[sircrashalot]

I'm looking for streamer recommendations as I'm totally new to this part of audio.  My system consists of Van Alstine SET-400 power amp and Transcendence T-10 tube pre-amp, Sony CDP-CE500 CD player, BIC Turntable, Audiovector QR1 bookshelf speakers. No DAC except inside the CD player.

I have WiFi in the house but no hard connection to internet in my listening room and it would be a hassle to do so. Internet is pretty fast, and my second audio system (for the living room) is three feet from the WiFi router.  Wife is not as interested in music as I am so no need to transmit same music to other rooms. I really enjoy the clarity, detail, and excellent sound quality of my system and would like to stream similar quality music: classic rock, jazz, blues, pop, classical, acoustic.

Someone I know suggested the little round WiiM, but I'm not sure if it is capable of providing critical listening quality music. Budget is < $500 for the device itself.  I have not idea which service(s) to use either.  So summing up, the main objective is streaming music in my listening room, having streaming in the living room would (second system) would be a bonus but not worth a lot of $ as it gets only a few hours a week use. Thanks for any insight, thoughts, recommendations.

[Doublej]

I think the three platforms to consider are WiiM, Bluesound Node, and Cambridge Audio MX10/AX10 products.

I own a WiiM Pro Plus. WiiM packs a lot of functionality into this for under $220. Graphic EQ, Parametric EQ, Room correction, support for many streaming services. WiiM is constantly improving the product. Updates are free and are on a monthly release schedule. It has a voice remote and can be an Alexa device which is a big plus for me. The product has improved tremendously in the year I have owned it.
 
A couple of downsides to WiiM. The WiFi is mediocre but it should not be a problem for your setup. The platform has a bunch of glitches. You can read all about them on the WiiM support forum.

I would only consider the Pro Plus or Ultra. The Mini is their sub $100 entry level device so no need to consider it unless you are cash strapped. It has a weaker processor than the other offerings making it limited in its capabilities.

I don't know much about the Nodes or the Cambridge Audio products. Pure speculation is that the hardware design might for these be a bit better than WiiM but this could simply be the devils I don't know vs. the devil I know.

If you can go up to $800 the Eversolo DMP-A6 is definitely worth a look.

Great time to buy as WiiM had their product line at 20% off on Black Friday last year. I expect the same this year. At Crutchfield, the two Cambridge Audio units I referenced are currently $100 off.

[artur9]

Cambridge Audio MXN10 on sale now for $399.  One of the best streamers out there by reputation.

[garyalex]

Wiim Ultra. No Airplay support but apart from that I think it's a good value.  You could always add an external DAC later on.

[neekomax]

I stream to a Raspberry Pi 4b, which then outputs via USB to a SMSL M500 DAC. The Pi runs Ropieee for software, which does all kinds of high (and lower, like bluetooth) resolution streaming. You set it up once, and stream away.

https://tinyurl.com/8fyy7apr (Link to the Pi on Amazon. This kit comes with the case and fan and everything you need)

https://ropieee.codexwilkes.com/downloads/ropieee-installation-guide.pdf

The Pi costs about $100, and then you need a USB DAC that you like. These days, with Topping and SMSL and the like, you're spoiled for choice at almost any budget level. Spend $300 or so, and your USB DAC will outperform the WIIM stuff in terms of SINAD etc.

It is cool to have room correction, but I have a Dspeaker Anti-mode 2.0 (room correction/ bass management unit) and I prefer the sound of my system uncorrected.

[Jeff_From_Michigan]

Not sure about streamers within your budget, but as for streaming services, I am extremely happy with the sound quality of Qobuz.

I believe their yearly plan comes out to around $13-14 a month, if memory serves.

Many people I know stream with Spotify and are very happy with that, Tidal or Apple Music. I tried Tidal and Qobuz at the same time a few years ago, and I ditched Tidal and never looked back.

[Tyson]

I tried all the streaming services, Qobuz sounded the best.

[sircrashalot]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Great information. I might have a few questions after this all soaks in. 

[sircrashalot]

Do any streamers under $1,000 allow you to connect an external hard drive or thumb drive (preferrably via USB) for recording hi-res music ?   Thanks !

[Wokensafe]

I tried all the streaming services, Qobuz sounded the best.

I agree with this, however I don't love Qobuz's playlists (it's great if you want to hear one specific album however).  Spotify (gag...) is much better for playlists in my opinion...but hi rez?  Nope, look elsewhere for that. After my Qobuz subscription expires this year I'm not renewing.

[aldcoll]

Do any streamers under $1,000 allow you to connect an external hard drive or thumb drive (preferrably via USB) for recording hi-res music ?   Thanks !

Yes you can plug in a storage device to a USB port on many streamers and since it is a streamer some can access your personal owned and stored music.   The issue I am having is how to get to that music and use it in a way I like.

I have used a Squeezebox for years and really like it's options for playing my music.  I am trying Qobuz and they don't even scratch the surface in My Humble Opinion.   I offer this.  I searched for Americana ( a new and growing Genre) and it wasn't listed and offered a few listings with America in the name.

I simply want the ease of Streaming my music for 75%  of the time and using the "Streaming Service" to  look at new or different.  I can use LMS/Squeezer/Lyron to stream but the sound is lacking compared to Q.
The one Sqbox feature I love is random Shuffle.  You can set some parameters of the music and off you go.  I can then hit pause, shut down and restart the next day.

I am still in test and evaluate and will try all the Software options that might fit my need.
Just my $.02.   and now back to the room and another day of testing.

Alan

[WGH]

Do any streamers under $1,000 allow you to connect an external hard drive or thumb drive (preferrably via USB) for recording hi-res music ?   Thanks !

The HAL MS-6 Music Server will do everything you want to do.

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=175173.0


Because the HAL MS-6 runs Windows 10 any streaming app can be installed: Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify, etc.
Choose Foobar2000 or JRiver Media Center for library management and music player. Network to another computer's big hard drive to access ripped CD's and downloaded hi-res music.
Install the free Audacity program to record hi-res music.

My previous homemade music server used an Intel Atom chip with Windows 10 and surprisingly all the programs worked but I was careful not to over tax it's capabilities and ran only one program at a time. I never tried anything like streaming and recording hi-res music at the same time. The HAL MS-6 has an Intel Atom quad core processor and 4GB of ram. The ram might have to be increased to 8GB or 16GB because music players are memory players, they store the song in memory before playing instead of playing directly from a HD or thumbdrive. Audacity also needs a lot of memory to store the song being worked on.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Cant go wrong with the HAL, Cambridge Audio or Wiim Ultra.  Take your pick.

[Tyson]

HAL has the best sounding music servers, for the money.

[mr_bill]

Ifi Zen Stream

[nlitworld]

I'll get in in the HAL MS-6 bandwagon. Love mine.  Don't expect it to do complicated tasks or lots of open windows at the same time. Audioweaver or running HQ Player upsampling/dsd converting could tax it during playback, but pop open Qobuz or Foobar for regular conversion or playback and you'll be a happy camper. I have no problem converting files or ripping cds using that thing. 

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Ifi Zen Stream

I bought an Ifi streamer for my wife and it cuts out so frequently that it is worthless.  I have not been impressed with ifi gear.

[WGH]

Sony CDP-CE500 CD player... No DAC except inside the CD player.

I looked at the Sony CDP-CE500 CD player manual, even though the Sony has a USB input it will only accept a thumb drive to play music.

"USB Port: The Sony CDP-CE500 is fitted with a front-panel USB (type-B) port for connection of a USB (MSC) device. Your USB mass storage class device must be formatted in FAT 16/32. You can listen to MP3 (32-320 kbps/VBR), WMA (48-192 kbps), and AAC (48-320 kbps) music files stored on a compatible USB flash-memory device."


The HAL MS-6 USB output is designed to go into a DAC and will not work with the Sony. You will need either a DAC or buy a streamer that has RCA audio outputs.

Luckily there is Cheap and Cheerful thread called "More Amazing DACs for Peanuts"
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=152638.0

You should be able to find a DAC that keeps the total project (streamer + DAC) close to your $500 budget

[nlitworld]

You should be able to find a DAC that keeps the total project (streamer + DAC) close to your $500 budget

Honestly a MS-6 and a used Schiit Modi MB is a dangerously good combo for right around that budget. Worth looking at.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Honestly a MS-6 and a used Schiit Modi MB is a dangerously good combo for right around that budget. Worth looking at.

That is a great recommendation.  If he could spring for the Modius that would be even better. 

Otherwise the Cambridge Audio streamer can be had on Ebay for 349.00 on ebay and it has a built in DAC and is well reviewed.  I owned the Cambridge Audio 740c and 840c CD players.  They were well made, sounded great, looked great but were a little overhyped.