ARSY Ne-2 Streamer Review

[Romario]

Compared to a tv media box it's still quite big

 

[MediumRare]

Yes. That is the only output I tested.

Would be good to see if optical and coax outputs are comparable. In some other streamers they have been materially different.

 

[gvl]

As interesting as it is I just can’t find a good use case for my situation which is “I already have too many DACs”. I wish they had a pure digital model with SPDIF and USB outputs only.

@amirm, could you do a quick test of the USB output? Just to see if you can connect a USB DAC to it and it actually works and receives the same sampling rate that was sent.

 

[gvl]

This application is compatible with Qobuz

Solutions exist, but is it much to ask to just be able to fire up the native app and start listening on a network device at full resolution available without running some sort of proxy in between?

 

[HalSF]

Compared to a tv media box it's still quite big View attachment 445554

That’s what she said.

 

[DavidEdwinAston]

I have run this product in my system for about an hour now. There is definitely a hole, in my soundstage.

 

[Romario]

That’s what she said.

Siri or Alexa?

 

[Jimster480]

What would be the reason for that? It already has good enough DAC.

Because for example; if I were to purchase it I would feed it into the DAC that runs my speaker system which also is fed from my TV and HTPC. So I would output from this using Coaxial into the DAC so I could switch to the streamer.

 

[carsknivesbeer]

is there any advantage of this over the Wiim Pro or Wiim Pro +? That is a tried streamer with constant updates and measurements for the same (if not cheaper) price.

 

[fatoldgit]

I have run this product in my system for about an hour now. There is definitely a hole, in my soundstage.

Needs at least 200 hours of burn in to sound its best.... 300 for that last final bit of resolution, soundstage depth/width, veils lifted, blacker blacks etc

Also needs at least $5000 of associated analog/digital cabling and a $3000 LPS (with USB C output obviously).

Don't forget the reclocking ethernet switch and cat 8 cable (has to be cat 8 else you will lose bits).

You are just not "doing it right"!!!

Peter

/S if needed

 

[johny_2000]

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.

Did they show the measurements in the tet-a-tet chat? I don't see any website for this company.
These days there are a lot of companies from China that are tirelessly churning out tons of new DACs, amps, streamers, etc. almost monthly, at incredible prices, and with pretty good specs that can be verified by measurements. It's amazing that these companies can afford Audio Precision instruments unless they rent them.

Did you look at them? There are only 3 reviews. One is 4 star. One is 2 star and one is one star. The two star one makes a bunch of assertions about forced resampling, etc. which would require a lot of knowledge and instrumentation. Doubt he has that. He then says there is a headphone amp in there and you connect your headphone using USB-C? What the heck? The two star one says he couldn't connect to anything. Maybe that was the case in February 15th when he post the review. None of the issues they mention were there in my testing, albeit, in different scenarios.

I looked. All three of them from "Vine Customer Review of Free Product" are useless. Basically, as is always the case with companies of this kind, they focus on the hardware but lack software, user manuals, and customer support. Then, the average consumer (unless they hold a degree in computer science) is frustrated by not understanding how to use the basic functions of the device, unhappy with apps that require installation and registration with personal data, etc.

 

[amirm]

Did they show the measurements in the tet-a-tet chat? I don't see any website for this company.

ARSY Ne-2 Streaming Music Receiver, Airplay 2 Receiver, WiFi Streamer

AirPlay 2 Receiver - ARSY Ne-2 transforms your stereo into an AirPlay 2 -enabled speaker, enabling you to stream music from iOS and Mac devices or TV audio from Apple TV. This affordable, hassle-free upgrade connects your Apple devices to your favorite audio gear, turning it into an AirPlay 2...

arsyaudio.com

 

[amirm]

Basically, as is always the case with companies of this kind, they focus on the hardware but lack software, user manuals, and customer support. Then, the average consumer (unless they hold a degree in computer science) is frustrated by not understanding how to use the basic functions of the device, unhappy with apps that require installation and registration with personal data, etc.

I don't know what you are saying. There are instructions on the website. There is not much to it other than configuring WiFi if you need that. You plug it in, and it shows up as a playback device with specific applications. The simplicity of this product specifically deals with the issues you talk about. There is no requirement or need for any registration as there is with app centric streamers such as sonos, etc.

 

[watchnerd]

Oh, interesting...

My current Roon Bridge is a Raspberry Pi running RoPieee connected to a Schiit Modius.

The SINAD of the Arsy and the Modius is the same.

I could replace both boxes with this and get rid of the annoying tendency of the Pi's USB out to be sloppy and lose connectivity with the Modius if I try to move it.

The only thing I'd give up is the XLR-out connectivity of the Modius.

Tempting.

 

[watchnerd]

Very interesting thanks.
Seems they also have a simpler model ne-3 without spdif output but still usb out and a different dac at a lower price.

$119 and it still does 24bit/192khz.

Unclear about Roon support

 

[watchnerd]

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


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/

When you connected it via Roon, did it support RAAT?

I haven't noticed RAAT making a difference in sound quality, but it does allow for creating grouped zones.

 

[watchnerd]

I get that, but if you use more than one streaming service then you have multiple UIs. The advantage of 'Pull' is you only have one UI to contend with.
Obviously, it has to be a decent one. I'm happy with the WiiM's ... it's better than the native Amazon one IMO.

Not necessarily.

I use Roon as a master UI, to handle my local NAS FLACs, streaming radio, and Qobuz, all in one UI.

I used to have a Tidal subscription and Roon could mange Tidal and Qobuz through one UI.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

is there any advantage of this over the Wiim Pro or Wiim Pro +? That is a tried streamer with constant updates and measurements for the same (if not cheaper) price.

It’s missing Chromecast and AlexaCast, as well as voice control and a BT remote control, all included with most WiiM devices. The WiiM will be easier to configure for WiFi, and supports MANY more services. So, unless you’re set on Roon, the WiiMs have many advantages for most folks.

 

[JakeK]

It seems to me this would be a good replacement for a squeezebox transport or duet. Less effort than putting together a raspberry pi with DAC HAT but a little more cost. It does seem to lack bluetooth so that's a downside compared to a Pi (or other streamers) if that's something you want but I found bluetooth not that easy to set up on a pi and there are other ways to add bluetooth to your setup. Also a good choice as a simple Roon endpoint as mentioned by Amir.

 

[M.C. Logan]

That's fine in some situations but it means it can't be used in a lot of homes.

Are you suggesting many people don't have a) an ethernet cable and b) the wherewithal to plug it into a spare RJ45 socket on their switch/router? I've certainly never come across a router without *any* RJ45 sockets.