2. digital
  3. 156618-110028

Can we talk streamers based on UI rather then SQ?

I'm a Node 2i user currently and looking for a change.
I've been reading lots of posts for the last week or so and I'm not sure if I'm more or less confused then
when I started. Lol
Looking to move on from the Node platform because the UI is bothering me.

Most of the topic of discussions based around the multitude of streamers seems to be on SQ.
I could be off base, but I think in my mid-fi system, (Wired 4 Sound STI-500V2 >dac to be determined>Dali Helicon 800) I'll be happy with the SQ of most any streamer. I'm much more concerned with the UI as I really just want it to work as intended.

I've got about $2K to spend on a dac and or dac/streamer. 
I see a ton of praise for the Lumin gear but I also see that it seems to be built around the IOS platform and I use Android / PC. Has this issue been resolved or am I making a mountain out of a mole hill? 

I also like the idea of the Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra, just have no idea what the UI is like.
Or any small form streamer that "just works"
I like the idea of being able to DAC swap with these.  

What I want out of it:
 Streaming mainly. Tidal, Spotify and the like. 
 Ethernet Connection to my router and no issues linking to my local music files. (Node keeps dropping my local files)
 
I like the look of my Jriver index but I'm not married to it.
Don't care about Roon at this point.

I don't need a NAS do I? I have less then 1TB of music. 

What will help me make this decision? 
 
Thank you
 
128x128flavo

Showing 7 responses by flavo

flavo's avatar
flavo OP
40 posts
 
kren0006
I'm not saying it's the best sound possible out of my system. Just that I listen more casually and I'd be happy with any minor upgrade that could be adjusted more on the DAC side. 

Cat6 and about 30' of cable.
I'm not getting drop outs. The BlueOS is completely loosing my local files. In the past I could "reindex" in the music settings. But now they are gone and I can't seem to get them back.
Rather then really digging into the situation and rectifying it, I'm using it as an excuse to upgrade ;-) 
flavo's avatar
flavo OP
40 posts
 
jazzman7
You’re running the Melco app over or instead of the BlueOS app?

I think I’m not understanding your question of where my local files reside?
They are one of 2 SSD inside of my PC case. The SSD they are on is mainly for storing of my media files.

In reading Nodes literature, they don’t recommend using the USB port for anything but temporary music files. IE, don’t leave it plugged in and expect good results.
Why, I have no idea.
It couldn’t hurt too bad to try.


For what it's worth. I've just "reindexed" my library in the Nodes settings again and I have my local library back.
This has not worked the last 3 times I tried it.  
flavo's avatar
flavo OP
40 posts
 
@erik_squires 
I had no idea that's how that worked. I've yet to get a single "ping" on this thread. I was trying to figure out how to turn notifications on just gave up. 

"I want to reiterate that the cool part of Roon is that I don't really experience a separation between Tidal and my local library. If I look for Mel Torme all albums show up, whether I have them locally or on Tidal."

Now that is very cool indeed. I really dig that

flavo's avatar
flavo OP
40 posts
 
jazzman7
The help is greatly appreciated and I'm going to look further into some sort of simple audio NAS.
Would you care to hazard a guess as to what my actual connectivity issue might be? 

Thank you
flavo's avatar
flavo OP
40 posts
 
erik_squires
What interface are you using to view your local library? 
IE. Audirvana, Jriver?
Or can you run any interface on Ubuntu and it doesnt matter?
I'm assuming Ubuntu is the operating system. 
flavo's avatar
flavo OP
40 posts
 
mgrif104
glennewdick
And everyone else that is recommending Roon.
I've been avoiding it because I can be cheap I guess and I don't see the perceived value in a software that organizes my music when that software costs as much as the streaming service that we all use to stream from. It just seems wrong to me.

I guess I should DL it and see what it's all about. The reviews I've read on it seems like the vast majority of it's perks would be wasted on me.

If all I want is an attractive interface with photos of the albums (like my Jriver app) I need to pay $120 a year for that?

flavo's avatar
flavo OP
40 posts
 
@mgrif104 
"
I was assuming that you’d prefer to find a solution for $150/year rather than pay $2k+ for a new solution.  Since you’re self described as being cheap - and having problems with keeping connected to your library "

Damn fine point you made there yourself. I'll give it some more consideration. 
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