2. digital
  3. 144301-74203

Need DAC/Streaming Advice

I currently own a Bryston BDP-2 digital player that I run through a Bryston DAC.  As far as playing high resolution files via a thumb drive or other external drive, the BDP-2 sounds great.  The streaming part leaves a lot to be desired.  I can stream Tidal but it is extremely slow and the IPad controller is pretty lousy.  I can listen to Sonos through the DAC into my main system but obviously there is no hi-Rez via Sonos. I would like to find a better solution and am willing to start over (I can move the Bryston components to my secondary system).  What I would like to find is a higher end streamer for my main system that would allow me to stream Tidal, Spotify and Deezer if possible while also playing digital files via thumb drive etc. I have no idea if that can be done in a one box solution or if I would need a separate streamer and DAC.  I would very much appreciate any and all thoughts.  Thanks in advance.
puppyt
randyhat
138 posts
 
I own a Bluesound Node2 and a Lumin T1.  I used the Bluesound in my main system for about a year before I moved it to a second system and replaced it with the Lumin.  I was, and still am, very happy with the performance of the Node2.  Yes, I think the Lumin is better (at a significant increase in cost) but the Bluesound is a very, very good entry level unit.  The law of diminishing returns is invoked when it comes to moving up from the Node.  I use both the Bluesound and Lumin with Roon so issues with their respective apps are not relevant to me at this time but I thought the Bluesound app was very functional and straightforward.
puppyt OP
33 posts
 
There have been several mentions of Roon. Does Roon improve sound quality or is it simply a superior interface?
randyhat
138 posts
 
Although there are facilities within the Roon software to modify/improve the sound, I personally would not purchase it solely on the basis of those features.  Roon is a superior interface...significantly so in my opinion and is worth it for that alone.  I have experimented with some of the DSP features but frankly couldn't reliably hear any differences.
mmorrison55
15 posts
 
@russellrcncom 

+1 on the mini. I just recently acquired a Lumin u1 mini from upscale audio. They offered a 10% discount for returning customers so I was able to get the mini for 1800. Still above your 1500 limit, but it’s closer and every bit counts, right? 😀

anyway, I have been extremely pleased with it streaming hi res Qobuz to my devialet. The Lumin app, is quite nice and user friendly as well, but I also am doing a Roon trial, and already know I will buy the lifetime membership as soon as my trial is over. Roon is fantastic!

regards,

mike
jnehma1
38 posts
 
I don’t have personal experience with them but NAD (which is part of the same company that makes BlueSound) makes several products with BluOS built in. So you get the exact same functionality of the BlueSound products but in a much "better" (higher end) package (full separates with better power supplies, better DAC, etc). They make DAC/streamers, integrated amp/streamers, etc. Someone already mentioned the brand new NAD C658 ($1,500), which is one I have my eye on too, but there are other models depending on which specific features you are looking for.

Oh and +1 for Roon. Fantastic interface and the "killer app" functionality is the ability to seamlessly integrate all your music from Tidal, Qobuz, and whatever is stored on your local drives into one large library. You can shuffle music in your library regardless of if it's a local CD rip or on Tidal or Qobuz. I LOVE that feature because sometimes I want to create a playlist of a handful of albums where I have a few files on my hard drive and a few are on Tidal. BluOS doesn't do this - you either listen to Tidal or you listen to a local CD rip. Can't do both seamlessly but with Roon you can. 
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