2. digital
  3. 144301-74203

Need DAC/Streaming Advice

I currently own a Bryston BDP-2 digital player that I run through a Bryston DAC.  As far as playing high resolution files via a thumb drive or other external drive, the BDP-2 sounds great.  The streaming part leaves a lot to be desired.  I can stream Tidal but it is extremely slow and the IPad controller is pretty lousy.  I can listen to Sonos through the DAC into my main system but obviously there is no hi-Rez via Sonos. I would like to find a better solution and am willing to start over (I can move the Bryston components to my secondary system).  What I would like to find is a higher end streamer for my main system that would allow me to stream Tidal, Spotify and Deezer if possible while also playing digital files via thumb drive etc. I have no idea if that can be done in a one box solution or if I would need a separate streamer and DAC.  I would very much appreciate any and all thoughts.  Thanks in advance.
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Showing 2 responses by 2psyop

2psyop's avatar
2psyop
1,499 posts
 
The only music streaming apps I have used on a Samsung Smartv was Pandora and Spotify. I have never passed that digital signal via an optical out on my TV to a DAC. Someone else may have to add this info to the discussion although I don’t think anything hirez would work well via a Smartv.
2psyop's avatar
2psyop
1,499 posts
 
There is talk of entry level products with regard to DAC components. My experience has been that since the DAC chip itself and implementation of the design and layout is changing so fast in the audio world, what had been a top level component 6 years ago, or mid level component 3 years ago might not sound as good as an entry level component today. Best to take that kind of reasoning about entry level DACs with a grain of salt if you are not changing out DACs every 6 to 12 months. The Node 2 really sounds as good as my Benchmark DAC 1 and also as good as my Schiit Bifrost Uber especially if you consider the sound of many MQA tracks. The dynamics on much of the material is very, very good. I think I could get much better if I spent twice the money on just a new DAC alone.
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