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Playing CDs sounds better than Qobuz — dammit

I’ve built a decent HeadFi rig over the past few months and am quite happy with it streaming Qobuz as a source via my iPad/iPhone.  I recently brought my CD player into the rig as there are some reference CDs I need that aren’t available on Qobuz.  Well, I made the mistake of playing some CDs and compared them to Qobuz, and in every case the CD sounds better — specifically a quieter background and more transparency overall.  I’ve got good cables from the dongle out of my iPad to the USB cable that runs to my DAC for streaming, so let’s leave cables out of the discussion for now because I think this goes deeper than that.  Needless to say I’m pretty disappointed right now because I’ve enjoyed not spinning discs over the past year or so and certainly don’t wanna go back to buying CDs again.  Ugh.

So, what I’m thinking is that streaming over WiFi through my iDevices may be the bottleneck.  IF that’s the case and I need to up my streaming game, what would be the cheapest way to go to overcome the bottleneck?  My thought is going hardwired (which I can do) to something like an iFi Stream or maybe a ProJect Streambox, but just wondering if that’d get it done?  Something else?  I need something pre-made and won’t wrestle with doing a Raspberry Pi with hats, etc. as I have no patience for configuring/troubleshooting tech.  Thanks for any advice/thoughts. 

soix

Showing 3 responses by kletter1mann

kletter1mann's avatar
kletter1mann
20 posts
 

@soix Well, I upgraded the Lightening cable from the Apple Camera Adapter and it improved the sound significantly so thought I was ok until I brought my CD transport up from my big rig.  I think it’s pretty clear from you and others I need to go with a hardwired, dedicated streamer so now just need to decide which one.  I’m happy with my DAC so I’m just looking for a pure streamer.  Thanks for the feedback.

FWIW, I got a Lumin u1 Mini on its way right now.  Bye bye Node 2i.  Seems like a good balance of features, performance and $$$.  And  no annoying onboard DAC.  Good luck!

 

kletter1mann's avatar
kletter1mann
20 posts
 

After wading through all this it occurs to me that we don't know anything about the OPs system apart from iStuff.  Maybe I missed it?  Anyway, it's completely unsurprising that a reasonable CD player/transport on a reasonable system would sound better than the iStuff. I've got a kind of mid-fi setup with KEF LS50s, PS Audio Sprout 100 and Bluesound node 2i.  My android phone can stream through the Sprout via Bluetooth.  The Node 2i sounds far better (yeah, I know, Bluetooth yada yada).  I've also got a seriously high end "reference" system also using a Node 2i.  The differences are even more pronounced.  That said, the differences between the Node 2i and CDs and ripped CDs onto flac files is minimal.  And how much of that is imperfect level matching?  Anyway, what you've done (I think) is really just take Bluetooth out of the chain.  But what's the rest of the system?  Getting all kinds of specific advice on streamers, routers etc is, IMHO, pointless without knowing the rest of the chain.

 

My gut reaction is just get a Node 2i.  Use ethernet if you can.  Listen and compare.  I'd be amazed if it wasn't an improvement.  THEN contemplate how much better it needs to be, if at all.  If you upgrade just sell the Node 2i.  And forget the special audio router stuff unless the rest of your system is very very special (flame on!).

kletter1mann's avatar
kletter1mann
20 posts
 

@kletter1mann 

If you have a “seriously high end system” and you are still using a Node 2i, you should rethink that part of your chain.

Oz

You are absolutely 1000% correct.  The point of the Node 2i was to get my feet wet without spending a fortune.  And I like the Bluesound ecosystem - I've got another Node 2i is in place for a smaller system,  a speaker on a TV, etc.  Bluesound is a big step up from Sonos IMO.  Anyway, I'm upgrading that as we speak.  Leaning strongly towards Lumin U1.  My challenge is that I don't want a streamer with a DAC.  The DAC is a waste of $$$ for me.  The old Node 2i will end up on my home theater system where it will be fine.

 

But back to the OPs problem.  I'm not really familiar with the gear but it strikes me as a serious but "boutique-y" with some not-so-cheap  bells and whistles (cables power conditioner etc).   And all that for headphones.  And yet being fed by dongled iStuff!  If we'd known that I think the thread would probably have taken a different (and more helpful) direction.  

Anyway, here we are.  OP wants a cheap streaming solution.  This strongly leads me back to the Node 2i. Why?  It's relatively cheap, it works well, it's very popular (i.e., not obscure) and hence easy to resell.  Try it and see if it doesn't crush the iStuff.  Dollars to doughnuts it will.  It's also worth noting that most streamers include a DAC.  This creates an opportunity to compare DACs.  Who knows, maybe the Node 2i DAC will sound better than the Pegasus?  Or each will shine on different material?  Who knows.

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