2. digital
  3. 129460-84060

Audiophile quality streamer/server-in-one without a DAC. Does this exist?

I have a very simple system and want to upgrade my digital player which is currently my  5 year old Acer laptop.  I listen to Tidal a lot.  Sometimes I listen to high-res downloads (I only have about 20) and ripped FLAC albums (only about 100) stored on my Acer  and play them using JRiver 19.  That's about it.

My system is a Wyred 4 Sound Dac-2 plugged directly into a Wyred 4 Sound ST-500 power amp which is paired to a pair of KEF LS-50.  My Acer is my only source component.  

My question is this: is there an all-in-one digital source that can replace my computer as a server and streamer?  I don't need a DAC and I don't want several more pieces, peripherals, power supplies, etc.  I don't want to make my own.  My wife will tell you I'm not talented enough to do so.  I would agree with her.

Seriously, I just want one box that can do the same friggin thing as my computer but better.  I don't think I want a Apple computer either as I know that is a good solution for many.  

I feel ridiculous asking if there is something out there like this, but I either don't see it or my request is akin to looking for unicorns.  I'm ok with either answer.  Just hit me with the truth or some recommendations.

Thank you, Josh    


joshelston
mahler123
3,029 posts
 
Josh, I use a Mytek Manhatten DAC, Parasound Preamp and amp, and Oppo 105 as a transport system.  I also use a Bryston BDA-3 DAC for SACD only.  I also have a MacAir connected to the FireWire input of the Mytek.
i would not describe the Bluesound as cool.  It does not sound significantly different than any other digital input into the Mytek
rbstehno
1,401 posts
 
I looked at most of the streamers that are mentioned in this thread and ended up with the Auralic Aries, I thought it had better sound quality than all of those mentioned without some of the gimmicks like 128/256G of flash. The Aries app DS Lightning is fantastic. You can hook up an external drive to it or what I did was to access a disk 100ft away that was hooked up to my old music server. I also used the Lumin iPad app to control the Aries up until the DS Lightning software was updated. 
I would no way have a spinning disk in my audio room again. Also, using ssd for a music server is also way over kill. I had the Aries hooked up to my W4S Dac2 DSD thru the USB. For the money this was a very good sounding setup.
i since upgraded to a directstream dac with the bridge II, much better sounding streamer/dac setup but it's also more expensive. I'd rather not use USB to the dac and using the bridge II inside the unit is using a i2s interface which is a better way to connect to a dac. 
blisshifi's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
blisshifi
1,111 posts
 
I too have a Bluesound Vault II and could not be happier with it. It does have a built in DAC that is decent but I use the digital out to go into a Cary Audio DAC-100t tube DAC. I would not call it he Bluesound DAC cool, but straight up neutral. 

With the Bluesound not only do you get a streamer, but it can also expand to handle your home theater with the addition of their soundbar, sub, etc. 
ott
37 posts
 
If you can find a Logitech Transport, buy it, with one caveat; mine is a bit rachitic - two seperate power-supply problems. It sounds very, very good, it's attractive and it's versatile. Mine runs a QNAP NAS with 2.2 Terabytes of music through an Arcam DAC with alacrity, something an Aurender N100H didn't do
It does Tidal, TuneIn yadda yadda. You'd like the original with the "Transnav" knob, but the SE is identical apart from lacking the knob, which is a 'damned handy way to find a particular bit of music quickly.  
cyanii
13 posts
 
You may want to have a look at Naim servers like UnityServe or UnityCore, the come without Dac.
More to discover