The Grace digital link will stream just as well as these more expensive options. I doubt there will be a drastic sound upgrade spending more money. @ $179 I’d say it’s a hard to beat option for someone who is mostly listening to physical media such as vinyl. It never drops the signal, has a nice display, and is easy to use. Even has a remote control, and has Pandora built in. I tend to use Pandora as It is a nice platform, despite it not being hi-res...which I could care less about. The Grace can handle hi-res should you care to stream it. Out of stock till January 22. I was going to buy the cambridge cxn, until I learned that it is build like a feather weight, very thin sheet metal casing, and does not even include the Bluetooth dongle.....must buy it separately which is ridiculous for a grand!. I’m content with spending just $179, I think the Grace sounds wonderful, and I smile every time I listen to it, knowing that I did not spend a fortune! The best thing I've bought in a long time.
What are you using as a streamer? Constructive feedback please.
Wondering what improvements I can made to my streaming end and what you all are using.
Not looking to rip CDs and I mostly listen to vinyl.
System right now is:
Node 2 (latest version used streaming only with Roon)
Bel Canto e.One ref DAC 2.7
Bel Canto e.One ref CD3t Transport.
Bel Canto e.One ref 501S (best Class D to date to ever grace my system)
Mini GaN 5 ( had to try it and swap it in and out)
AM Qualiton X200 Tube Integrated (love it and gets most use)
QLN Prestige 5 Speakers.
All cables and wires are Signal Cable.
Appreciate the constructive feedback.
Have a great day.
Hi there. My recommendation is to try the Lucas Domansky Music Servers. (LDMS) hope this helps. |
Pdreher. I upgraded my Bluesound Node 2i with a LSPU. It made quite a noticeable difference. You could do an upgrade like I did for around 300 euros. Used an upgrade board and a LSPU from Allo. Might be a good option to consider to give you the confidence that upgrading your streamer can make quite a big difference. I cannot comment on some of the other products here, but I can vouch for the fact that a small change like this can make a decent impact. |
@tomstruck congrats on the Pandora ! love mine. |
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. |
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.
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@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. |
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
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@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. |
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. |
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@nonoise Thank you for the information. I will check this out.
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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, |
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, If you plan to use a NAS LMS looks daunting, best with the Studio version.
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@mapman I am streaming Tidal and Q. |
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. |
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.
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@mapman Mostly Jazz, Blues and Classical. |
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.
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@jerryg123 Hi Jerry I like Aprilia but the Panigale of severs is Aurender the N20 is the best bang for the buck. Fantastic machine. |
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. |
