Network pure streamer recommendations (under $4k)

[tobiasrankin]

Hey guys, I sold my sotm 200 ultra with sps 500 (just for a few nagging design aspects I didn't like, like the power switch and firmware corruptions). My plan for the next 8 months is to just use roon, so the device should have roon support. But I'd like to eventually switch to something else that doesn't have a subscription fee. Wonder if you guys have any thoughts.

So now I am looking at:
Lumin u1 mini + sbooster
Lumin u1
Auralic aries g1 or g2
Moon mind 2
rpi4b + DDC (like audio gd di20he)
Bryston bdp3
DCS Bridge (if I get lucky on a used model)
Aurender X100L (no roon obviously)
Bricasti m5
Metrum Ambre
Soundware d300 ref
Wait for rockna wavelight.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Limetree Bridge $1k

 

[tobiasrankin]

Cool this box does look interesting, and looks like a great bridge. Would like AES out but will take a look. Seems to have a great app too.

 

[spiritofmusic]

I'm looking at possibly running it with an MHDT Orchid NOS tubed dac, $2k the pair.
Also check out similarly priced UK offering USB-only Stack Audio, The Link streamer.

 

[bazelio]

pi2aes with attached SSD

 

[tobiasrankin]

pi2aes with attached SSD

Ya definitely going to try that. But will prob be more of a back up unit until I get a full chassis streamer.

 

[bazelio]

Yeah I've been playing with one recently. I quite like it.

 

[abeidrov]

I would suggest Antipodes EX. The price is around $4k without any storage, but you can add up to two SSD drives yourself later. It has built in linear power supply, fully optimised for Roon, but has tons of other playback software options which are switchable on the fly like SqueezeBox, HQPlayer, MPD, it also supports DLNA. Customer support is the best I’ve experienced with any hi-if product and It is built like a tank. You can add a CX later, or one of the 2 platforms: one for CD ripping, the other if you need S/PDIF, AES3 and I2S digital outputs.

 

[DSkip]

Lumin U1 Mini is what I use and haven’t felt the need to upgrade to the U1 based off its performance. It’s a stellar transport. I find the Lumin app to also sound better than the Roon app and it also doesn’t require a slave computer to operate. I like Roon as an interface - its unequaled - but it does have its deficiencies with sound quality.

 

[tobiasrankin]

Lumin U1 Mini is what I use and haven’t felt the need to upgrade to the U1 based off its performance. It’s a stellar transport. I find the Lumin app to also sound better than the Roon app and it also doesn’t require a slave computer to operate. I like Roon as an interface - its unequaled - but it does have its deficiencies with sound quality.

Where do you store your local files?

Have you tried u1 mini with sbooster? or another external psu?

 

[DSkip]

I use tidal and Qobuz mostly as they sound better than my stored files. Lumin has a server, allows usb storage, and can pull from anywhere on your network.

 

[asiufy]

You can get an Innuos Zenith for a little over your $4k price, or a Zen for a lot less.
It does Roon, as well as UPnP, and they're coming up with their own app soon.

 

[tobiasrankin]

Thought about Zenith but not a fan of having a CD drive in my streamer.

Anyone try the mind 2?

 

[kennyb123]

Thought about Zenith but not a fan of having a CD drive in my streamer.

Anyone try the mind 2?

The CD drive is there only for ripping CDs. I don't use it for that so it remains unused. I'm not sure I see any downside in this.

 

[tobiasrankin]

The CD drive is there only for ripping CDs. I don't use it for that so it remains unused. I'm not sure I see any downside in this.

I guess its kind of an aesthetic thing for me. I don't want to even see the drive slot, lmao.

 

[gipe]

Hello

I own the Soundaware D300 Ref and I recommend it without hesitation. It's a high quality streamer, usable with or without Roon and a connection including I2s.

It's less known than the European streamers but it's largely equal to their level. The playback quality is exceptional when reading files on its SD card. Particularly noticed by Seagent who kept it for himself after his review on 6Moons .

You can also connect SSD or HDD in USB

 

[tobiasrankin]

Thanks Gipe. I wish someone compared it to other streamers so I knew how it stacked up.

Any other thoughts? An aries g2 came up for sale, demo unit for $4300 CAD. But I think its probably more than I want to spend.

 

[matthias]

Wait for rockna wavelight.

Do you know if there will be a version of the Wavelight as pure streamer (without SSD storage)?
Thanks

Matt

 

[Rob181]

Hello

I own the Soundaware D300 Ref and I recommend it without hesitation. It's a high quality streamer, usable with or without Roon and a connection including I2s.

It's less known than the European streamers but it's largely equal to their level. The playback quality is exceptional when reading files on its SD card. Particularly noticed by Seagent who kept it for himself after his review on 6Moons .

You can also connect SSD or HDD in USB

Hi can you connect the Soundware D300 to a Terminator DAC us I2S connection ...

 

[gipe]

Hi can you connect the Soundware D300 to a Terminator DAC us I2S connection ...

hello,

Yes, no problem. I own a Terminator myself.