Least expensive and best way to stream music to a DAC???

[Randy Myers]

I am going to suggest, and pretty much what the finest Server/DAC combo money can buys suggests (that is Wadax by the way, their best system is way north of $200k). What I do and what they suggest is to store your music locally only. Do not store it on a NAS and send the signal through a computer network to the server. Send the signal out of the server directly to the DAC. Wadax come equip only with USB output to the DAC, but they offer a new proprietary optical setup ($17,000 +) that will only work from their new top server to their top DAC. They do offer an optional SPIDIF interface for those who insist on going that route, but they do not suggest it.

A custom-built PC server can do a pretty fine job (not WADAX level of course ). As Wadax suggests and includes, I use Roon. I output Roon to HQPlayer for even finer playback. If you want to use a streaming service, this can be accomplished through Roon.

 

[Bart001]

Thanks Mike! That vocabulary works for me And yes I've had zero thoughts of using its digital input; the network streamer front-end of the ND555 seems fabulous and a nice step up from the previous generation.

I've thus far audibly improved the ND555 setup with an Ansuz switch and D2 ethernet cable and C2 AC cable. I agree that a "hi fi switch" located adjacent the ND555 makes an audible improvement. Mine sure did.

I'm still using a Roon Nucleus "server." That's the last piece I'm wondering about -- whether (leaving aside Roon vs. pure UPnP etc) the Nucleus can be bettered audibly by swapping it for an undoubtedly more-expensive "server." We're rather happy with our digital playback so I've not been very motivated to do a listening test with different servers.

 

[Alkyogre]

Thanks Mike! That vocabulary works for me And yes I've had zero thoughts of using its digital input; the network streamer front-end of the ND555 seems fabulous and a nice step up from the previous generation.

I've thus far audibly improved the ND555 setup with an Ansuz switch and D2 ethernet cable and C2 AC cable. I agree that a "hi fi switch" located adjacent the ND555 makes an audible improvement. Mine sure did.

I'm still using a Roon Nucleus "server." That's the last piece I'm wondering about -- whether (leaving aside Roon vs. pure UPnP etc) the Nucleus can be bettered audibly by swapping it for an undoubtedly more-expensive "server." We're rather happy with our digital playback so I've not been very motivated to do a listening test with different servers.

Talking about the roon nucleus server. I build one with the same specs, much cheaper. This nucleus is nothing more then a 8i7 nuc with 32 Gb ram memory in a fanless case.

Much more fun: a month ago I bought a mini pc from aliexpress, it was already in an aluminium fanless case, about 300 euro including shipment and tax, almost 5 times as cheap as a nucleus. Installed a linux distro with roon on this, and did some bios optimizations: The result is: I cannot hear a single difference between these servers and would fail for a blind test.

 

[Bart001]

Given that my Roon Nucleus is about 2-3 years old and fully paid for, I'll forgo building my own now, especially as I'm pretty clumsy with hardware builds.

I'm interested in the other end of the spectrum, whether a server can meaningfully improve on what a Nucleus sounds like over a home ethernet network.

 

[nicoff]

The conversion of Ethernet packet based data to AES or USB should be a super simple task any low powered computer can handle.
...

Exactly. And that includes an inexpensive Raspberry Pi computer.

 

[Alkyogre]

Given that my Roon Nucleus is about 2-3 years old and fully paid for, I'll forgo building my own now, especially as I'm pretty clumsy with hardware builds.

I'm interested in the other end of the spectrum, whether a server can meaningfully improve on what a Nucleus sounds like over a home ethernet network.

Those expensive pc's are used as Roon Bridge, not as Roon server.

 

[Bart001]

Those expensive pc's are used as Roon Bridge, not as Roon server.

That's pretty much what I've gleaned from looking at the products and how people use them. Few people on the forums run an integrated networked-streamer/player like I do.

 

[Edward]

wow I love this thread. I tried all sorts of ways trying to send info from my computer in one room to the dac and/or stereo in another and used all sorts of approaches and read all sorts of threads in obviously inferior message boards online. Then I bought the entry level aurender, connected it via usb to the dac, fired up the conductor app and like magic it worked perfectly. I have upgraded it since to the big brother Aurender but the fact remains it worked great and now I can spend more time on the best message board online .

 

[wklie]

Those expensive pc's are used as Roon Bridge, not as Roon server.

Reading this three brands come to my mind, none of them fit this description, especially the line that starts at EUR24K. (Edit: After posting this I realized this is off topic as it becomes the most expensive way rather than the last expensive way as originally intended.)

 

[CPP]

In a "Least expensive and best way to stream music to a DAC???" thread.
Next up, a thread lamenting why younger folks have zero interest in "High end" audio and how inexpensive "Mid-Fi" stuff creates noise, jitter, etc drama inside some heads.
Poor Joe, he should have known better!

cheers,

AJ

Makes no sense at all. For me its my cheap little Ipad controlled Lumin > directly to my router. Makes me happy.

 

[Foggy916]

I use an old 2009 Mac Mini SSD with a custom power supply that is set up headless (no display or keyboard)....I simply control it by using "share screen" on my Macbook. Then I use an Iphone app such as Roon or Audirvana to play tracks if I don't want to use my Macbook. Bonus is I also use it to rip CDs to my NAS library. Mac Mini is connected to my network and streams via Devialet Air Ethernet to my Devialet D400s. Few years ago I tried an Aurender via USB and surprisingly the old cheap Mac Mini blew it away on sound quality.

 

[Arcman]

I wonder what the U2 mini will go for?

 

[audio.bill]

I wonder what the U2 mini will go for?

I've heard it will retail for $2,400 (US).

 

[Frazeur1]

I have been playing around with a Lindemann Bridge 2 into my LinnenberG Telemann DAC. While certainly not the cheapest of ways to stream, or the “best”, the Bridge can be had discounted at a price that isn’t bad at all, and the app on IOS isn’t bad either. Just a simple device that works well, sounds pretty good and so far, I am fairly well pleased with it. FWIW.

 

[mjs]

For a high quality cheap solution, you could do what I did recently and that was buy a second hand Auralic Aries Mini. I’ve got a much more expensive digital front end in my main system, and this was a good solution for a second system in a bedroom. Few hundred bucks max.