Streamer with built in DAC...is there much difference between brands?


I'm using a Node 2. Sounds fine. Why would you upgrade? I've a buddy who has one that cost well into the mid (1-100) thousands and swears it's phenomenal. I don't remember exactly what brand he had before, but it was around $300 or so.

Any thoughts?

troutbum

You're asking about a device that takes a digital signal and then converts it to analog signal that we can hear.  The digital signal going to the device might be the same, but what comes out is not.  The conversion to analog is where the magic happens and the quality of the DAC and other components makes a difference in how the analog output sounds. 

Short answer is not all streamer/DACs will sound the same and there can be significant improvements in sound quality based on quality of components and level of craftsmanship.

I just received from Germany a Lindemann Woodnote Solo.

Out of the box using as a dac replacement and preamp substitute it really has impressive soundstage..Will try as streamer in the next day or 2.

 

The Wiim with a Teddy Pardo power supply is really good….the Wiim products as a streamer to a dac with their very good app is definitely the way to go. I sold a dac recently to a local guy who was using a silent Angel as a streamer and was having problems with the song dropping, another problem he has is bad internet with a 6 to 10 speed. I gave him the Wiim pro I had laying around, cured his problem with all his streaming problems. I went the expensive route and have the Meitner MA3i dac,streamer and preamp built in a one box solution. For the last few weeks I have been using the Meitner hooked directly to my First Watt Sit-4 amp to the Volti Audio Lucera speakers and it’s looking like I will never change it my Pass Labs preamp went to the closet for a long sleep.When I was using the Wiim product as a streamer I had no complaints..

I’d point out that your Node 2 is many generations behind the current Node. I started with the 2i when at the time reviewers said it had better SQ than the 2. Then I upgraded to the 3 (Node 130) which to me sounded better than the 2i. Additionally, in both cases I was able to further improve the SQ by an easy DIY mod to change out the PSU for an external LPSU. So assuming the rest of your chain is comparable or better than teh Node 2 and that you are happy with the Blusound app, you would probably experience a slight increase in SQ upgrading to the current Node.

If you want to go further you can then add a better DAC. I later added an external DAC, using the tweaked Node 130 as just a streamer and then a Innuos Phoenix USB reclocker between Node and DAC.  To my ears I felt like I needed to spend $1500 on a DAC to improve the Node 130 with the upgraded power (I settled on a Gustard X26 Pro)

The OP is asking (obtusely) about a Streamer with built in DAC.. .I upgraded from a Node (?$500) to an Auralic Altair (Streamer with built in DAC + analog input and volume control), used it only as Streamer / DAC.  The cost was over 2k and the upgrade was significant.  For the cost I really like the Altairs, but I doubt most will be interested in a defunct company.   Too bad, their products are nice.