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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 2 responses by mgrif104

mgrif104
328 posts
 
Like others, I actually think the BluOS UI is one of the better ones. I have Aurender Conductor, Auralic Lightning DS and BluOS in different systems and like BluOS the best of those.  I’ve also tried Lumin while auditioning one of their units.  Sound quality was fine, but I thought the UI lacking relative to Conductor and BluOS.

Have you considered Roon?  It might be the easiest solution as the Node 2i is an endpoint - if you’ve got someplace on your network to run Roon Core.  Roon is very good at finding and keeping track of network files and it’s pretty seamless for streaming services.  And the interface is arguably the best out there.  

Alternatively, if you’re really just listening casually, you might not need to do anything - just stream Spotify and not worry about your files.  The BluOS app hands off to the Spotify app.  Great UI, great library (unless you listen to lots of Classical music).  

 Best,
mgrif104
328 posts
 
Flavo: you make fair points. However, 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 - Roon seemed like a viable recommendation. No skin off my nose either way.  

FWIW: I have Roon and am dropping it.  While the interface is great and it’s the easiest way to find and index stored files, it doesn’t sound as good as Lightning DS that is available to me on my Auralic.  So, I won’t be renewing my subscription.

Best,
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