I intend to switch my current passives out for active monitors. I'd also like my rest of the digital setup to keep up with the progress (not in sound, but in amenities). I have a pretty clear idea of what I'm looking for: a wi-fi streamer (capable of handling common services like Spotify and possible Tidal + Roon/Qobuz) with DAC and XLR pre-outs for volume control of the active monitors. Allo's Katana seems like a no brainer, but I'd strongly prefer XLR-outs and they don't come with XLR outs out-of-the-box (if I'm forced to go XLR with active monitors, I'd much rather the whole chain be XLR). I'd also highly prefer room correction ability and a half-width size. An one-box option if possible would be nice too, that doesn't need a wired connection to a PC.
The product that I've found to come closest to my requirements is this streamer from Abacus in Germany. It has XLR pre-outs, and has what seems like a very nice implementation of Acourate that's specifically designed by the creator for them. The half-width size and remote control is also nice, as is the ability to just hook the UMIK-1 straight to the RPi. My issue is that when UMIK-1 and Acourate is bundled in it costs nearly 1000 euro before VAT deduction (I live in South-East Asia). The DAC board also has never been measured too. And I'm very skeptical about paying this much for a RPi implementation.
The Lindemann Limetree Network also looks nice, has DSD support, is compact, but only has fixed RCA line-outs. If it were at least an XLR line-out I would have considered going with it and adding an XLR line preamp like the SPL Volume2. The UX is something I want - playback selection through iPad (I have a spare one lying at home), fuss free. Also not that cheap - especially since it looks like another RPi box - and hasn't really been measured independently. No native room correction function as far as I can see. This is short of XLR output and native room-correction ability. Closed-source app is another concern (software support in the long term).
The MiniDSP SHD is another option obviously, it has Dirac and the 4 outputs allow me flexibility to add a dual-sub setup in the far future. It has also been measured by Amir. However, it is more than I want to pay (my budget is roughly $800), is full-width and I'm not too sure how to fit it into my setup - both literally in size and whether it suits my application. Also not too sure about the integration with Spotify and Tidal/Qobuz - could someone enlighten me on the situation?
Essentially I want a box that can handle:
- wired input from a music server/NAS (optional because I don't see myself taking this option in the near future)
- streaming by wi-fi for Spotify and possibly Tidal + Roon/Qobuz
- at least XLR line-out, if not pre-out
- half-width form factor
- roughly $800 or much cheaper is fine too without compromised engineering
- built-in room correction ability without needing a PC to be connected
- has a good iPad interface - Android too preferably
- physical remote control preferably - especially for the volume knob
- wayyyy down the list is ability to handle DSD - just because the likes of Topping and SMSL can handle it trivially.
Or should I just get a good XLR pre-out DAC with optical and then hook a Chromecast Audio's optical output to it?
The product that I've found to come closest to my requirements is this streamer from Abacus in Germany. It has XLR pre-outs, and has what seems like a very nice implementation of Acourate that's specifically designed by the creator for them. The half-width size and remote control is also nice, as is the ability to just hook the UMIK-1 straight to the RPi. My issue is that when UMIK-1 and Acourate is bundled in it costs nearly 1000 euro before VAT deduction (I live in South-East Asia). The DAC board also has never been measured too. And I'm very skeptical about paying this much for a RPi implementation.
The Lindemann Limetree Network also looks nice, has DSD support, is compact, but only has fixed RCA line-outs. If it were at least an XLR line-out I would have considered going with it and adding an XLR line preamp like the SPL Volume2. The UX is something I want - playback selection through iPad (I have a spare one lying at home), fuss free. Also not that cheap - especially since it looks like another RPi box - and hasn't really been measured independently. No native room correction function as far as I can see. This is short of XLR output and native room-correction ability. Closed-source app is another concern (software support in the long term).
The MiniDSP SHD is another option obviously, it has Dirac and the 4 outputs allow me flexibility to add a dual-sub setup in the far future. It has also been measured by Amir. However, it is more than I want to pay (my budget is roughly $800), is full-width and I'm not too sure how to fit it into my setup - both literally in size and whether it suits my application. Also not too sure about the integration with Spotify and Tidal/Qobuz - could someone enlighten me on the situation?
Essentially I want a box that can handle:
- wired input from a music server/NAS (optional because I don't see myself taking this option in the near future)
- streaming by wi-fi for Spotify and possibly Tidal + Roon/Qobuz
- at least XLR line-out, if not pre-out
- half-width form factor
- roughly $800 or much cheaper is fine too without compromised engineering
- built-in room correction ability without needing a PC to be connected
- has a good iPad interface - Android too preferably
- physical remote control preferably - especially for the volume knob
- wayyyy down the list is ability to handle DSD - just because the likes of Topping and SMSL can handle it trivially.
Or should I just get a good XLR pre-out DAC with optical and then hook a Chromecast Audio's optical output to it?
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