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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
johnkay74
2 posts
 
Jonkay
sorry to hear about your Bluesound problems. Did you try a different streamer?
mahler123, I have gone back and forth with a number of solutions:
- Sonos connect (with external dac + amp)
- Naim Nova
- Allo Digi One with Volumio (feeding the above external dac + amp)

The Nova sounded great but it is super expensive and it needs careful partnering with speakers (a bit bass heavy). The Naim app was occasionally buggy.

The Allo Digi One used with Roon is (to my ears) the best sounding and also the cheapest. Unfortunately, scaling this to include additional units (RPi3 based) is not easy and it involves a lot of hassle.

I have resigned to using a single Allo Digi One feeding my main system for critical listening and then a Sonos Connect + Sonos One units for multiroom around the house.

The combination allows for listening options but it results in multiple boxes, cables and switching. Not a problem for me but my family will not go near the system...
jonathangreene
4 posts
 
I'm not entirely familiar with the Bryston kit, but FWIW if you already have a ripped collection going from that machine via USB to your DAC (I run a Win10 machine into the Brooklyn DAC+) and stream via Roon which does Tidal as well as Qobuz in addition to accessing my FLAC archives. 

I have a Blusound Node 2 and it's great but the sound coming from the same things directly to the Brooklyn are far superior to my ears.  Trying to figure out where else in the house I should put it now ... I never had any connection issues and used Gigabit ethernet. 







ghulamr's avatar
ghulamr
33 posts
 
@johnkay74 - if you don't have Roon, what's the best way to stream Apple music from Allo Digi One? I really don't want to use Airplay as I believe it compromises on the sound. Also I want to stick with Apple music because of everyone in the family using it. 
Currently I am streaming from my Apple TV to OPPO 105 digital out (to split the HDMI sound) into my Benchmark DAC. Sounds really good but I've heard Digi One takes to another level. Any help or direction will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, 
nekoaudio's avatar
nekoaudio
105 posts
 
@ghulamr I don't think there's any direct option to stream Apple Music from one source to another except using AirPlay. You'd have to convert the digital output or perform digital audio capture from an Apple Music source (e.g. your computer) for transmission over a network-compatible audio transport protocol going to some other device. Or use a long digital cable.
kingbarbuda
10 posts
 
This is a pretty robust and enjoyable discussion. I have a Bryston BDA-3 feeding a Bryston 17B3 feeding two Bryston 4B3 monoblocks feeding a pair of Magnepan 1.7i Speakers. Given the above what would be the best streamer of the following: NAD Masters Series M50.2 (A Blusound unit that can also rip CDs. I am hoping that the Blusound streaming would be better than a Node 2i) OR a Roon Nucleus OR the Bryston BDP-3 and why? Thanks!
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