ARSY Ne-2 Streamer Review

[harry925]

Could you tell me your contact information? I can send you the Ne-2 device with the latest firmware installed for free.

I returned my ARSY NE-2 as once I hooked it up to wifi and updated the firmware it did not support UPNP with Audirvana on Mac even though UPNP was claimed in the sales listing. It looks like ARSY was selling units with much older firmware and the unit updated to a 2024.11.18.001 version instead of the latest 2025.03.10.001 using the ARSY Wifi tool. Hopefully, that fixes issues? However, I no longer have mine to verify. I would suggest posting an NE-2 firmware change log tech note which may help other ARSY buyers with similar issues before they return their units? Thank you for your insight.

And also can you tell me the brand and model of the router used? Thanks!

 

[harry925]

Is this available in the uk yet, thank you

Sorry, not yet

 

[harry925]

OK, with this update Airplay is now available. BubbleUPnP on Android however, still doesn't see it.

Please upgrade to OS Release 2025.04.24.001,it resolved the issue where some routers failed to detect UPnP.

 

[GabrielPhoto]

Any idea how it will work with emby?

 

[harry925]

Any idea how it will work with emby?

It support UPnP with emby.

 

[Joey]

For the price it's great competition for the Wiims. I use my Wiim with my streaming apps but I'd also like to add that the Wiim app has very interesting functionalities that I use sometimes, so I'd still choose a Wiim, even if the DAC isn't as good.
Its pricing sits between the wiim mini and wiim pro which is very relevant considering its functionalities and performance. Good finding.

If it's convenient for you, could you give some examples of interesting applications?

 

[Karmacoma]

If it's convenient for you, could you give some examples of interesting applications?

Room eq, tune in, soundcloud, multiroom management, multi streaming services management when I need it, all in one app with voice control through Alexa (for me) or others. I don't use roon. Wiim is owned by linkplay technology, the leader in streaming and multiroom solutions, you get top notch functionalities and if I'm not mistaken you get their innovations first. Convenient isn't it?

 

[jeffme]

It support UPnP with emby.

@harry925 - kudos for showing up and jumping in. Having manufacturers' engineers show up to answer questions is one of the best parts of ASR.

 

[rnrmf]

Anyone with one of these able to check if it shows up as an endpoint using Qobuz Connect?
The latest update of the Qobuz app has enabled the Qobuz Connect feature.

 

[kschac]

I tested Qobuz Connect in the app and it connects via AirPlay (only). Not sure if there should be another way to connect though.

 

[rnrmf]

I tested Qobuz Connect in the app and it connects via AirPlay (only). Not sure if there should be another way to connect though.

@harry925

If Arsy could roll out an update that adds Qobuz Connect functionality, I'd love to pick one of these up.

 

[harry925]

@harry925

If Arsy could roll out an update that adds Qobuz Connect functionality, I'd love to pick one of these up.

We are trying to contact Qobuz, but haven't received a reply yet.

 

[Blake Klondike]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the ARSY Ne-2 streamer. It was sent to me by the company and currently is on sale for US $159.
View attachment 445244
The case is no bigger than the CD jewel boxes. The design is minimalistic with just USB-C input for power and everything else, output:
View attachment 445245
Simplicity extends to NOT having or needing an app to control it. Plug it in, and it should appear as a destination in various streaming platforms. In my case, it supports Roon player so that is how I tested it. Without the app, you need to wire it using Ethernet first, find its IP address and using its simple web interface to program WiFi network/password. And upgrade it (which I did). For power, I just used a random USB-C charger I had around.

If you are not familiar with amplifier measurements, please watch my tutorial on it:

[And subscribe to the channel ]

ARSY Ne-2 Streamer Measurements
Since I am limited to test files I can play using Roon, I don't have full suite of measurements for you. But enough to get a very good picture of Ne-2's performance starting with our dashboard (only analog out is tested throughout):
View attachment 445246
Nice! Distortion is well below threshold of hearing so we are noise limited.
View attachment 445247
View attachment 445248

The Crystal Semiconductor DAC performs some kind of dynamic range scaling to produce better results in our DNR than expected:
View attachment 445249

Jitter spectrum is ultra clean, showing well designed device:
View attachment 445250

Multitone test shows a bit of increase in distortion in bass which we often see. Otherwise it is excellent:
View attachment 445251

We have the usual filter design:
View attachment 445252

THD+N vs spectrum looks very good:
View attachment 445253

EDIT: Digital Output Test
I streamed content to NE2 over network and captured it back using Toslink. It worked perfectly all the way up to 192 kHz:
View attachment 445922

Conclusions
When the company reached out to me to offer a sample to test, I almost said no until I saw that they had Audio Precision measurements showing excellent response. So I accepted a sample and I am glad I did. This is a no frills streamer/network to digital audio streamer that performs excellently. I personally can't stand having to use an app to control a streamer. I want to plug the thing in and just see it at the end of the wire/network. Ne-2 streamer does that and does it extremely well.

I am happy to recommend ARSY Ne-2 streamer.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

thanks as always for the review! can i ask the most basic possible question? what are these for? can't you just stream via wifi to a computer or phone? are there advantages here over that?

 

[EmileB]

@armirm, thanks for testing this device — I probably never would’ve known it existed otherwise. I've been streaming music for 20 years, and when it comes to user experience, nothing has ever come close to the Squeezebox. Its beautiful VFD display was easily readable from the listening chair, and the standard IR remote was simply perfect to navigate through my music library. I have owned a Transporter and it was awesome.

Over the years, I’ve tried many streamers, platforms, and protocols. Like you, I hate relying on an app just to listen to music, but it’s become almost unavoidable. The best experience nowadays is using the native app of the streaming service and then casting via Google Cast or AirPlay — but even those are quirky at best. Volume control is terrible, gapless playback is hit-or-miss, and there are plenty of other annoyances. Roon is ok, but I will never pay a monthly subscription for just software, sorry.

What I’ve really wanted all along is a true (fixed volume) streaming endpoint — basically, a network-attached DAC. And now, I’ve finally found it! It even supports Squeezelite.

Your timing is perfect. Just two weeks ago, I decided to return to my beloved old ecosystem and picked up a ~15-year-old Squeezebox, despite its badly fading VFD display. I installed the Lyrion music server, and I couldn’t be happier. I was just about to order a Pi and some other components to DIY a Squeezebox — but instead, I’ll definitely be picking up an Arsy product.

 

[Mort]

There is an app right? Is it easy to use if one doesn't have a wired ethernet connection?

 

[amper42]

@armirm, thanks for testing this device — I probably never would’ve known it existed otherwise. I've been streaming music for 20 years, and when it comes to user experience, nothing has ever come close to the Squeezebox. Its beautiful VFD display was easily readable from the listening chair, and the standard IR remote was simply perfect to navigate through my music library. I have owned a Transporter and it was awesome.

Over the years, I’ve tried many streamers, platforms, and protocols. Like you, I hate relying on an app just to listen to music, but it’s become almost unavoidable. The best experience nowadays is using the native app of the streaming service and then casting via Google Cast or AirPlay — but even those are quirky at best. Volume control is terrible, gapless playback is hit-or-miss, and there are plenty of other annoyances. Roon is ok, but I will never pay a monthly subscription for just software, sorry.

What I’ve really wanted all along is a true (fixed volume) streaming endpoint — basically, a network-attached DAC. And now, I’ve finally found it! It even supports Squeezelite.

Your timing is perfect. Just two weeks ago, I decided to return to my beloved old ecosystem and picked up a ~15-year-old Squeezebox, despite its badly fading VFD display. I installed the Lyrion music server, and I couldn’t be happier. I was just about to order a Pi and some other components to DIY a Squeezebox — but instead, I’ll definitely be picking up an Arsy product.

In my opinion, if you already have a nice DAC the RPi4 running Moode offers a superior option for streaming versus ARSY NE-2. The reason I say this is the NE-2 offers no app and you are totally at the mercy of the firmware. I could get Apple AirPlay to work with ARSY NE-2 but not UPnP. All my hi-res music was sampled down to work at AirPlay 44.1kHz. I ended up returning it to Amazon. You don't have anywhere near the configuration options with NE-2 that Moode offers. Hopefully, the NE-2 firmware will be updated to reliably support UPnP?

In comparison, the RPi4 with Moode can enable a vast array of streaming and network options and it's gotten super easy to use. I setup the "Raspberry Pi Imager" with my wifi details and it automatically flashes a Moode sdcard customized for my network. Next, I mount the SDCARD in the RPi4 and turn it on. Within 2 minutes it's ready for configuration. I log into it with a browser and select the options desired. For me, it's turn on DLNA/UPnP, set the Audio device and remove volume control. I restart Moode and it just works! Files up to 192kHz are supported. I normally use the Audirvana app with Qobuz on MacBook Pro to connect to the RPi4/Moode over wifi which connects via USB to RME ADI-2 DAC FS to Purifi amp and out to speakers.

Lately, I have been playing around with using a bigger SDCARD for Moode as they are inexpensive. SanDisk 128GB Ultra mictoSDXC UHS-I Memory card 140MB/s on Amazon is $13.82. I turn on Samba in Moode while I copy hi-res albums over to the RPi4 via wifi. This offers another option to play back local music directly from RPi4 SDCARD folder. Obviously, Audirvana is far superior but it's pretty cool how much you can do with just Moode.

I now have three listening areas setup with RPi4 Moode and they all sound fantastic. For a while, I was using Wiim mini but its firmware doesn't work well with Audirvana. Intermittently, tracks stop playing or it doesn't move on to the next song. Wiim UPnP code works fine with Wiim app but it's absolutely unreliable with Audirvana. In contrast, Moode DLNA/UPnP is ROCK SOLID with Audirvana. I tried to send support requests to Wiim but it never corrected the issue. Each release something else would break. It's pretty clear you should stick with Wiim app if you use their pucks. So, my three Wiim pucks are now sitting idle in a drawer while RPi4/Moode is amazing!

I have looked at lots of streaming options. Always thinking maybe there is something better out there? After years of trying different things, I always come back to MacBook Pro/Audirvana using the RPi4/Moode combination via Wifi over DLNA/UPnP. It's definitely my favorite.

 

[Second Opinion]

Can anyone confirm where the company controlling the product is domicilled and where the product is manufactured. Thank you

 

[rnrmf]

Can anyone confirm where the company controlling the product is domicilled and where the product is manufactured. Thank you

This is the contact info from their website:

ARSY Audio

Room 210, Wanhuafeng Industrial Park, Shajing St

Baoan Distric, Shenzhen 518000

China

 

[rnrmf]

The ARSY NE-2 Plus (and NE-3 Plus) have been posted on the Arsy website but there isn't any information about what's different compared to the non-Plus models at this point besides price. The Amazon product page suggests that the new version has some DSD playback compatibility, however.

@harry925 - can you provide any details about the differences?

 

[harry925]

The ARSY NE-2 Plus (and NE-3 Plus) have been posted on the Arsy website but there isn't any information about what's different compared to the non-Plus models at this point besides price. The Amazon product page suggests that the new version has some DSD playback compatibility, however.

@harry925 - can you provide any details about the differences?

The updated version includes an additional reset button for clear all the "SSID" and "Password", and the sample rate update to 24Bit/384KHz with Line-out.