Best Media Streamer in 2025-2026

[Nothgiel]

I currently use Roon with a Rock Server and a tidal subscription with cds stored on a nas. It is currently played through a Auralic G1 streamer connected to an smsl su10 DAC.

I found out last night I do not need a rock server constantly drawing power from my electricity.

I signed in to tidal on my Auralic and added the files from the NAS with a network share to the Auralic.

I now play through the lightning ds app which I think sounds better than my original setup.

I think the G1 is getting old now at nearly 7 years.

Is there anything better that I can purchase to do the same thing but in one box. I have been looking at the Hifirose 151?

 

[Hear Here]

As you suggest, HiFiRose 151 is one option, but big brands such as NAD offer great all-in-ones that include amplification (eg M33, M10 and less costly C models), and M66 (and C models) that offer all but power amplification. NAD uses the excellent BluOS control app so no need for Roon subscription and its hardware, and this app (like Roon) can be used with Windows and Mac PCs as well as phones and iPads. However, there's lots to choose from, with some offering Dirac DSP, sub-woofer processing, headphone out, etc. All-in-ones have the extra big advantage that you need no cables apart from speaker ones.

 

[Nothgiel]

Nad M66 I like the sound of that. I have an integrated McIntosh ma7200 which I could convert to a straight power amplifier. However I need an AV pass -through option for my surround amplifier which I do not think this has?

Thanks for the assistance, it’s appreciated

 

[Roland68]

Nad M66 I like the sound of that. I have an integrated McIntosh ma7200 which I could convert to a straight power amplifier. However I need an AV pass -through option for my surround amplifier which I do not think this has?

Thanks for the assistance, it’s appreciated

For that, you would only need to connect the preamplifier output for the front speakers on the AVR to one of the line inputs of the NAD and set the NAD to a specific volume, right?

 

[TheKoC]

For that, you would only need to connect the preamplifier output for the front speakers on the AVR to one of the line inputs of the NAD and set the NAD to a specific volume, right?

Not sure if the M66 has a passthrough without delay, I know the M33 has minimum delay of 50ms (reason is Blu-OS), which could make Hometheater-integration and lip-sync difficult.

 

[Hear Here]

Not sure if this helps, but here's part of the M66 Setting screen for an input that may be connected to an AV system or TV. Since I don't have any interest in AV/HT, I've never experimented with these settings. They include a "lip sync" setting to allow sound matching. Very similar Settings are possible with the M33.

I hope this heplps.

 

[Roland68]

Not sure if the M66 has a passthrough without delay, I know the M33 has minimum delay of 50ms (reason is Blu-OS), which could make Hometheater-integration and lip-sync difficult.

I've been setting up combined AV/stereo systems (AVR + stereo amplifier for the front speakers), including my own, this way for almost 30 years. This delay is usually constant, so you only need to calibrate the entire AV system with the stereo amplifier, or adjust it manually. Then this delay will be automatically taken into account.

 

[TheKoC]

I've been setting up combined AV/stereo systems (AVR + stereo amplifier for the front speakers), including my own, this way for almost 30 years. This delay is usually constant, so you only need to calibrate the entire AV system with the stereo amplifier, or adjust it manually. Then this delay will be automatically taken into account.

Sure, but 50 ms additional audio delay is quite a lot, considering the speed of video processing these days. And some AVRs have problems handling delays that are that long (AFAIK Denon receivers with Dirac couldn't handle delays over 20ms before an update some time ago).

 

[Nothgiel]

I would need the pass through to be quite simple and automatic to apply since I would not be the only user of the equipment. The McIntosh seems to do this function very well.