This probably isn't a solution unless you could find a used one, since it was recently discontinued, but I stream from an iMac in my office to an Arcam rPlay in my living room and connect the coax out to my Bel Canto DAC 3. Works flawlessly and sounds great.
Wirelessly Connecting an iMac with TIDAL and Audirvana (flac files) to a DAC
I’m trying to figure out the best (and most cost-effective) way to wirelessly connect my Mac to a Cambridge Audio CXA81 which has an onboard DAC.
As my source, I use an iMAC with Audirvana playing flac files as well as Tidal.
Previously I had relied on a wired connection going from my Mac to an older DAC via USB then a long inter-connect going from the DAC to my amp. I’ve now replaced my old amp with a new one (CXA81) that has an onboard DAC and it’ll be located too far across the room for a wired USB connection. I’d rather not use bluetooth since, as far as I understand, even AptX is lossy.
One option is to get a Bluesound Node 2i. However, I’ve read that it does not support UPnP. But it does support Airplay 2. Is there a disadvantage (loss in SQ) to using airplay vs UPnP when listening with Audirvana?
I know I could also get the Cambridge Audio CXN2, but I’d rather not spend another $1K.
Is there a cheaper option than the Bluesound that would still result in good sound quality and allow me to wirelessly connect my Mac to the DAC in my amp?
Thanks for your help (and patience) as I try to figure out how network playing works.
As my source, I use an iMAC with Audirvana playing flac files as well as Tidal.
Previously I had relied on a wired connection going from my Mac to an older DAC via USB then a long inter-connect going from the DAC to my amp. I’ve now replaced my old amp with a new one (CXA81) that has an onboard DAC and it’ll be located too far across the room for a wired USB connection. I’d rather not use bluetooth since, as far as I understand, even AptX is lossy.
One option is to get a Bluesound Node 2i. However, I’ve read that it does not support UPnP. But it does support Airplay 2. Is there a disadvantage (loss in SQ) to using airplay vs UPnP when listening with Audirvana?
I know I could also get the Cambridge Audio CXN2, but I’d rather not spend another $1K.
Is there a cheaper option than the Bluesound that would still result in good sound quality and allow me to wirelessly connect my Mac to the DAC in my amp?
Thanks for your help (and patience) as I try to figure out how network playing works.