Streamer That Supports Qobuz and Amazon Music?


I am looking for a streamer primarily for a modest headphone system (and also bedroom bookshelf speakers) that includes Qobuz, Amazon Music, has quality sound output, is controlled by an app on an iOS device, and supports wifi connection.  Price goal is in the $500 to $1600 range.  Total HP system will cost will be in the range of $6k to $8k.  On my list is the Node line, Wiim, and T8.  T8 seems the best so far based on parts and reviews.   I like Arender, but no amazon music support.  Any other models I should be looking into?  Any feedback on the T8?  Thanks.  

12many

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions.  I will be performing some additional research.  My main system has the Arender N150, which is great.  This streamer will be for a second system, so I am trying to find something with a bit more streaming options than Qobuz and a bit less expensive.  I started with a Node product, albeit older, and when I upgraded to the N150, I could tell a difference, so I  want to stay away from the same 'level' of sound quality.  Node may have upped it game though.  Right now my headphone system is built using leftover parts from long ago and older parts my main system.  USB connection to an Ipad, into Benchmark DAC3, to an Asgard 2 class A headphone amp.  Sounds surprisingly good, but I know it can sound better.  

I had the Eversolo A8 and now have the WiiM Ultra. The WiiM sounds every bit as good as the A8, even when using its onboard DAC.

A $3K streamer is an absolutely foolish allocation of funds in a $6-$8K system. I know many will disagree, but I also know many here never bother to conduct any sort of systematic, level-matched A/Bs when they acquire a new component. 

You’d get far greater value by investing the majority of that budget into the speakers, like >/= 80%. A pair of $5K speakers with nearly any front end will sound far better than the average $2K speakers with the ultimate of front-ends. The only real caveat to that is if you seek to build some DIY speakers. The reason speakers matter most is that the best of speaker transducers produce far more distortion than any competently designed source components.

 

I recommend researching the Silent Angel Munich M1T streamer (no DAC): compact footprint, very high price to quality ratio ($699), and supports a plethora of streaming services, including Amazon. It has a full array of digital outputs, including AES and I2S, and it can be upgraded down the road, if you want, with the Silent Angel Forester linear power supply.

I've never owned an Eversolo product, so can't say how it compares, but I can tell you that it's noticeably better (without the LPS) than both the Bluesound Node and the streamer in the Wiim Amp Pro.

I have never subscribed to any streaming services.  I use a Windows 10 laptop that plays all of my locally stored wav / flac / mp3 fles, via JRiver’s media center, and it sounds great (if the music file was created via good mixing and mastering).

The above brings me to my question, and maybe is an option for @12many:

Wouldn’t any low cost (used / renewed, etc) PC / IOS box be able to act as a streamer from any streaming service?  Wouldn’t you be able to login to Qobuz, or any other streaming service, with any crummy computer, and have excellent sound quality?

And the more simple the computer the better (I would think?), because it will probably generate less electrical noise and less mechanical noise.  And if using to perform only streaming services, then no need for a powerful video card (which would likely add electrical  noise).

Yes, a traditional, dedicated streamer is designed for that singular purpose, and should have very good sound quality.  But streamers are glorified computers.  And your own personal computer can do the same thing, and with a couple of tweaks, can probably match the sound quality of popular streamers, without breaking the bank.

Am I missing anything?

Can any Windows computer or Apple computer (supposedly having better sound quality than Windows) perform the streaming services from Qobuz and the rest?

@seymour-krelborn 

You are correct. You can use any computer as a streamer. I have used, many PCs and MacBooks. I have used different software, tuned the PC to be quiet, and run MacBooks on batteries...also iPads, iPhones etc. However, none of these generally even compare to the cheapest purpose built streamer... like a Bluesound Node (I have one) or WiiM. The PC or MACs are noise generation machines not built to protect the sound quality. 

So, while they work... and will sound good at the most elementary level, if you are going for a good sounding audio system you want to get a purpose built streamer... even if it is only an budget Blue sound. 

I have used streamers from $350, $3K, $5K, $10K, $13K, $15K and in my main system now I have an Aurrender W20SE ($22K) and each has sound quality better than the tier below. My current one equals my outstanding vinyl rig. 

So, yes, you can do it... but if you are interested in sound quality, you should get a dedicated streamer.