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Another streaming newbie

Guys, I have tried to search and figure this out, because I know this topic has been well-covered. But I am still wandering in the dark, so plz forgive my redundant questions....

First, here's my current rig,: I built a Lenco table 15 yrs ago with a JMW 10 arm/London Super Gold that I run into a phono pre that I built from a pretty high end kit  (can't see the name, have no idea what it is now!) thru a VTL tube IT-85 integrated amp and then thru some SF Electa Amator II, supported by a sub I built.  So pretty mid-fi setup, but it really works for me.  Sounds great, to my ears.  

The Covid thing has me home (no golf in Los Angeles!), listening to music more. Would love to stream something that approaches the vinyl sound quality with a music service, but being retired, budget is more a concern now... I just subscribed to TIDAL with its premium level (MQA) that I was running straight from my iphone 6 to the VTL. Meh.  Then my daughter ran same stuff through her iphone 11 and, hey, that sounded better.  So, clearly, I am in need of a streaming DAC.  

I know MQA gets mixed reviews. I have no way really to test this or to go listen to stuff. Everything is shut down here. So here's the criteria that matters most to me:
  • A great UI app because now streaming is like going to the Smithsonian.  There's a lot to organize. 
  • Great sound. (whatever that means!) 
  • One box.  Cables get expensive & messy.  
  • I'd like to keep it under $2K. I'd really like to keep it under $1K, but that may be wishful thinking.  I mean, is Bluesound Node 2 up to it? I am sure it would beat my daughters iphone 11, but ... what are reasonable streamers/DACS?  Where's the killer solution that isn't $10K?  I know it's out there....
I am not so far into TIDAL that I can't change. My system is in the same room as my router, so I can run an ethernet cable to the DAC.  As I have looked at all of this, it has occurred to me to get an older, much higher quality used DAC that I can somehow mesh with TIDAL (or another service with high quality streaming) and forget the MQA.  But this has to somehow hook into my internet directly and be able to be run by a remote UI.  So now my head is spinning.

Thanks for your input.  Chuck
chuckccs
flavo's avatar
flavo
40 posts
 
I'm currently running a Node 2i into some pretty decent gear. For the price, I really think you should pick one up and give it a spin. There is a reason they are so popular and being recommended here over and over again. 

That being said, I'm getting rid of mine. Mine is having a hard time finding my local music stored on my SSD. I'm sure I could figure it out if I really wanted to, but I (sort of) enjoy putting new pieces of gear in and out of the chain. Since you would just be streaming, this doesn't affect you.
I'm only posting to give you the options that I'm looking at as they differ.

The CA 851N is a streamer/dac/pre that has garnered a lot of great press and was just recently discontinued. They can be had for around $1K and I'm fairly sure you would be pleased with the sound quality. 
https://www.whathifi.com/us/cambridge-audio/azur-851n/review

My other route is just a streamer that I add the dac/pre to.
The Pro-ject Streambox Ultra s2 is based off the Rasb Pi but has been made with strictly music as the intended goal. 
This has also been highly reviewed. They are $850 from the audio resellers, but there are several of them for sale new on ebay for $450.
https://darko.audio/2019/03/have-your-pi-eat-it-pro-jects-stream-box-s2-ultra/

Best of luck and happy hunting.
chuckccs OP
42 posts
 
@jazzman I am still trying to figure out this level of detail...But I saw a video of how you can download the various OS onto that external storage. I am thinking Roon playing Qobuz (from what everyone says... this is all still pretty abstract to me).  But I am thinking the Schitt piece is really good and is probably the anchor.  I also am replacing our router and getting decent Ethernet cable. 
rbstehno
1,401 posts
 
Chuckccs- your better dacs have a network interface or i2s. Any computer/3rd party streamer with attached disks will be noisy plus most users with computers/streamers in the audio room use usb which is a flawed interface, even when you tweak it out with the many different products on the market. Sure, people will tell you to get a nas or use ssd, both unnecessary. 
My ps audio ds sr dac has a network interface and roon allows this to be an endpoint So thru my iPad/iPhone, I can direct my music to the ds dac or any of my other 6 endpoints in my house. Very simple with the best sq.
richdirector's avatar
richdirector
266 posts
 
Along with everyone else get. A bluesound 2i get used to it then get seperate DAC once you feel the music and can tell how it improves and changes. The 2i is brilliant for the money and I'm using with tidal masters into Luxman 550ax2 and tannoy arden... No complaints
tosicka
14 posts
 
COCKTAIL AUDIO X-45 MAYBE KNOWN AS NOVATRON
All you'd need to future proof.

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