Streaming devices
- Thread starter Dickson
- Start date
Just curious, what do you not like about the WiiM Ultra? I bought one for my daughter and love it. It sounds better run through an external dac for sure. Its software is fabulous.
bfreidah
New member
Have a friend with a Naim Uniti Atom steamer that sounds great. I like my Bluesound Node Icon for a fraction the price that also integrates with my other Bluesound devices around the house. Both units have built in preamps if needed.
Agree. I use the WiiM Pro as a streamer only and it works great.
WiiM can stream from most music services (Spotify, Qobuz, Tidal, Amazon, YouTube Music, etc). And allows you to create DSP filters based on your speakers-room configuration.
I also have a Node 2i that I’ve used as a streamer only (bypassing the MQA circuitry) in a fairly high-end setup, and it was fine. I also ran the digital feed into a pretty good DAC and controlled volume with the BluOS app. That also sounded good to me, but I should note that I tried the analog outputs from the Node 2i directly into a power amp, and I found it unlistenable. It’s fine as a streamer and if you wish you can control volume in the digital domain which is nice, but its internal DAC just doesn’t cut it, at least to my ears. As always, YMMV.
Mr Peabody
Well-known member
As stated more information is needed. What's the rest of your system?
Wow, hate it ??What do you not like about it?
Its internal dac is just adequate, but when connected to a good dac it sounds good. I actually stream from a custom audio computer/server that I built and use a Jcat femto card powered by a LPS. It sounds great. I would put it up against most streamers. I used all shielded cables, a low ripple power supply, a high end MOBO with upgraded caps, no video card to add noise. All software on higher end m.2 ssd's.
Its internal dac is just adequate, but when connected to a good dac it sounds good. I actually stream from a custom audio computer/server that I built and use a Jcat femto card powered by a LPS. It sounds great. I would put it up against most streamers. I used all shielded cables, a low ripple power supply, a high end MOBO with upgraded caps, no video card to add noise. All software on higher end m.2 ssd's.
sleepysurf
Member
I use a Wiim Ultra with USB out to a Topping E70 Velvet DAC. Sounds great to me. Fortunately, the Wiim app includes Squeezelite, so it's fully compatible with LMS/Lyrion Music Server (formerly Logitech Music Server, formerly Squeezebox Server). Although the Wiim Home app is very good, I still prefer LMS, which allows me to sync music in my main system with my 6 other legacy Squeezeboxes all around the house.
Mr Peabody
Well-known member
I bet CJ with the ML sounds sweet. I see you are in an audio society you should at least try a better streamer. Like the Lumin U2 mini. There is a difference in streamers most have to hear for themselves. Maybe someone is willing to let you try something.
With that being said I'm not sure anything else allows that whole house coverage other than similar to what you have now.
bfreidah
New member
Are you saying you can use its digital passthrough out to an external DAC and still have volume control? I do have a nice Schiit DAC I could try.
Yes, that’s exactly how I’ve run it in multiple setups. Simply connect a digital cable from the Node’s digital output to the Schiit DAC, and you’ll be able to set volume from within the BluOS app. Don’t disable the preamp function in the Node, however - you’ll bypass MQA, but you’ll also lose that ability to control volume.
Mr Peabody
Well-known member
I would highly recommend at some point getting a preamp. You may be able to control the volume with the Node but it's a poor substitute for a dedicated preamp.
I've also heard that digital volume control degrades sound especially at lower settings.
I've also heard that digital volume control degrades sound especially at lower settings.
I agree with this completely. There have been several occasions when I had to utilize the volume control functions of my Directstream, and always breathed a sigh of satisfaction when I put the Von Gaylord back into the system. There’s no question in my mind that a top flight system deserves a preamp.
Mr Peabody
Well-known member
This is just a general statement as I get on my soapbox. There is definitely a difference in streamers sound and performance. It amazes me how many audio hobbyists don't believe that. I started a thread on this point here somewhere.
Sound, I used the HEOS and Node, close in price but Node about $100.00 more. I thought the Node was better being more transparent but it could come down to preference as I thought the HEOS had a more dense sound. Point being both pretty much entry level but there was a difference in sound using digital out from both into same DAC.
Performance, I was trying to get my streaming on par with a prior Levinson SACD player as streaming was going to be my only source. I also wanted to rip my CD collection onto an internal HD. I moved up to a NAD Master unit. This piece cost about $4k at the time. It still used the Bluesound UI. It did everything I wanted yet it fell short of fully satisfying my taste. I auditioned the Aurender ACS10 which was about $2k more the difference in sound quality was huge though. I gladly paid the difference and sold the prior piece. Again, digital out into same DAC. In fact, these two units only had digital out, no built-in DAC. The ACS10 was in a league of its own, it makes those entry pieces sound like literal toys. This is why I get bent out of shape when people tell others all streamers are the same.
Where someone goes in streaming depends on the rest of the system and how serious you are about streaming and the sound quality you are willing to live with. Those who tout this mess about it's all 1's and 0's are doing themselves a disservice. AS well as the marketing phrase, perfect bit. There is so much more to a streamer.
I know for someone it is hard to know what to believe, I simply ask anyone interested to just try for yourself. I know of a reviewer who has large Pass monoblocks and flagship B&W who uses a Node. I'm like cringing all the time, dude bring something in for review and hear for yourself. That is such a bad example, who spends $100k+ on amps and speakers to use a $1k streamer, even into another DAC? I'm not saying price is everything but despite what some think good gear has good parts that cost more than inferior parts.
Sound, I used the HEOS and Node, close in price but Node about $100.00 more. I thought the Node was better being more transparent but it could come down to preference as I thought the HEOS had a more dense sound. Point being both pretty much entry level but there was a difference in sound using digital out from both into same DAC.
Performance, I was trying to get my streaming on par with a prior Levinson SACD player as streaming was going to be my only source. I also wanted to rip my CD collection onto an internal HD. I moved up to a NAD Master unit. This piece cost about $4k at the time. It still used the Bluesound UI. It did everything I wanted yet it fell short of fully satisfying my taste. I auditioned the Aurender ACS10 which was about $2k more the difference in sound quality was huge though. I gladly paid the difference and sold the prior piece. Again, digital out into same DAC. In fact, these two units only had digital out, no built-in DAC. The ACS10 was in a league of its own, it makes those entry pieces sound like literal toys. This is why I get bent out of shape when people tell others all streamers are the same.
Where someone goes in streaming depends on the rest of the system and how serious you are about streaming and the sound quality you are willing to live with. Those who tout this mess about it's all 1's and 0's are doing themselves a disservice. AS well as the marketing phrase, perfect bit. There is so much more to a streamer.
I know for someone it is hard to know what to believe, I simply ask anyone interested to just try for yourself. I know of a reviewer who has large Pass monoblocks and flagship B&W who uses a Node. I'm like cringing all the time, dude bring something in for review and hear for yourself. That is such a bad example, who spends $100k+ on amps and speakers to use a $1k streamer, even into another DAC? I'm not saying price is everything but despite what some think good gear has good parts that cost more than inferior parts.