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MHDT dac...and which streamer/server?

I've been sitting on the fence re streaming for years now, getting splinters you know where Lol.
Time to get off the fence.

So here's my dilemma. I love lp, have a heavily-modded analog rig that serves my 3k lp collection v well.

Critically, I have a special cdp, the Eera Tentation, that after 2 decades of searching for digital to sit happily alongside my tt and not be shown up, target achieved. I love playing my 1.5k cds.

Throw into the mix that I am a real stick in the mud on computers, hate them with a vengeance, w streaming leaving me cold as a personal human activity, I am a hugely reluctant adopter.

Plus, SO many streamer setups I visit just have a "cold" sonic signature, akin to cdps from 80s (which I know is a lot to do w noise and hash associated w how streamed music enters the home).
Only exception being an SGM 2015/Aqua Formula rig...at £30k all in.
...and lack of confidence I'll find 00s or 000s of albums to make the foray worthwhile.

Hence, my series of trade offs on streaming, choices, how much to spend, is far and away my biggest challenge in decision making in 22 years in this hobby.

Spend too little (Bluesound Node)...have a sound I'll wear of l/t
Spend too much (SGM, Innuos Statement)...have no cash to spend on lps and cds (yes, I still love cd collectors editions)
Don't spend enough (Innuos Zenith or SGC/Rendu maybe base level to not go below) and streaming is a sonic missed opportunity.

Throw in my "all fingers and thumbs" w using a tablet, and total lack of knowing what, and how much, is out there in my deep genre loves of prog, fusion, electric jazz, avant garde, prog ambient electronica, and there you have my intersecting pressures on a decision.
Although, more and more, I'm confident I'll find at least 250 albums I never would have easily on cd, and deffo not on lp.

Last issue is Roon. To Roon or not to Roon, conflicting advice here too.
----
So here I am, open to all suggestions.
I could go Bluesound Node. I could go all in one Linn or Lindemann. I could go to Zenith or SGC/Rendu plus commensurate dac like Holo Springs Kitsune.

However, my eye is drawn to MHDT dac as my option. Not a bad word on SQ reported. Indeed users are punch drunk ecstatic on their choice...at under $1.5k, if it really isn't embarassed in any way by a 10x pricier Lampi GG, it seems a no brainer. Certainly a big contrast to the Chord Qutest I'm considering.
So at MDHT level, and knowing my reticence on this subject, but not wanting to shortchange myself on the streamer, which to consider?

I could go Chord2go/Hugo all in one.
I could go Stack Audio The Link.
Limetree Network Bridge.
DCS Bridge 
Innuos Zenith.
SGC i7/Rendu.
Obv, can look to save cash here buying used.

Dacs I'm looking at...MHDT Orchid or Pagoda (maybe w BBQ Audio mods), Holo Springs Kitsune, Schiit Yggy w USB update, Chord Qutest or Hugo TT.

Is there a streamer at the affordable end that performs out of it's skin, would be a great complement to the MHDT, easyish to use...and thus at an affordable but performance-led level, get me into streaming affordably...and keep me interested 12 months down the line.

Thanks for bearing w me guys, and the inside of my fevered mind Lol.


spiritofmusic
veroguy
137 posts
 
Another streamer that looks interesting is the Bricasti M5 - $2400 new. 

There's a positive review here, and the reviewer also provides a link to his review of the DCS Network Bridge.  There are a number of Agon members that have posted their impressions of the M5 and the consensus appears positive.  

The Bricasti M5 does not have any native streaming capabilities of music services (Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, etc) - so you would still need a server running Roon or JRiver.  No wifi in the M5, either.

To keep things simple, I was looking for a single box solution that had native internet streaming capabilities - without requiring a separate server.

In addition to the Lumin U1 Mini, the Sim Audio Moon Mind 2 ($1900) was another streamer I was looking at closely.  Not a lot of reviews on it, but I reached out to a few owners directly and all had high praise for it.  Most of them had come from a Node 2i.

It has native streaming capabilities for all the popular streaming services - so no Roon required, but it is Roon-ready.  No USB digital out, but it does have AES out.  It has built-in wifi.  10 year warranty.

I'm extremely happy with the DCS Network Bridge.  I think it will scale with any future DAC I can afford.   Over at AudiophileStyle, there are many  owners that use it with high-end dacs from Lampizator, DCS, Total-Dac, Berkley, etc.

The NB streams the major music services natively.  Drawbacks? The app is just ok, no usb-out, no wifi - which weren't dealbreakers for me.  You can attach a usb-drive to the DCS NB - which I use for the handful of higher-res files that own.  I bought mine for $3100 used, and I have no regrets.  

People might think spending almost 2-3x of your dac on a digital front end would be crazy.  Maybe.  But what I've learned over my digital journey is that the source matters - a lot.  I think some people might be mistakenly upgrading from their already very good dacs, when there are significant sonic gains to be made from a source upgrade.   





veroguy
137 posts
 
@spiritofmusic 

I've never seen the Limetree Bridge before.  Thanks for sharing.  Looks like a good option to dip your toes in the water - but with something potentially above a Node2i.  Maybe using a linear power supply with it takes it up a notch as well.
spiritofmusic OP
828 posts
 
It comes with a "medical grade" SMPS it seems. My big decision really is whether relinquishing Roon early on is a mistake...will Roon make my early experience more enjoyable and fruitful. If that is the case, Innuos Zen Mk3 picks itself.
veroguy
137 posts
 
Roon:  Do you have a lot of music files currently, or plan to buy hi-res files, or rip your current cd's to files?  If so, it seems like the Zen Mk3 with Roon would be the way to go, as you would have a common interface/app (Roon) for both local and internet streaming, and a single box.  I think I read where the Roon music discovery features really shine is if you have your own library of music.  But I'm not sure.

Sorry if you've covered this already.

Most streamers today that have native internet streaming support can also connect with network storage for local file streaming - using a single app.

Deezer makes a personal channel of tracks/artists that are similar to the music that I choose to play over time.   They call it "Flow".  I love it.  I play it all day.  I think Tidal has the same thing.  Great way to discover new artists.



uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
I resisted Roon for years simply because I baulked at the $119 a year.
I gave it a 14 day free trial after which I paid for a year and have not looked back.
I have Roon core running on a separate win10 laptop hooked up to my network, my ultrarendu is on the network and now passes signal via usb to Metrum Onyx dac ( replaced the Orchid yesterday).
Just my opinion but Roon  as an end user experience is outstanding, it has found music unknown to me that neither Qobuz or Spotify did with genre searches.

I love the way you can have your Roon remote on as many devices as you please, have multiple zones as I now have 4 separate Roon zones throughout the house.
Practicality is excellent, is their an uptick in SQ? Hard to tell tbh but it is certainly no worse!
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