Newbie needs Streamer Advise


Hi , I am relatively new to digital streaming and Hi Fi too, for that matter . So I have assembled a modest system and wish to replace my old Windows 7 laptop as my source .                                         My system is currently the following . Laptop with a Cardas Clear USB. Musical Fidelity’s M1CDT transport, A Schiit Yiggy , Rogue RP1 preamp , Dennis Had Inspire SEP amp. Zu Omens , Klipsch RF sub , Monster HTS 1600 Power center . All my tubes are high quality NOS and some new production power tubes.  My Interconnects are unbalanced Morrow MA5, CD has a Morrow Digital Coax , speaker cables are Anti - Cables Level 3. Power cables are Silnote Poseidon and an Analysis digital power cord on the Yiggy .                                       The Klipsch sub and the Monster power center are next up to be replaced . I’m running low power (12 wpc ) and the sub is straight into the wall socket . Right now I have no issues with grounding, noise or amp being underpowered .                                So back to streaming . I’m using Tidal and I am happy with their service. I have fast internet . I am however limited to WI FI for my Connection . I’m considering products like an Aurilic Mini or a Bluenode2 . I want to replace the laptop with something that I could control from an IPhone or IPad . I’m also interested in any experience with Amarro or some of the other services. I would like to budget at $1k as it’s a new venture for me .                           So please chime in and don’t forget to DUMMY DOWN your vocabulary for this neophyte.            Respectfully, Mike B. 
buellrider97

Showing 2 responses by david_ten

Just for giggles , I took a toslink and ran the Direct TV box into the DAC . Sounds like crap .

OP, many reasons why it might "sound like crap" as you put it, but in case you are interested in identifying why.....

.... you may want to consider glass toslink, like this one:

https://silversonic.com/products/digital-cables/glass-master-toslink/

And you may want to check that the correct output (e.g. PCM) is set within your Direct TV box.
I have a 3M run of the DH Labs Silversonic Glass Master, primarily since I will be wall mounting the TV and I am using the TV’s Optical out. It is working very well with both the Schiit Yggdrasil and Denafrips Terminator DACs.

I do not believe there are any ’recommended’ ideal lengths for glass TOSLink cables...but perhaps someone is more informed in this area (in case, this was what you were asking about).