Thread: Has anyone compared Brooklyn Bridge, Teac NT-505, Lumin D2/T2 streamer dacs?

Welcome to the forum, thank you for joining.

It's best to get an audition if possible.

If you listen to Tidal MQA, and care about not having MQA filter to be applied to non-MQA music, only Lumin and Teac are able to differentiate MQA and non-MQA music and apply MQA and non-MQA digital filters respectively on an as-needed basis without manual configuration change from track to track. With the other brand, you get a global MQA always ON or always OFF switch - see Stereophile measurements.

Brooklyn Bridge, I actually go back as far as 'The Crests' ........

I would go with Lumin over your other choices. The D2 is very good and I’m sure you would be very happy with it vs. the Brooklyn’s Bridge or Teac.

I have owned the Lumin and the Teac and gave you my opinion between the two before but you can order the Teac from Crutchfield and have 60 days to try it out and if you don't like it return it and you will be out $10 for return shipping. Also since it also uses the Lumin app it will give you a feel for how both operate. I also suspect since you can also use it as a DAC you might prefer it with the OPPO over the Project which you could then sell.

I guess I get a little confused by all of the terms and functions that get mentioned in the advertising. Items like the Teac appear to be a good machine but it also appears to be mainly a DAC. Many DACs have additional functions such as that they can be used as pre-amp and a headphone amp.

It appears as if it still needs a source, such as a computer or something else that runs the playback software, aka, a computer. I also say that USB as such is not noisy and can do a wonderful job connecting a computer to a DAC, much better then some other connections in my view. I have also seen e-mails from various engineers stating that they feel USB works excellent. With new improved USB connections that are now being used offer even more improvements in the signal, and devices such as Wyred 4 Sound's reclocker, the Recovery, improve things a bit more. I can't imagine getting much better.

The Teac talks about being able to decode DSD512. Great... how are you going to get that level of a signal into the DAC? By using a computer running HQ Player, that is how. My T+A actually does 24.6MHz, which is DSD512 at 48 base clock versus that standard 44.1 base clock. A computer running Roon and HQ Player can do this.

All of these various streamers and other combinations of various functions just seem to be muddying the waters in my view. A good Windows real computer, a good DAC and good USB cables and you are good to go. Add a Recovery with an iPower and get even a little better.

By the way, I also immediate rip any CD or SACD that I purchase to my Windows "Server". These along with high resolution albums that I purchase and download are almost 100% or what I listen to.

Randy

The Teac is a full service streamer just like the Lumin and in fact runs off of Lumin software. It also has the other features you mentioned but has no need for a computer or "aftermarket" software packages that cost money. Some of us don't want all of those extra parts involved in our streaming experience.

Yes, I see it can stream from services such as Tidal, but it has no playback of internal storage for your own ripped files using Roon, as Arcman says he does. If I understand their web page correctly it can stream files from a NAS using their own TEAC HR Audio Player. To use Roon, which many of us believe is the finest playback software does require an external machine.

My point is, a computer running Roon can do the streaming services and also play any resolution file you downloaded or ripped. Then connected to a DAC (such as he already owns) will work fine.

The ads try to make it sound like these machines do everything on the face of the planet, yet very few actually do. By the way, I like the Teac products and this guy looks like it is much more functional then many out there.

Teac HR player is the Lumin app with a different face screen and the same is true for the Esoteric app. If he already has everything else he needs for storage and Roon then a dedicated streamer is all he needs not another computer.

Maybe I mis-understand, but what is actually going to be running Roon? Roon Ready is not a Roon Core; it means it can take a Roon signal in through its inputs. Almost any DAC can qualify as Roon Ready,... then again I could be completely wrong....

I did work with Roon to get Wyred listed as Roon Ready on Roon's web-site and to put the Roon Ready logo on Wyred's website. All it really meant is that it is a DAC that can be hooked to the output of a device running Roon Core; a computer, etc. However to officially state Roon Ready you require Roon's permission, but most companies want this since the image is a good thing.

Using the Lumin app is an alternative to Roon, correct? If he wants to use that app, not his Roon, then he would be fine, or so I understand.

It is all personal preference. Most people who have used Roon for any length of time would not want to use any other software. There are some who feel different, but most have not actually owned and used Roon. I have never meet a person who used Roon for for any length of time who would be happy with other software. It is that good.

Researching just a little more... a Roon Core device, such as pre-configured music servers such as Wyred 4 Sound, Little Green computers, etc., run Roon Core, or computers (Windows or Mac) and they can find devices such as the Teac on your network. But a Roon Core device is definitely required to run Roon.

Randy

He has said here and on other forums that he has everything he needed for storage and to use Roon and was looking for a dedicated streamer so that is all I need to know. I am not going to try and convince him to do it my way or your way I answered his questions and will let him make his own choices. For me the choice to stream in lieu of using my 2500+ albums or 1500+ CD's is a matter of convenience. As such I don't want or need a collection of other boxes, storage devices or aftermarket software to help me do it. If I wanted all of those extra parts and pieces I would just stick with mediums I already have.

I agree Jack. Unfortunately a streamer by itself cannot run Roon Core. This is the point, the streamer will do what he wants except Roon. If Roon is what he wants then he will need a device to run Roon Core. The streamer certain will function as his DAC. And if he does not need Roon he could use a device like the Teac by itself, using the Teac App. But after using Roon it is hard to not use Roon ...

A music server; Little Green Computers, Wyred 4 Sound, Roon Nucleus, etc., or a computer to run Roon Core to go along with the streamer. But if you are going to do that then you might not need the streamer since Roon can do your subscription services, such as Tidal, and all you then need is a DAC, which he already owns.

Again, he says he has what he needs already.

Ok, I see that he says that, and he says he runs Roon. That is cool, but he also does not mention what he is running Roon on (maybe on missed it). He also says he is looking for a one box solution. My point is, a streamer cannot run Roon Core (or at least the ones he has mentioned) and therefore he does need to use another device. Maybe what he has is fine...

Pre-configured music servers; Roon Nucleus, W4S, SGC, etc., are all in essence computers. Many of these companies play on the fact that people are inherently timid about computers and they talk like their solutions either don't need a computer or are easier then computers (even if they are actually computers, i.e. SGC, Roon Nucleus etc.).

The Roon software already can handle Tidal and Qbuz, etc., so I guess my main concern is what in the heck is a streamer device going to do for someone who is either already running Roon on a separate device or wants to run Roon? A streamer cannot, by itself run Roon Core, a requirement for Roon. Therefore a "one-box solution" and Roon is not always what people think. I have dealt with far too many people who think they are.

With that I am out. I get really tired dealing with these companies that make very simply concept and functions seem really complicated playing on people's fears. But, I am also tired of trying to help people realize how digital works and have it become a huge deal. It really is very simple. You have your files, download, ripped, etc. You want to use Roon, excellent it is the best; use a device that runs Roon Core, hook it to your DAC, hook it to your system. Use your controller device such as a tablet to control Roon on your Core device (they can be the same device but I prefer my Core and Controller separate so I don't have to go to the device to do the controlling)... Bam... done.... USB works really really well but not in very long runs.

Roon Ready really means nothing... but cool, glad you got everything you need. Enjoy!

Sooner or later I will learn...

Anyway enjoy.

By the way, I am a huge Roon fan and own a lifetime subscription. I would not even consider using another product at this point in time.

Roon Tested is simply a DAC that is tested to work with Roon on a computer. However it does not guarantee Roon Nucleus or ROCK compatibility for high DSD rate, like Randy's DAC before a firmware fix becomes available in the future.

Roon Ready is a totally different thing for a DAC with network input. It actually has RAAT software SDK integrated into the endpoint in addition to getting certified by Roon Labs.

It is best practice to have separate Roon Core and endpoint. This is not said by me but by Roon Labs as their #1 rule for sound quality.
https://kb.roonlabs.com/Sound_Quality