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Recommendations for high quality Streaming Audio:

Greetings everyone; looking for recommendations on how to stream high quality audio, let me explain.

I currently use my Apple 8S phone, with a high quality aux cord, into my preamp. This method has better sound quality than when I use a blue-tooth adapter and stream from my phone, but I enjoy being able to stay seated and having control of what I want to listen to.

Anything out there that gives the user remote control / access to what they want to listen to?

If not, I'll settle fort he next best thing, being plugged into my preamp, and having high quality audio without wireless control

Budget: $1,000 for equipment, $25 per month for streaming service.

I don’t know much about DAC’s , streamers, etc.. or alternative music streaming sites, but I do know that there are better options out there from what I’ve read on these forums.

Thanks in advance for the forthcoming enlightenment.

Rene

barkeyzee1
larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,002 posts
 
You can't beat a Bluesound Node 2i for the money.  Connect it analogue use RCA's and try listening to MQA streaming TIDAL.  I also like the way TIDL interfaces with the Bluesound Node 2i.  
barkeyzee1 OP
41 posts
 

Thanks for the feedback Larry, as well as the feedback provided by all the others.

Going to pull the trigger on a purchase on Black Friday, might be able to save myself a little $$.

Across the board, seems like Bluesound Node 2i is the way to go.

captaindidactic
71 posts
 
I have the original Node 2. I use it to stream Tidal MQA. The dac inside the Node 2 is adequate, but I have found that running it through my Cambridge 851C's DAC sounds much better. 

I ran a CAT6 cable to the Node 2. I then moved my stereo to a different location and had to use the wifi feature of the Node 2. Music was lifeless. I couldn't believe the difference. I then ran a 50' cord across two rooms so it could have a wired connection. The change was immediate. All the warmth, imaging and listening pleasure returned. I now have to tear up walls and the ceiling to run the wire. Deep sigh.

On another note. I was running a AQ Coffee Coax cable from the Node2 into the 851C. I upgraded to the AQ Diamond and the change was there. Just for fun, I used the Doug Schroeder method and used two Y splitters and ran both the Diamond and the Coffee. The music opened up again. I then went back to just the Coffee and the music sounded flatter. 

But if I had to make just one change, hardwire the internet connection.


ianrodger
164 posts
 
An Antipodes DS streamer/server works for me.

Connected to the modem by ethernet cable and then runs to my separate DAC (although it does have a very good built-in DAC) and then on to my amp.

I use an iPad to remotely control Roon which runs the FLAC ripped CDs on the Antipodes HDD as well as Tidal streaming.

No Qobuz in Australia as yet.
paopawdecarabao's avatar
paopawdecarabao
14 posts
 
BlueSound Node 2i and I upgraded the DAC with an external Denafrips Pontus. Streaming only to Qobuz. Worth to check it out
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