24-Mar-2015, 16:32
(24-Mar-2015, 12:52)IanG-UK Wrote: I am borrowing a DAC-less streamer and that may well be the outcome Samurai. I know it will sound great, as does AIR when it works. Were I less stubborn, I would just do that and forget AIR altogether!
I would also buy a DAC-less streamer if I could find one that offers:
- Excellent SQ
- Integration with Qobuz (and/or Tidal and/or whatever lossless service Apple launch )
- Good quality, robust control app which runs on iPad
- Choice of outputs including BNC, XLR, USB
- Does not have optical drive
- Does not have an internal HDD
- Is a reasonable price...
- Looks good and comes in a half-size box
The Auralic Aries probably ticks the most boxes but from reviews on here appears to under-perform in terms of SQ and so is a non-starter. Most others miss out because they don't have Qobuz/Tidal integration. Once Tidal integration is sorted the Aurender N100 would also come close but I'm not really happy to have just a USB output. The N10 would be much better in that respect but is likely to be significantly over-priced.
IMac macOS 10.15.3 (no link to Devialet ) / MacBook Pro Retina OS X 10.14.4 / Linn LP12 / Devialet 200 / Wilson Benesch Discovery.
Qobuz Desktop Latest Version / Audirvana 3.2.18 / Audirvana Remote / iTunes 12.9 / AIR 3.0.4 / Wi-Fi / FW 8.1.0 / SAM 50%
Cambridge, UK (Updated 27th February, 2020)