Review on Bricasti Design M3 DAC

M3 or M1S2 both great DACs. Can’t go wrong. 

i scored a well maintained M1S2 with the network card (arriving early next week) so i plan on using it as a stand alone streamer/dac. Pretty excited.

But I have to admit, the logistics of how to stream are a bit over my head. Remember i only really ever played cd's that were cabled into the amp.

One thing I did in anticipation to get a little hands on was install the Qobuz app onto on my apple macbook air (which gets its data via wifi), and used usb A to usb B cable to attach the laptop running the QB app to another dac I had lying around. and that was all pretty easy. That dac (Qutest) will tell you what sample rate its getting and i confirmed that method did deliver it high rez. No roon no other additional app, just the QB app, which I believe now has "QB connect" now - as detailed here:

https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/magazine/story/2025/05/14/qobuz-connect-how-it-works/

Unlike Lumin, I dont think the Bricasti comes  with its own software so I am left wondering HOW HOW HOW to get the high rez data into the M1 via network (no more usb cables!).  The Bricasti website indicates the unit is JJplay, Audirvana, Roon and JRiver "certified".  

So my understanding (please correct me where wrong) is that those apps can be installed on a tablet, phone, laptop etc and they are used to feed the QB data into the M1 via network card once its on the network via ethernet.  These apps all variably integrate QB and Tidal into their operation to allow this. They seem to act like middle men. 

I should add have ONE system in one room only, so dont need any fancy interface that follows me around the house.  I also have zero downloaded files to stream.my music will exclusively be streamed from QB, no attached nework storage or hard drive files.

In my pea sized brain, I'd prefer to just stream QB using their app, and I SURE hope that app would see the M1 on my network (like a printer or other item) and that would be that  - without the need for some other handshaking app.That would seem most elegant and doesnt entail more hardware or software purchases

Anyone with Bricasti gear do this? Related, does the tablet/phone laptop running this/these apps need to be ethernet connected? id like to think NOT and that the interface i use to pick/play music be wireless I do have a decent mesh system that delivers like 350 download speeds in the room i have it set up in.  

Assuming NOT, that i really do need an additional program to do this, anyone have strong opinions on which? Roon/Jplay/jriver audirvana?  I have an android phone, the macbook air and a mac notepad as contenders. 

thanks for helping the oldest rookie in the league!

@artg two ways to stream with Bricasti

1. use mconnect app. You can login to Qobuz or Tidal. User interface is very mediocre at best. Sound quality is not as good as Roon in my experience  

2. Roon - pick up a Roon Nucleus One around $500 direct from Roon. That’s going to be your best configuration. 
In both cases - network cable into Bricasti. If you end up with Roon then network cable into Nucleus. The streaming will be via network. 

What @audphile1 said. I have an M3 and picked up a used Antipodes CX to run Roon server, but the Nucleus will do the job. I compared the network connection to USB, and the network far exceeded the sound quality of the USB. You are in for a treat.

thanks for explaining, ok I'll give roon a shot after all. mostly i didnt ant any loss of fidelity, which you are saying isnt an issue with roon. thank you!!!