Interim streamer options

[stuartwoodrandom]

Hey everyone.

Just got the news that the Dialog I ordered won't ship until mid-late March. Sad face.

So I am currently looking at an interim streaming option u too then or even use if it's good enough!

My current setup is a Mac Mini rubbing Windows 7, JRiver and JRemote but I find it a little cumbersome. Especially now I've signed up to Tidal, I mainly play through AirPlay through my iPhone to an airport express and optical to my Devialet 120 (to PMC Twenty.23's).

However, the AirPlay sounds thin, quite hard, especially sibilance on vocals / radio thus not overly enjoyable. But I like its simplicity.

So I'm looking at:

- Sonos connect (magna Ultimo)
- Bluesound node
- Naim (uniti qute 2 for example or ND5 XS)


Any more recommendations under £1k that can do Spotify, Tidal, Internet radio, NAS / UPnP??

Also, will these sound better than my current AirPort Express via optical or is there something else going on with my rig?

Ta,
Stuart

[amabrok]

You have to seriously consider Auralic Aeris, Aurender X and North series.

Also Cambridge audio has Stream Magic 2 and layer they will launch their flagship 851N. The downside here is that you pay for the built in DAC which ideally you don't need as it is expected to use devialet built in DAC

Also the best in terms of integrating all streaming services you can think of would be NAD M50 and as it belongs to the matter series it is expected to sound very good though I have not tried it myself


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[Petter]

If its temporary ?i would go for a used logitech touch ,lms is better Then ever

[miro]

I would like to recommend the Oppo BDP-105D, which you can use for both playing hi-res music and blueray movies, SACDs, and all kinds of formats.

It has won a Brutus award for 2014:
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue77/brutus_14.htm

I use it in two ways:
- connected via a coaxial cable to the master unit of my D400 to play hi-res music up to 192 kHz, where the decoding is done in the Devialet

- connected via RCA interconnects to the Devialet for playing DSD and SACDs, and movies (decoded in the oppo and converted to analog there)

[thumb5]

Hello Stuart,

Predictably, I'll vote for the Sonos Connect.  I don't have first-hand experience with the Magna modification (I recall Charlemagne on this forum has one?) but certainly with the W4S mod I'd say it offers pretty good sound quality for the money and should do what you asked. Oh, assuming you're in the UK, maybe Tidal isn't quite there yet, but on the way?

If you're looking for something short term, there's a healthy market for Sonos kit on eBay (by which I mean I don't think you'd lose much if you wanted to sell a Connect when your Dialog arrives).

Ian

[Charlemagne]

Hello Stuart,

Predictably, I'll vote for the Sonos Connect.  I don't have first-hand experience with the Magna modification (I recall Charlemagne on this forum has one?) but certainly with the W4S mod I'd say it offers pretty good sound quality for the money and should do what you asked.  Oh, assuming you're in the UK, maybe Tidal isn't quite there yet, but on the way?

If you're looking for something short term, there's a healthy market for Sonos kit on eBay (by which I mean I don't think you'd lose much if you wanted to sell a Connect when your Dialog arrives).

Ian

I fully agree with Ian. Go for a Sonos Connect and have it modified. It's really worth the money. Last year I have organised a shootout on a Dutch forum between the standard Connect and the Magna Hifi Ultimo mod and the German mod of 'Herr Dokter' Gert Volk. The Magna mod was the clear winner. It sounded way better then the unmodded Sonos Connect. 

Magna Hifi is offering a free test at home before you decide to buy a mod.

The user interface is a no brainer, all kind of music services are available (Qobuz, Spotify, Deezer etc., internet radio and Tidal is coming). And there's also the argument of easy reselling. Altough I have never sold mine; I still do use it for internet radio, Spotify and when I'm not in the mood for all the fuzz of other streaming alternatives like HTPC and JRiver. Cheers, Charlemagne 

[stuartwoodrandom]

Thanks guys. I've emailed Magna at the weekend to see if I can borrow their Sonos connect "Ultimo" and see how I get on.

I was also looking at perhaps fixing the issues I'm having with my AirPort Express (becuase it's super simple, which I like)... and try reclocking the output through something like the Wyred4Sound Remedy... https://wyred4sound.com/products/digital...-reclocker

Has anyone had any experience with this? I was also thinking if I get a Remedy, then if I go down the Sonos route, I can just re-clock the output from the Sonos like the Magna mod is essentially doing. One more box for sure, but more flexible perhaps.

[Dr Tone]

What part of JRiver and JRemote is cumbersome? Seems a waste of money to buy a temporary solution when you might have the best remote control out their beside iPeng.

[Antoine]

JRiver has no Tidal integration (or Spotify or any other online cloud streaming/online radio service).

[amabrok]

Another option would be to get any decent streamer with digital out and AirPlay support then use whatever streaming service you want via your iPad or iPhone. Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, Deezer they have excellent iPad apps

One the comes to mind is Denon NP720 or Pioneer steamers

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