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Newbie Looking for Advice on Streaming Music

Hello Audiogon world.

I am new to this hobby but I think it will suit me well as it looks like it is an endless pursuit of perfection of sound without ever really getting there.  I love the endless possibilities, difference in thought, technology driven aspect mixed with old school art.

I am in the process of building my first 2 channel set up and recently picked up a Primaluna Dialogue HP and a pair of Sonus Faber Chameleons for starters.

Im looking to stream music from Tidal to the new equipment as simple as possible without compromising sound as much as I possibly can (budget permitting of course)

I have been doing some research and I must say this part of the equation is rather confusing with a lot of technical speak that gets brought into the discussion which is a bit overwhelming for a newbie trying to soak it all in.

Do I need to purchase a high quality DAC?
Can I just buy a streaming box like the Paradigm PW Link or Def Tech W Adapt and hook it into the Primaluna?
Do I go with the Halide Design DAC HD D/A Converter from computer straight into Primaluna?
I also read about the wyred4sound modified Sonos Connect.  Does that plus into a DAC or straight into Amp?

Apologies for all the newbie questions.  I did try searching and doing some research but found myself getting confused.  If someone could help me clear up what I will need that will set me on the path to researching the best value for my budget for each component I will need to accomplish my goals of streaming my music from Tidal.

Thanks in advance.  I think this will be a fun hobby!

Don

donblackie
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Are you having stability problems using DLNA networked streaming, USB or S/PDIF input?

DLNA can be problematic depending on the playback app used.  RAAT will probably be more reliable when it is Roon ready.

If you like using your Sonos Connect, you could lower its jitter by reclocking it with a Synchro-Mesh to lower the jitter over the S/PDIF cable to the Sonica.  This would probably get you lower jitter than the Sonica by itself.  20psec jitter on the S/PDIF cable, if you use the right cable:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=154310.0

30-day money-back if you don't like it.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

willemj
1,036 posts
 
As I said above, a DAC with a variable ouput is a perfect pre amplifier, but many do not have analogue inputs. I don't care, but others do. If you go that route, all you need is a power amplifier. Many of these DACs will have balanced ouputs, and if that is what you have, get a power amplifier that also has balanced connections. My preference is for beefy solid state amps. The more power the better, and solid state amps usually perform rather better/more neutral under real speaker loads (see the graphs in Stereophile). Beefy solid state power amps do not need to cost an arm and a leg.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
4,946 posts
 
Totally agree with Willemj here
I upgraded to a $3k DAC that has a very fine volume control AND one set of analog inputs and after listening tests decided I no longer needed my separate McIntosh preamp. Even the majority of cheaper DACs appear to have balanced outputs.
donblackie OP
12 posts
 
@willemj 
I appreciate all your input as well as everyone else's on this thread.  I used your input to make my next move.

I went ahead and purchased the following:

Google Chromecast Audio
PS Audio Directstream Junior DAC

Toslink full to mini cable as I didnt want to mess with hard wiring my DAC to my network and will use chromecast to connect it.

Will plug this into the PrimaLuna to start and go from there.

donblackie OP
12 posts
 
@uberwaltz  I think I might be going down the same path in the future
The DAC I purchased has balanced outputs.
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