Streamers in 2023 - Discussion, Impressions, etc

If you have a Zen Stream on hand can you test that?

 

After getting my SBT back in action, I decided to build a dedicated streaming server, rather than keeping my entire NAS awake just for music. It's a RPi 5 4gb, in a FLIRC passive case, with an unused 2Tb Samsung T7 USB SSD, running pCP 10-RC2 and LMS 9.01.



Why hobble a pi5 in a passive case? Well, it's just a bursty workload, it will never thermally throttle. Why something as powerful as a pi5, when you can use much slower models? IO speed. Dropping files over the network onto the SSD saturates the ethernet link at 113 Mb/s; my older pi3B+ capped out at just above 20 Mb/s. Why pCP/LMS and not something flashier like Volumio, Moode or Roon? Ease and cost. The whole thing was up and running in 15 minutes, is 100% stable, and it can stream Tidal at zero cost. Very happy camper.

 

I moved one of my Pi2AES to a different vlan where it no longer has access to my NAS. Completely subjectively speaking I think it sounds better playing files off a local USB drive. Obviously this will not apply to Tidal et al.

 

I run the Pi2 AES off USB (repurposed micro SD with adapter). I feel it’s actually better than using wifi or ethernet to a NAS (speed/latency) and not having to worry about possible mechanical noise from external drives.

 

Is your server software playing funny buggers with the signal? Gain? Eq? DSP? In my case, everything goes native to the endpoint, where the only thing applied before transmission to the DAC is replaygain.

When you have multiple endpoints, it's not really feasible/sensible to have your music attached by USB to each device. And the NAS usually goes in the basement/closet; the only time I see my NAS is when I do laundry.

 

Bog stock Volumio with BNC to the Gungnir. Different use case from yours, just sharing the anecdote.

 

I have used EVGA Nu Audio for many years and I continue to think it's one of the best transports I have heard. You are limited to toslink. You probably should use wasapi/kernel streaming You can boost the performance with a separate power supply (it requires external power to work).

Edit: to be clear, don't use Nu Audio's analog output - it's warmpoo low end. Also, turn off the damn LED and all other function and don't even use it as a windows audio device.

 

appreciate advice. I sold my Lumin U1 streamer to generate some cash, bought a Mercury V3 dac and am sending it back as It crashes and is difficult for me. I need an excellent streamer, easy to use, has blue tooth, can run on an iphone. Considering Eversolo dmp6 just as a streamer. Anyone listened to an Eversolo? or have suggestions.
best,
Josh

 

the RED has never crashed on me in like 7 months, but I don't know if it meets your other needs.

 

Maybe the NEO Stream?
I thought it sounded really good, on par with the Red overall but was more expensive and I felt it had extra features (like the DAC - which I guess the Mercury now has too) that drove the cost up unnecessarily.
Also, it’s a iFi, so I’m not sure about simplicity or bug-free experience

 

I will check it our, have not looked at it, thanks

 

I have the Neo Stream. I had a few hiccups with it at first, but now it seems to have settled down and just seems to work. When it gets switched off, you need to reset the settings, and also there are a few quirks in the set up.

One thing though is that I think the internal DAC is terrible. I often don't hear huge differences on the digital side of things, but I find that internal DAC insipid.

 

@Josh Schor

I have a zen stream that's been bulletproof for feeding my USB dac, but I know that others have had problems...

 

Michael is checking the mercury out then sending it back to me, he will continue helping me get it running smoothly. Im going to give it a go and see if I can do it.
best,
Josh

 

I ended up returning the Mercry v3 to Michael and he refunded me. I bought an eversolo dmpa6 master edition and installed the LPS power supply upgrade. It has a very good and easy interface, not perfect but very usable on my iphone. Sound wise I would say it is a different flavor compared to the mercuryv3, I like it very much. Good bass, mids are warm and clear and the top end is extended with good clarity For those of you that are noobs like me (I know most here are good with computers) the eversolo is worth looking into. I am just using this as a streamer with the gungnir2 dac.
best,
Josh

 

I'm a Mac user with a ~4TB music library on a APFS-formatted external HD. All my music is 16- and 24-bit ALAC (I manage my library via macOS Music app, but don't ever use it to play music on my desktop headphone rig). I do not use any music streaming services.

If it was you, would you go w/ something like a Mercury V3 or just stay in the Apple family and run a headless Mac Mini? This would be entirely for use on a single desktop headphone rig. I'd just like to remove my Macbook Pro from the chain; far from a need, just a preference.

FWIW, I rarely see specific discussion centered around local music library attached to music streaming devices; all the discussion *seems* to be about streaming services, so I don't even know which devices are friendly for situations like mine.

 

Over USB? Into which DAC?

If you’re concerned about electrical noise from the Mac (or Mac Mini for that matter) you may want to look into a USB isolator.

I like the Singxer UIP-1 PRO: decent price, galvanically isolated, and with an OCXO to reclock the USB bus.

 

I'm also mostly about local music library instead of streaming services. My needs are different in that I have several rooms that I want to play synchronized music in. Having streamers really helps with that. ;-)

My best DAC is also a streamer. I send it music using MinimServer and its app.

The Apple ecosystem annoyed me years ago so I avoid entanglements with it now other than for computing devices (laptops, tablets). For that reason, I'd say don't go with a Mac Mini using Apple Music. Maybe a Mac Mini using JRiver? I've tried a Mac running some other software and didn't end up enjoying the experience.

Currently, I run Roon and like how that works. Roon is fairly pricey. I think they still have a free trial.

 

A lot of it is probably that playing files off local storage is largely a solved problem, but streaming services are still a bit of a moving target so that is where most of the questions are.

 

Hello,
Need help , I am currently having to use wifi/bluetooth. Can I achieve the same sound quality compared to hardwired? Are there any external bluetooth devices I can plug into a hardwired streamer that work really well? I am looking into running a cable from the router to my new room and its expensive so hoping to find a way to use blue tooth and get equal or excellent sound. appreciate any thoughts on how to approach this
best,
Josh