Low-cost streamer compares to Aurender
- Thread starter bonzo75
- Start date
There is a huge thread on head-fi about USB fixers. And another about the Rednet 3. In my testing and IMO it is coming down to noise getting into the DAC that is the number 1 issue. Then jitter number 2.
I had a chain of 'USB' fixers for a while and it was getting silly, and I got mixed results. I went Rednet, so Ethernet 1000 Base T out to Rednet via Dante sound card, then SPDIF or AES out to DAC. Thus resulted in an incredibly smooth and transparent sound. I play as resident sample rate, to stay on 44.1 or play 96 if the file is that resolution. I find no advantage upsampling, but my DAC is old school R-2R with no digital filter, so maybe YMMV.
I would say give the Rednet a try, it is neat, one box and reliable. You do have a limit of 192K as SPDIF.
Good luck.
Since I have the Vinnie R and the JS-2 PSU I tried each one with all the applicable devices, ncluding the external video processor in my HT setup. (Iscan Duo). I prefer the VR PSU to the JS-2 in all applications. My 2 channel system was down for a few days so,I swapped the two PSU's on my video processor. Clearly picture was far superior with the VR PSU. So much so, that I plan on getting another one as I am using it to power the SOTM Ultra (12v) now. The JS-2 (as stated previous post) is powering the modified router that came with the Ultra (5v)
I haven't tried that unit, but I used to own the Offramp 5 comp with Linear PS, but eventually went Ethernet. USB never sounded right to me, Ethernet got rid of the 'digital' sound I spent so long trying to avoid. Why do so many DAC manufacturers use USB? Because it is cheap, easy to implement and they understand it. It doesn't mean it is the best protocol.
I have spent the last 6 months or so looking for a way forward with this and have now had the Sotm SMS-200 Ultra (12v) sweetly settling in for the last couple of weeks set up running off a Kingrex linear PSU that I had spare. Wow, sensational, so completely impressed with this, so unprocessed and engaging and effortless, just might even get the partnering TxUltra to run with it as well though I really have to say that I find the sound I have with it already hard to fault just as it is.
Certainly putting it up on good isolation made the world of difference and I am now a confirmed believer in clock sensitivity to vibration. In fact I'll probably get another one for the other system as this is proving just such brilliantly affordable hi end music making. Loving this little beastie.
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I have my Bluesound Node 2 connected via Transparent Gen 5 optical RCA to a Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista DAC and just like you, music via Tidal and my observations mimic yours. Of all of the streamers I have heard, they all have "close" to CD quality. It's apparent that their version of close and ours obviously differ. With my setup, it's real close on many aspects but the ambience is severely degraded due to what I refer too as a mid-bass suckout. It's there but at a seemingly different Db level than the rest of the frequencies. At first, I thought it was my rig or a faulty BS Node2 but when I went to go investigate the cause, it turned out that all of them did this.
I did not notice this, or rather it did not stand out to me, until I got home and was actually able to compare it directly to a CD. It's a shame that no shops will let you directly compare a streamer to a CDP anymore (at least around here). Hi-Fi Buys down in Atlanta and Sound Advice in Charlotte have all streamers throughout the shop(s). They sound great in a strange room and on a strange system but this was very apparent the moment I started playing at home in a rig I was intimately familiar with.
I just use it as background noise when I'm working in the office 40 feet away from the rig, so it's not that big of a deal but it still irks me that they claim "CD sound quality" when it's clearly not IMO.
Tom
Tom: I assume you are comparing the $20/month "CD Quality" version of Tidal directly to the CD? If so, that's really disappointing.
I was sort of considering buying a streaming device with digital outs (then connect to my Datasat RS20i - as is my current dedicated music server, subscribe to the Tidal "CD Quality" service and start listening to all of my music that way vs CD. That gives me a couple of benefits: My server (running on a dedicated PC in my equipment room) is a HUGE generator of heat in that small space so I don't run it except when I am sitting down listening to music --- and Tidal is a relatively inexpensive way to try out new music - much less than buying the physical disc.
Do you think the issue is the "streamer" or the actual source data? And if the data is sourced from a CD, why would it not sound as good as a CD? The music from my server, which of course is a copy of my CD, actually sounds a good bit better than when played from the CD. Are you connected to Tidal via Ethernet or wirelessly? If wirelessly, could that be the issue as I will be connected via Ethernet?
This digital stuff is just "weird"
Not sure the issue is a Tidal thing... it varies also with CDs. some "pressings' of the same Title are "better" than others. I would advise people to make their own mind/audition on Tidal and decide ..
Tidal + Roon have completely changed the way I listen to music. I am enjoying music like I have never in my Life, discovering new music and artists in a way that is basically impossible with the old model of purchasing music.. So much more music for so much less money $20/month is a bargain the likes of it are the stuff of dreams. I also do listen to Spotify .. they are threatening to start a lossless service too ... or have they? already?
Tidal + Roon have completely changed the way I listen to music. I am enjoying music like I have never in my Life, discovering new music and artists in a way that is basically impossible with the old model of purchasing music.. So much more music for so much less money $20/month is a bargain the likes of it are the stuff of dreams. I also do listen to Spotify .. they are threatening to start a lossless service too ... or have they? already?
Gary KOH almost 8 years old Music Server. never cared about changing it ...
here it is
http://www.genesisloudspeakers.com/whitepaper/Absolute_Fidelity_Music_Server.pdf
I use Roon with the Berkeleys USB + Berkeley DAC + Variety of headphones Amps (Woo, Luxman, Stax, and Headphones ( HiFiman, Audeze, Stax) ... I am yearning for a speaker-based system but it is a few months down the road ...
Gary KOH almost 8 years old Music Server. never cared about changing it ...
here it is
http://www.genesisloudspeakers.com/whitepaper/Absolute_Fidelity_Music_Server.pdf
I use Roon with the Berkeleys USB + Berkeley DAC + Variety of headphones Amps (Woo, Luxman, Stax, and Headphones ( HiFiman, Audeze, Stax) ... I am yearning for a speaker-based system but it is a few months down the road ...
I use a Bluesound Node2 with Roon/Tidal -- have to say I haven't heard differences between the Bluesound and other streamers thusfar. I also use a network-enabled PS Audio Directstream DAC via Roon -- it performs well. As Tidal and the PS are both recent acquisitions, will have to compare Tidal to CD and also the Bluesound to the PS. Have extensively compared actual CD playback to the ripped/streamed track w/an a/b switch setup, and have found them indistinguishable via the Bluesound and a couple of other devices.
I am unconvinced that high-priced streamers outperform well-engineered lower priced ones such as the Bluesound.
I am unconvinced that high-priced streamers outperform well-engineered lower priced ones such as the Bluesound.
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Hello audioguy! Unfortunately, yes. I am.
I really do not know what the root cause is. Right now I am wireless. I have a custom AQ ethernet cable being built to see if that will help but when I went back into the stores where they were hooked up to ethernet, I noticed the same suck out on every rig I heard. It takes the "life" out of the music to me. Most folks may not notice but I sure do in my rig.
Tom
Hello and good evening to you, Microstrip. I tried an optical cable I had lying around and noticed the same thing, so I went and got the Transparent Performance 75-ohm-digital-cable but it really made no difference. Just a slightly better sound. Here is a picture of it. It says on the box that it's a P75DL1. That's about all I can say about it. The outboard DAC made the biggest improvement.
Tom
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