Streaming 2-ch rig opinions

[eyesofra]

Guys,

 

Trying to setup-up a  "decent-Fi" streaming solution which would be my primary system at home replacing CDP. I've got most of my music ripped as FLAC and saved in my NAS. At the moment playing them back via my Pioneer receiver via DLNA. But I wanna step it up as the SQ from the current setup is just ok at best. 

 

This was my idea : 

 

1) OliveONE streaming Player - coaxial - NAD M51 DAC -  Power Amp - Paradigm Studio 20v5

And in future : 

1.a ) OliveONE streaming Player - USB - Audiphileo + PP - NAD M51 DAC - Power Amp - Paradigm Studio 20v5

 

This solution sounded perfect to me and also gave me an upgrade path. Of course the upgrade would only happen if Olive is compatible with the AP2

( chances are high as they're both linux based ) 

 

 

 

Now I have come across a proper dedicated Hi-Fi streamer with tube output stage - the Opera Consonance Ref 7 . This has made me rethink everything 

 

Should I now go this way : 

2) Consonance - coaxial/XLR - Integrated Amp 

2.a ) Consonance - coax/xlr - Pre-amp - Power amp  ( as upgrade path ) 

 

 

And I really don't want to have a PC /mac as the playback device

So which way should I go ? 1 or 2 ? 

thanks

Edited May 17, 2013 by eyesofra

[bsaac]

Plenty of other streamers out there for you to look into, CA Stream Magic 6 and various models from Naim and Linn depending on budget

[davewantsmoore]

I would not necessarily assume your "A" scenarios are upgrades.

 

1 or 2...   I'd lean towards 1, but would need to listen more before purchase.

[PorkBun69s]

Like balsac said, there are heaps of options to the point where it can be quite confusing.

 

Question is that if you have an existing dac or planning to get one, then best to look at streamers with spdif or usb out options assuming your dac can accept these inputs. Some really good options to consider are (assuming they're in your budget):

- Naim HDX, UnityServe

- NAD M-50

- Bryston DP1 or 2

- Aurender s10

 

I have a mate who is looking into the M-50 atm because he has the M51 dac.  To me, the Aurender is near perfect but lacks DSD support atm and a bit pricey.  The Bryston has oodles of options for extended storage via ext HDD's but its proprietory interface isnt all that great and its abit pricey for the hardware.  Not sure about Naim, but from reviews says that it needs the PSU upgrade to sound better??

 

Let us know what you get..

[eyesofra]

G'day guys, 

 

@ davewantsmore :  why do you think the A scenarios would not be upgrades, and may I know why do u think the Olive solution would be better ? SQ or just the flexibility of having separate streamer and DAC ? 

 

@ katattack : Mate ,would love to have one of those streamer but they'll well above my budget which is around 2K for streamer/DAC solution.

Hence the reason for the limited options as stated above, as they're both well within 2K . 

 

[davewantsmoore]

G'day guys, 

 

@ davewantsmore :  why do you think the A scenarios would not be upgrades, and may I know why do u think the Olive solution would be better ? SQ or just the flexibility of having separate streamer and DAC ? 

 

My gut feel would be the Olive is a better streamer wrt features, flexibility, etc.... but looking at the Conosance now I'm not so sure...   I wouldn't think that a separate DAC is necessarily better.  Technically all in one box is easier to design a good system.   Hard and fast rules don't exist though.

 

"A" features are not necessarily upgrades....   I think it is a mistake to assume that a pre/power is better than an integrated .... or a USB-SPDIF-Analog ... is better than SPDIF-Analog.     Yes, there are many cases where more boxes are better, but a universal assumption about this is dangerous too.

[davewantsmoore]

Olive better (gut feel) as far as a platform goes.  Software upgrades, support, flexibility, etc. is what I mean.

[betty boop]

currently for bedroom system am just using a little black apple TV circa $100 and would like to feed a nad m51 to drive my nad master series m3 and focals...one day.

 

olive one though in your application seems a good choice, I would go for option 1

[Chill3]

Squeezebox touch ?

Lots of DACs available NAD is good,

How about a Shitt bifost or GUNGNIR.

If you stick to 16 bit files an Apple Airport express for is a good streaming option as long as your happy to use phone / pad as control

[Jventer]

A few more questions and ideas.

I am not sure if you have the integrated , pre or poweramps? My impression is that you look at them as an upgrade path.

I do  not know the Studio 20's - have heard the 10's and 60's. I would like to hear from other members what they think, but I would spend more of the budget on the speaker side before I go items like the NAD M51 and Audiophilleo.

I have heard the Consonance, but not the Olive. 

 

Has anyone heard the Olive One?

 

otherwise i agree with the other members -  there are so many options .I personally would try to find a system where I can listen to the options.

[eyesofra]

The speakers,  I'd really like to get a pair of good floorstanders when we move to a bigger place. Currently the bookshelfs work well in our townhouse. Do miss the bass at times

 

I just recently purchased the M51 from a member here. As for amplification , it's just my Pioneer LX receiver. But as I've indicated above, the idea was to go with a new power amp driven by the M51. 

If Consonance proves to be the better solution , then the NAD will end up back in classifieds . It would be hard sale, as it sounds quite good . No surprise there rite.

I agree that Olive would be much better in terms of software support and flexibility . Leaning more towards it now in fact . 

 

What really bothers me is the fact that a dedicated digital transport should sound better then just a generic streamers shouldn't it. And the consonance looks like one, compared to Olive or the SBT which are generic get-the-job done sort of streamers. Although Olive does seem to cross over to the Hi-Fi league a little reading through it's design and spec. 

 

But the question is would that make a significant difference, if all bits are streamed into a high-end DAC such as the NAD with all it's jitter elimination processing and etc 

Edited May 17, 2013 by eyesofra

[betty boop]

the stand mounts will be fine, can fill their bottom end out with a sub if need be.

 

consonance make some nice old school tube amps whats their track record on streamers ? I would go something a bit more tried and tested. olive been doing this for a while.

 

SBT is a bit of a dead duck/dodo of a thing isnt it ? logitech discontinued anything to do wiht the Squeeze box back in aug last year as far as I know.

 

pers I would keep the nad

[eyesofra]

yeah that's a good point al . Olive does have an edge when it comes to this sort of playback. 

 

On another note , I sent an email to Osborne to check the price of the consonance , very good indeed . Also asked on their opinion of the DAC stage as compared to the NAD , interestingly the response was "The DAC is many levels above the NAD " . Interesting isn't it , it does have a tube output stage maybe that makes a big difference or at least in their listening session  

[Jventer]

So,  - I think you can build from the NAD and the speakers

That means a Streamer and and amp.

As stated before I have not heard the Olive One, but the other Olives did not impress me for their price.

I love the Consonance gear, I unfortunately cannot give real advice re the Linear as we compared it to an expensive Cd player and the CD player won. Some other members have some experience as well.

I maintain that you should try to listen to something before you buy it. Greg Osborn does offer a money back purchase.

[betty boop]

By all means try if you can. No point asking Greg what something he doesn't sell compares to one of his own !

Not sure the olive one is available yet ?

[eyesofra]

true al I was just curious to get their response , that's all .  The olive is on pre-order now . Maybe as Jventer suggested I should give consonance a shot. 30days money back does sound good ! 

Thanks for all the thoughts guys ..... ! 

Edited May 17, 2013 by eyesofra