tripitaka Posted July 24, 2022 Posted July 24, 2022 11 hours ago, doogie44 said: I still feel that the Bluesound Node is the best bang for buck for the budget conscious streamer, albeit a considerable jump in cost above the Wiim Mini, but also a significant jump in sound quality, usability, user interface etc Interesting, thanks, All I ever wanted to do was use my iPad to stream Qobuz in hi res to my system. The thing that attracted me with the Wiim was that the Wiim app controlled the 24/96+ streamer (unlike the iPad Qobuz app which must CD-quality iOS Airplay bitrate). Does the Bluesound do this? I've used wifi in various configs and I'll just throw in that I always crank the buffer size to max, whatever I'm streaming on. It just increases your margin for error. I'd much rather wait a few seconds for music than have it drop out in the middle of a track. 2
Guest Posted July 24, 2022 Posted July 24, 2022 On 23/07/2022 at 10:19 AM, doogie44 said: OK--I do want it all and I don't want to pay too much. I don't have a degree in computing or I.T. Shoot me. I have my doubts that there is a streamer for someone who "wants it all" for "not much". There are no compromise ("want it all") streamers such as this https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/extreme-music-server/ Most us cannot afford one, but it is useful to understand the principles being applied. A good streamer requires good power supplies, good clocks, stable chassis and good music operating system (OS). The OS is cheap, often free, but unfortunately, the rest can cost a lot. "Not much" cost is what attracts people to the Pi. Sorry that you have fallen for the Pi allure of being cheap and very good, provided you have the skills and persistence to make it work for you. The last parts are often glossed over by the Pi fans. The other challenge is the connector between the streamer and DAC. i2S is generally considered to be the best connection. Good clocks can improve the SQ of the connection. However, in the quest for the best DAC and streamer, people either neglect optimising the connection or end up with a complex setup. I would argue that streamer/DACs deliver the best value. A streamer/DAC uses i2S internally and the manufacturer has matched the steamer and DAC. And no need for computer skills! It appears that you have arrived at the same conclusion with the BlueSound Node. Should you "want it all" even more, consider the Lumin T2, P1 and Auralic Altair G1, G2.
tripitaka Posted July 24, 2022 Posted July 24, 2022 9 hours ago, Snoopy8 said: I have my doubts that there is a streamer for someone who "wants it all" for "not much". There are no compromise ("want it all") streamers such as this https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/extreme-music-server/ Most us cannot afford one, but it is useful to understand the principles being applied. A good streamer requires good power supplies, good clocks, stable chassis and good music operating system (OS). The OS is cheap, often free, but unfortunately, the rest can cost a lot. "Not much" cost is what attracts people to the Pi. Sorry that you have fallen for the Pi allure of being cheap and very good, provided you have the skills and persistence to make it work for you. The last parts are often glossed over by the Pi fans. The other challenge is the connector between the streamer and DAC. i2S is generally considered to be the best connection. Good clocks can improve the SQ of the connection. However, in the quest for the best DAC and streamer, people either neglect optimising the connection or end up with a complex setup. I would argue that streamer/DACs deliver the best value. A streamer/DAC uses i2S internally and the manufacturer has matched the steamer and DAC. And no need for computer skills! It appears that you have arrived at the same conclusion with the BlueSound Node. Should you "want it all" even more, consider the Lumin T2, P1 and Auralic Altair G1, G2. Excellent advice here from Mr Snoops, as usual
MattyW Posted July 25, 2022 Posted July 25, 2022 (edited) On 24/07/2022 at 10:04 AM, tripitaka said: I've used wifi in various configs and I'll just throw in that I always crank the buffer size to max, whatever I'm streaming on. It just increases your margin for error. I'd much rather wait a few seconds for music than have it drop out in the middle of a track. Yeah, I've no wiring in my home so all even though the NAS hosting my Roon & Plex servers is wired, everything else in the home goes via Wi-Fi 6. That said all Roon end points are wired to TP-Link Deco X60 Access points in a wireless mesh with all routing handled by my Firewalla Gold. The Deco X60's have had their switching power supplies changed for linear power supplies and the Soundaware D300REF in my main system has a Network Acoustics Eno-Ag filter in line between to minimize noise. There's a Renolabs Ultimate Audio switch between the Firewalla Gold, NAS and primary mesh access point. Surprisingly it makes a noticeable difference with all streamed content in terms of picture and sound quality. The best I can achieve until we build a new home which will have CAT8 run throughout. Edited July 25, 2022 by MattyW 1
doogie44 Posted August 11, 2022 Author Posted August 11, 2022 Hah! Still wanting it all and wanting MORE. Read on. After a long period of contemplation, and with the wisdom of the SNA brains trust resonating within, I have pulled the trigger on a second-hand Auralic Aries G1 streamer. Under $3K. Have I abandoned my poverty consciousness for a dalliance in the fields of upmarket digital? Yes. Is it cost-effective, as per my previous belief system and original post? No. Care factor: zero. SCORE: Digital idiot = 1; buggy, poorly designed and frustrating gear = 0 It is exhausting struggling with reality...I revert to 'loving what is' (thanks Byron Katie). For the tech, the convenience, the interfaces, the apps, the integration, the sonics--pay you must! (absent an IT degree, multiple spare weekends and a workbench populated with the corpses of multiple Raspberry Pis and littered with connectors of all kinds). Although very strongly attracted to bargains like the iFi Zen Stream (possibly too buggy with a basic Volumio architecture); the Lumin Mini U1 & U2 (expensive to me, fairly rare second-hand) and the Bluesound Node (basic sonic level with great app), I went looking for the Auralic Aries Mini with femto clocks. Hard to source second-hand; missed out. Moving on to seeking the Lumin Mini. Thinking of waiting all year for possible new ( and streamlined) models of cheaper gear. Suddenly I realised that the upmarket Auralic Aries G1 second-hand was around the same cost as a new Mini--and that corresponded to only a bit more than the amount listlessly resting in my Paypal account. The only thing stopping me in past had been the actual overall cost (I never questioned the sonics/tech versatility/convenience). In other words, personal sticker shock. Moment of truth. It's very like never buying a bottle of wine which is 'over a certain price' on the shelf (insert your cost limit here). This is just wrong thinking as you then never experience the best! Don't we live in a great country where you can save up to give yourself the benefit of (sonic) therapy for that awful affliction digitalis nervosa? I think this cure will do wonders for my outlook and blood pressure. It's only money. Thanks particularly to Snoop for facilitating my 'moment of clarity' The care package will arrive soon and I'm anticipating that even I will be able to get it up and running. 3
jbprophoto Posted August 28, 2023 Posted August 28, 2023 (edited) Couple of notes I've read in this thread. Bluesound Node can be connected to a 3rd party high end DAC via USB for all the quality of a 3rd party DAC but still have the streaming ability of the Bluesound Node and the BluOS - just saying that you don't have to settle for the DAC in the Nodes if you want to reach higher but use it as a great streamer plugged into ethernet. Or even more simply, although clunky and awkward the method that I use that you can see below in my signature that works brilliantly for sound quality which many people shrug off because it's Apple / iphone. USB cable costs $50-$100 bucks into your high end DAC of your choice plus an apple camera adapter plug for $50 - job done to send high res lossless files in all their glory with huge amounts of bandwidth in the USB format to play with !! USB has the highest bandwidth of all connections into a DAC. Edited August 28, 2023 by jbprophoto 1
doogie44 Posted July 15, 2024 Author Posted July 15, 2024 As the OP in this 'outdated' thread I must mention my daughter purchased the Wiim Pro Plus streamer for some $300 recently. Feeding an iFi Nano DAC in a modest system. With excellent controlling app via her phone. What a phenomenal piece of digital kit in every way! It certainly answers the purpose of my original quest. 12 months is indeed a long time in the world of digital.
Skeptical Posted July 15, 2024 Posted July 15, 2024 6 hours ago, doogie44 said: As the OP in this 'outdated' thread I must mention my daughter purchased the Wiim Pro Plus streamer for some $300 recently. Feeding an iFi Nano DAC in a modest system. With excellent controlling app via her phone. What a phenomenal piece of digital kit in every way! It certainly answers the purpose of my original quest. 12 months is indeed a long time in the world of digital. Agree totally. Just sold an Auralic and replaced with a Wiim Pro. No loss in SQ, many gains in functionality. For 10% of the price (even less if compared to newest models). 1
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