The Best Series - Streamers 2 Channel
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Moderator 2,148 posts Geoff Old oldius Moderator 2,148 posts
Geoff Old oldius
Good morning and welcome to another weekend and another update in our 'Best Series'.
This time it is the final source component - streamers/streaming.
 
It's a tricky one this because so many stream with a separate DAC.
I am going to try to speak ONLY about streamers themselves, with integral DACs, and so I can only speak of one that I own from a sonic perspective, and the others from the perspective of their connectability, reliability, and interface.
 
I own three streaming devices - Cambridge Azure; Wiim Pro; Squeezebox Touch.
 
I have used the latter for more than a decade and still do. I have found it to be a superb component in my system, being utterly reliable, connectable, durable and constantly updated via its open-source protocols. I have apps installed from Qobuz and Tidal (no longer in use), and Spotty. I use the latter, and BBC Sounds, and get great pleasure from both. I am hoping that lossless arrives but I don't hold out much hope and the device no longer allows (at least with my technical proficiency) the use of Spotify's Connect service. A great device but one I have only used with separate DACs so I won't comment sonically.
 
The Wiim Pro is the most connectable streamer I have. Easy to set up, reliable, connectable to every service out there and a joy to use. I recommend it wholeheartedly, but again I have only used it through a separate DAC.
 
The Cambridge Azure 851N streamer/preamp/dac is a superb component that has stood the test of time. It is not as connectable as the Wiim but still sounds excellent with its own internal DAC. I have used it as a pre only and have had similarly excellent results. I see no need to change at all. I spoke to Richer Sounds recently and they admitted that there is little difference between it and the Edge devices that retail at several thousand. It still sounds top-notch to my ears, with a wholly balanced sound free of artifice. I use it directly into my Lentek and have also used it, with super results, into an active speaker setup where its digital volume control showed the quality of its design.
 
So, what have you owned, what do you own, and what would you recommend and why?
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Tim (AKA timster) TJC Member 6,421 posts
Tim (AKA timster) TJC
I have only owned Linn so can't really do a comparison with others (although I didn’t like the Naim offerings, and my Denon is a different kettle of fish), but from a Sneaky through Akurate DSMs and now Selekt they all share the same room correction DSP which is simply outstanding and I couldn't live without.
From a DAC point of view I've had all Linn offer, from Standard (not too shabby) to Katalyst (amazingly good) to Organik (the most natural and beautiful sound yet).
Connectivity is all you need, built-in phono stages are very good (well, MM at least as that's all I've ever had), multiple digital options (I could buy an AV/hdmi board if so inclined but it has an hdmi anyway). It handles all formats and high resolution effortlessly, the UPnP interface is seamless and simple to use, Spotify Connect (and lossless coming), Tidal and Qobuz integration included, as is airable and TuneIn. The control point app is nice to use, as is the remote.
Most importantly though they have all sounded lively and controlled, but the Organik DAC modules are on another level.
 
What I like also is the Selekt's modular design, making it configurable to whatever you want, beit it passive, digitally active, choice of DAC, external or internal amplification, stereo or AV.
 
Not cheap but worth every penny in my book 😀
"I'd rather lead a life than follow one around" Carrie Fisher
"A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many bad measures" Daniel Webster
"I know my own mind…The trouble is, my mind changes and then I have to get acquainted with it all over again" Lucy Montgomery
 
♫♫ Linn/Kudos - See Profile for Full Kit ♫♫
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Blacksabbath Member 2,157 posts
Blacksabbath
Not much history with me and streamers but for a long while i used the connection between my OPPO 205 to play my own collection ripped from my CD collection using ROON library and using my CD players DAC for playback .
 
Then decided i wanted a proper streamer as a standalone source but never spent a lot of money doing so as i brought the Wiim ultra in the amazon black Friday sales .
its a good streamer for the money it works and the software easy and smooth to use but again i thought i would get more out of the Wiim using it as a standalone streamer so i carry on using the DAC inside my CD player which works well and i do not use the Pre on the Wiim but its my first proper standalone streamer with no risk to me as it was cheap to buy unlike some of the expensive streamers out there were the company's have gone out of business i didn't want to take a risk as the streamer market seems to me to be moving fast so waiting for the dust to settle a bit before i decide if its worth buying a expensive streamer .
Yamaha A-S3000 , Yamaha CD2100 , Dali Epicon 6s 
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John Linear Member 621 posts
John Linear
Are streamers without DACs not proper streamers then?
I was going to talk about my Aries G1.
Streamer: Auralic Aries G1 \ Lindemann Limetree Bridge
DAC: Gustard x26iii
Amp: Lavardin ISx
Speakers: Proac Tablet 10
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Bencat Bencat57 Member 1,730 posts
Bencat Bencat57
I have used Logitech Media Server now Lyrion Musi Server for years starting with a PC based server on a lap top . Years later I graduated to a Vortexbox set up with a large Hard Drive to take all my music . ThisThis is what I still use and send to players which feed my systems with a digital streams and the individual DAC,s in each system . As such this means that for me at least the streamers all sound the same and the DAC is the decider of sound quality .
Without music no reason to get out of bed .
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Geoff Old oldius Moderator 2,148 posts
Geoff Old oldius
Are streamers without DACs not proper streamers then?
I was going to talk about my Aries G1.
Fair point.
As I did, I spoke of connectivity, reliability, and interface.
In the words of Catchphrase - if you see it, say it!👍
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