Nothing but a streamer

MttBsh · « **on:** 28 Mar 2016, 06:12 pm »

I am looking at acquiring a streamer that does nothing but stream because I already have a great Dac (Yggdrasil) that does USB and I love my current preamp/amps.
I have been looking at Aurender but am not willing to spend upward of $7 grand for the N10 and read a review stating that the more affordable N100H sounds "compressed" in comparison. I like what I see with Lumin, Auralati, etc.
Can anyone offer a suggestion on a $2-3K streamer that is just a streamer but can connect to external drives and plays TIDAL, offers great sound quality and ease of use? (I-PAD app).
There appear to be lots of options out there and prices all over the map, but I respect the opinions of my fellow Audio Circle members. I'm in no particular hurry so if there's a product in the works that you like, that would be great too. Thanks so much for any thoughts you may have.

Tone Depth · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Mar 2016, 06:42 pm »

Have you heard of the Salk StreamPlayer? http://www.salkstream.com/

Quote from: MttBsh on 28 Mar 2016, 06:12 pm

I am looking at acquiring a streamer that does nothing but stream because I already have a great Dac (Yggdrasil) that does USB and I love my current preamp/amps.
I have been looking at Aurender but am not willing to spend upward of $7 grand for the N10 and read a review stating that the more affordable N100H sounds "compressed" in comparison. I like what I see with Lumin, Auralati, etc.
Can anyone offer a suggestion on a $2-3K streamer that is just a streamer but can connect to external drives and plays TIDAL, offers great sound quality and ease of use? (I-PAD app).
There appear to be lots of options out there and prices all over the map, but I respect the opinions of my fellow Audio Circle members. I'm in no particular hurry so if there's a product in the works that you like, that would be great too. Thanks so much for any thoughts you may have.

MttBsh · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Mar 2016, 07:10 pm »

Quote from: Tone Depth on 28 Mar 2016, 06:42 pm

Have you heard of the Salk StreamPlayer? http://www.salkstream.com/

The Gen II looks like a great option, and Jim Salk sounds like he really stands behind his products. Thanks for the tip, I will thoroughly check this out!

TomS · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 Mar 2016, 07:16 pm »

Auralic Aries seems a close fit, $1600 with the works.

MttBsh · « **Reply #4 on:** 28 Mar 2016, 07:30 pm »

Quote from: TomS on 28 Mar 2016, 07:16 pm

Auralic Aries seems a close fit, $1600 with the works.

The Aries is another great suggestion, thank you Tom

TomS · « **Reply #5 on:** 28 Mar 2016, 07:48 pm »

The Sonore uRendu at $640 plus power supply will also be a terrific option when it becomes available (TBD 1-2 months?).

http://www.microrendu.sonore.us/

mfsoa · « **Reply #6 on:** 28 Mar 2016, 09:48 pm »

If you can stand to spend about one-25th of your budget, its easy to put together a competent streamer from a Raspberry Pi.

OldMike · « **Reply #7 on:** 28 Mar 2016, 10:00 pm »

I like the Sonos Connect. You can start with the basic unit, then add NAS storage, then add an outboard DAC, and then upgrade the digital output (Wyred 4 Sound). The upgraded streamer would be about $900. It's limited to 44.1/16. I'm using a Connect into a Peachtree DAC-iTx, and it sounds just fine.

Mike

jtwrace · « **Reply #8 on:** 28 Mar 2016, 10:03 pm »

Quote from: TomS on 28 Mar 2016, 07:48 pm

The Sonore uRendu at $640 plus power supply will also be a terrific option when it becomes available (TBD 1-2 months?).

http://www.microrendu.sonore.us/

The only issue to me is that I'm pretty sure you need to have another standalone computer running the software for it. That pretty much takes me out of the deal.

dflee · « **Reply #9 on:** 28 Mar 2016, 10:04 pm »

I know I'll get some flack for this but I can't resist:
"Streamer, want nothin but a streamer
now you'll have your head in the cloud oh no" (Supertramp).
Am following cause I would like to get into this someday.

Don

MttBsh · « **Reply #10 on:** 28 Mar 2016, 10:21 pm »

Quote from: mfsoa on 28 Mar 2016, 09:48 pm

If you can stand to spend about one-25th of your budget, its easy to put together a competent streamer from a Raspberry Pi.

That just doesn't seem like enough money... not sure I'm comfortable spending so little!

"I know I'll get some flack for this but I can't resist:
"Streamer, want nothin but a streamer
now you'll have your head in the cloud oh no" (Supertramp).
Am following cause I would like to get into this someday."

Don

Don - You gotta know I had Supertramp in mind when I wrote the title!
Thanks guys, I'm really appreciating your suggestions!
Matt

rlee8394 · « **Reply #11 on:** 29 Mar 2016, 02:28 am »

http://vortexbox.org/about

JackD · « **Reply #12 on:** 29 Mar 2016, 02:39 am »

If you want something more advanced than the Auralic Aries Mini, which will do the job you need, I would suggest you contact Mike at Suncoastaudio.com and talk to him. He sells Lumin, Aurender and has access to others. The Mini has a basic ESS 9018 based dac, but you are going to bypass that anyway. Comes with a free year of Tidal for $549.

Hank · « **Reply #13 on:** 31 Mar 2016, 11:55 am »

TomS wrote:

Quote

The Sonore uRendu at $640 plus power supply will also be a terrific option when it becomes available (TBD 1-2 months?).
http://www.microrendu.sonore.us/

I'm watching for the uRendu - looks very interesting. If that's my final decision, I'd connect it to my LH Labs Vi-Dac. Would vortexbox be a good program to install on the uRendu?

TomS · « **Reply #14 on:** 31 Mar 2016, 12:02 pm »

Quote from: Hank on 31 Mar 2016, 11:55 am

TomS wrote:
I'm watching for the uRendu - looks very interesting. If that's my final decision, I'd connect it to my LH Labs Vi-Dac. Would vortexbox be a good program to install on the uRendu?

That should work well given Jesus' involvement there. Just stream from the Vortexbox to the uRendu via ethernet (it's not wireless), then USB to the DAC.

Hank · « **Reply #15 on:** 31 Mar 2016, 04:55 pm »

Okay, thanks for your response, but I was referring to VortexBox the software program, installing it on the uRendu. It seems you're referring to a VortexBox hardware item ("...Vortexbox to the uRendu via ethenet...").

JRace · « **Reply #16 on:** 31 Mar 2016, 05:17 pm »

Any of the Bryston BDP's should meet your requirements.

TomS · « **Reply #17 on:** 31 Mar 2016, 07:43 pm »

Quote from: Hank on 31 Mar 2016, 04:55 pm

Okay, thanks for your response, but I was referring to VortexBox the software program, installing it on the uRendu. It seems you're referring to a VortexBox hardware item ("...Vortexbox to the uRendu via ethenet...").

The uRendu is hardware integrated with Sonore's software so there isn't anything to load onto it I'm aware of. It's a closed environment.

jarcher · « **Reply #18 on:** 1 Apr 2016, 05:02 am »

Whoever said the Aurender N100H sounds compressed is full of crap. Sorry to be so blunt. At $2-3K the N100 or N100H if you want internal storage is THE server to own, full stop. Our speciality is computer audio - and we sell or have sold most of all the computer audio devices out there - Aria, Antipodes, Auralic, Baetis, Bluesound, Lumin and even ones made in house before there were good commercial options. The Aurrenders quite simply have the best most analog sound, the best and easiest to use software, and the best technical support. And the N100 is the best value of the line for anyone wanting a serious audiophile quality server. At under $1k I give the nod to Bluesound. But over $1K - particularly between $2-3k, the N100 is a no brainer. We've sold many with 100% satisfaction even with the most computer illiterate.

MttBsh · « **Reply #19 on:** 1 Apr 2016, 03:06 pm »

Quote from: jarcher on 1 Apr 2016, 05:02 am

Whoever said the Aurender N100H sounds compressed is full of crap. Sorry to be so blunt. At $2-3K the N100 or N100H if you want internal storage is THE server to own, full stop. Our speciality is computer audio - and we sell or have sold most of all the computer audio devices out there - Aria, Antipodes, Auralic, Baetis, Bluesound, Lumin and even ones made in house before there were good commercial options. The Aurrenders quite simply have the best most analog sound, the best and easiest to use software, and the best technical support. And the N100 is the best value of the line for anyone wanting a serious audiophile quality server. At under $1k I give the nod to Bluesound. But over $1K - particularly between $2-3k, the N100 is a no brainer. We've sold many with 100% satisfaction even with the most computer illiterate.

Thanks for your feedback jarcher. I was also looking at the slightly more expensive Aurender X100 (L or S) which purportedly includes more of the circuitry used in the N10 - can you comment on whether or not the X100 has any advantages over the N100H? Does it sound any better?