer

3. DAC

It wasn’t until I moved my Roon Core to a dedicated computer that I achieved the level of reliability needed to look at Streamers and DACs.   I ended up with a Sonicorbitor i5 music server and a combo streamer/DAC - Bricasti M3 with a network card.  There are a lot of other great options.  This is what worked for me coming in somewhere near my budget.  I went about the process in reverse order and regret it.  DAC, Streamer, Music Server and assumed my MacBook Air would work fine as my music server.  It turned out to be a bad assumption.   I also needed a home for my music collection so I added an internal 4tb SSD to my i5.  Everything works great.

I've run an Auralic Aries Mini, sadly no longer produced, for 5 years and love it. One advantage to Auralic is the fantastic LDS app which they continue to improve. An excellent company with good sounding products and a good track record.

@mapman I am streaming Tidal and Q. 

Thanks.

At this moment I would get the iFi Zen and a great DAC. From what I hear they are aggressively improving the software.

Auralic is Apple Crapple only from what I see. There’s that.

It really depends on what features you can use.

i2s, built in LPS - Magna,
Extra digital inputs, DSP, headphone amp - Studio
Front USB-A ports for say a HoliDaze flash drive - Allo or S2 Ultra   
Cheapness - Raspberry Pi  I will submit that I've spent more on a power supply and cables than the unit, as I've done for my desktop amp

If you plan to use a NAS LMS looks daunting, best with the Studio version.

Some streamers don’t do Qobuz native just UPnP.  The customized Volumios go both ways no subscription needed.

Headquarter Audio, a YouTube audiophile, uses "just" a iFi streamer with an upgraded network switch and if you have a decent computer setup, then you can easily hear the sound quality of his work.

He shows the iFi about a third of the way in the video and stresses the importance of a good power supply

It might be worth it to check out his other videos and maybe the AudioPhool in the Netherlands as well.

All the best,
Nonoise

@nonoise Thank you for the information. I will check this out.

one question is how do you feed your dac spdif or usb?

your  dac can run ayncronous which means usb

also a better streamer makes a very  audibile change

Since you’re mostly Bel Canto I’m going to recommend the e.One Stream. I’ve got one paired with a W4S DAC and couldn’t be happier. Head and shoulders above the Node.

Started with Bluesound Vault and Ayre Codex 

Now Arender N10 and Codex upgrading  dac to Aesthetix Pandora

You can check out my system in virtual system

Enjoy the Holidays

Tom

At $3k and below it's really hard to beat the Innuos Zen-Mini+LPSU. It sounds wonderful and has both digital and analog outputs and rips/stores aswell.  A really good place to start then add on an external dac. 

One easy improvement ,buy a $200 Wireworld Starlight Ethernet cable 

and to clean the digital signal , a Uptone Audio Ether Regen 

both are very well known and will for sure improve your sound For Sure !!

Node 2i

Innuous Zen Mk3… There is some guys who will tell you the Streamer just gets you on the Net and that Sonic difference’s are negligible.  I’ve found that indeed the sound varies from product to product.  W/O Bashing my previous streamers I will tell you the Innuos Zen Mk3 added Density and weight to the Music.

@tomstruck How much upside did you experience going from the Bluesound to the Aurender N10?  I realize I'm still playing in the minor leagues with my Bluesound Node, but I just can't bring myself to spend big money on a streamer without having confidence the the upside will be worth it.  I have a decent system, with the Bluesound Node being the only outlier.  

I have a Marantz ND8006 CDP/streamer---very happy with it and easy to operate.

My Krell K300i intrrgrated amp with digital package takes care of that quite well. 

pdreher

You are in the majors all the way with the Harbeths ,Music Ref and that room must sound amazing

 Big upside more detailed larger sound stage and haftier bass but it comes with a cost at $8000 I think it was worth the price for the sound quality and once I change to the Pandora 

I was talking to someone the other day and he said the Innuous Statement was much better then the N10 and I would hope so at twice the price

About using your dac is it enough to drive the amp with real weight

I know when Was waiting for my Pallene I used the Codex to drive the Atlas and it was not enough I not saying all dac are that way but the Codex was its a very good dac but not a pre amp

I been using my PC with Tidal and am thinking about getting a dedicated streamer. What are your thoughts on the bluesound for streaming? And would that be better than my current setup? 

@tomstruck My Audio Aero Capitole Reference DAC is actually a DAC/CDP/Line Stage Preamp all in one chassis.  I guess when I'm ready to try the Aurender N10, they'll probably be available on the used market for < $4K, which is a lot more palatable than paying $8K retail.

NAD M50.2

blueOS there too

The Auralic Aries works for me even though the app is, at best, basic.

Aurender N100H, no complaints. Big increase in sound quality from my formerly dedicated Apple laptop with SS memory, running Amarra (though I highly recommend Amarra software!).

I recently got the Auralic Altair G2.1. 
it worth every penny. 
it is important to get a good source. 

I like your choices. All very musical.

Steamer buying is harder than other gear.

Why? No in depth reviews that clearly

explain what makes one piece better

than the next. Higher price = better SQ?

Maybe.

What I use you don’t need. (Innuos ZEN 3)

Whatever you do buy add an Uptone Audio Etherregen.

Goos tweak.

Since you have no need to rip or store

that knocks out some normal choices.

You have gear that says you hear

well. I suggest the newer Lejonklou

Streamer. $8k.

Look into it.

Bricasti M5. Handmade in USA, bulletproof build, flawless performance. Roon ready. Can be had brand new for $2k. No USB needed.

I use ROON + Tidal and Qobuz for my internet music streaming. I’m all in on ROON, so for me getting a ROON Nucleus as my streamer and powering it with an 19v Sbooster LPS was an easy choice. It’s essentially plug and play, and the ROON software is automatically updated so I never have to worry about a thing. With the addition of a couple of tweaks which helped to reduce RFI in my system, I find the sound quality of the ROON Nucleus to be quite good. My listening chain from the wall is this. CAT6 router > L-Com CAT6 Ethernet cable > D-Link network switch > ENO Ethernet Filter System Ag > ROON Nucleus Rev B > AudioQuest Diamond USB cable > Audiowise SRC.DX > a single WAVE Storm BNC cable > Chord Hugo M Scaler > dual WAVE Storm BNC cables > Chord Hugo TT2 DAC > dual AudioQuest Earth XLR’s > Woo Audio WA22 headphone amplifier.

Can you spend more on an audiophile grade music streamer? Of course you can.

 Naim Ng5

i love it. Surprised no one mentioned it.

I have the Moon Mind 2 , with the Worldwire gold digital interconnect. (Xlr) to the Metronome Technologie C6 dac. !! Just great ! As préamp : Daniël Hertz M6L, Vac phi 300.1 ( poweramp) wired with furutech ( Silver) . Speakers :Ilumnia Magister MK II

Arcam AVR20 (Roon/MQA) for main system, pi4/Roonbridge/ifi linear power supply/meridian Explorer2 for music room and various other Pi+HifiBerry combos for other rooms. All fed from M1 Mac Mini/Roon+Tidal over perfectly normal STP Cat6 and enterprise switches.