Looking for below $100 Streamer with USB Output only

[OldTimer]

I’ve already had $90 USB-C DAC and $90 Stereo Amp. Hopefully can find $90 Music Streamer with USB output only to replace my iPad Pro streamer app.
Can anyone recommend something?

 

[voodooless]

A Pi would be the obvious choice.

 

[Berwhale]

The Wiim mini would be a more 'plug and play' option if you are happy to use Toslink, rather than USB to connect to the PO100 AK.

 

[renaudrenaud]

An Orange Pi, less expansive than a Raspberry pi. This is what I use everywhere at home.

 

[OldTimer]

The Wiim mini would be a more 'plug and play' option if you are happy to use Toslink, rather than USB to connect to the PO100 AK.

Cannot because it’s optical and coaxial out, not input.

 

[OldTimer]

An Orange Pi, less expansive than a Raspberry pi. This is what I use everywhere at home.

View attachment 334199

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Do you have any documentation for software installation on the pi? I only use Qobuz.

 

[renaudrenaud]

Do you have any documentation for software installation on the pi? I only use Qobuz.

I use Logitech Media Server since years.

I use Docker containers... LMS server and Squeezelite. I think Qobuz is doable via LMS.

There is a big support from the community.

forums.slimdevices.com

 

[renaudrenaud]

Ha, there is 2 ways to do things easily.

The first one is PiCorePlayer and the second one, if you have an old X86 computer, is Daphile. The 2 are easy to install.

piCorePlayer

www.picoreplayer.org

Daphile – Digital Music Convenience for Audiophiles

Daphile is an audiophile class music server & player OS – targeted to dedicated headless PC. It manages the bitperfect and gapless playback of common audio formats including the high resolution files.

www.daphile.com

 

[eddantes]

If you don't want to DIY or swap your DAC then I suppose ifi Zen Stream might be your thing. But in your shoes - I would swap the DAC for one with optical in and a remote and get Wiim Mini. Probably cost you the same as the Zen Stream - and make you more flexible.

 

[renaudrenaud]

Seems Qobuz was already in LMS in 2014...

 

[Falco]

A raspberry pi with either MoOde, PicorePlayer or Volumio
From this list on Volumio has native Qobuz, but it will require a subscription. Whereas PiCorePlayer and MoOde rely on LMS integration, without subscription, to play Qobuz.

 

[Berwhale]

Cannot because it’s optical and coaxial out, not input.

Ah, I didn't realize the PO100 AK could only take USB input. I guess this is why SMSL call it a USB Digital Interface DAC and list it in the Other section of their website, rather than the DAC one.

 

[OldTimer]

A raspberry pi with either MoOde, PicorePlayer or Volumio
From this list on Volumio has native Qobuz, but it will require a subscription. Whereas PiCorePlayer and MoOde rely on LMS integration, without subscription, to play Qobuz.

Actually, I prefer a dedicated streamer which has its own display and remote control. Previously I'm thinking to use Mac Mini but then it will become busy to provide the display, keyboard, mouse,etc.

 

[RosalieTheDog]

The Wiim offerings that do have usb output (and also the forthcoming product with a screen), already have excellent DACs, rendering your SMSL somewhat redundant. They are also quite a bit above your budget.

 

[Phorize]

Do you have any documentation for software installation on the pi? I only use Qobuz.

I use Moodeaudio with qobuz. There's a few ways of doing it 1) Bluetooth (including aptx hd) using the qobuz app 2) a upnp client such as mconnect or bubble streaming from your phone to the pi or 3) using your phone or a pc as a upnp control point to control a upnp server on the pi-with this option the pi runs as a proxy and directly connects to the qobuz server. I mostly use the option 3 as moode has a menu option to login into qobuz.

 

[OldTimer]

The Wiim offerings that do have usb output (and also the forthcoming product with a screen), already have excellent DACs, rendering your SMSL somewhat redundant. They are also quite a bit above your budget.

When will it be available? If it's above Wiim Amp price, I can't afford.

 

[Phorize]

Actually, I prefer a dedicated streamer which has its own display and remote control. Previously I'm thinking to use Mac Mini but then it will become busy to provide the display, keyboard, mouse,etc.

I think you will seriously struggle to get that for the money you are saying you want to spend. You may be able to find a used streamer but you can be sure that it will be running abandon ware.

 

[Berwhale]

Actually, I prefer a dedicated streamer which has its own display and remote control. Previously I'm thinking to use Mac Mini but then it will become busy to provide the display, keyboard, mouse,etc.

You can build a RaspberryPi streamer with a touch screen and a remote...

Brief description (with pictures) of my Touchscreen Pi based PicorePlayer streamer...

At the request of Adam, here: https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/fan-less-silent-pc.41114/post-1487232 here is a short description of the Pi based streamer I built. Components:
 Raspberry PI 3b (Made redundant when I upgraded my media player to a PI4. Official power supply...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I haven't bothered to add a remote to mine as it's used in my garage.

 

[Ron Texas]

Get a used Windows notebook. It will be more than $100, but will run all sorts of software and can also be used for video playback.

 

[Falco]

Another option might be a used tablet, but before buying make sure it supports USB audio 2.0 out to your dac