Occamsrazor
Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2017
- Messages
- 40
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- 24
Hi,
I've been out of the audio game for a few years but getting back in and looking to add a streamer to my setup, which is:
Mac Mini > RME ADI-2 DAC > home-built Hypex nCore monoblocks > ATC SCM11 speakers
I used to use only Roon, but now I tend to use Spotify more. Everything works fine from the Mac Mini but I also use that machine for various other stuff and often find I need to open/re-open apps or change stuff or change sound outputs and generally just want something dedicated connected to the DAC full-time.
To be clear, while I want to maintain decent sound quality - that is NOT my priority here. I want a device that can:
- Act as Roon endpoint for the Mac Mini, run Spotify Connect controlled by the Spotify app on my iPhone and Macbook. Also Airplay from time to time.
- Sit there connected to the ADI-2 DAC and "just work" with the minimum amount of user interaction, not having to manually select stream inputs, and not have to use the device's app to control music.
- The device does NOT need to manage local music files itself.
- Primary goal should be functionality, slick and easy user experience, seamless auto-switching between input streams/sources.
- Should be similar or smaller size than the ADI-2 (not component size).
- It would be "nice" for the device to support Spotify Lossless, but not strictly essential. I understand many open-source solutions (RPI, Librespot ?) don't.
- £100-300 max, (secondhand is fine) in the UK
I've been doing a bunch of reading and so far this is what I'm considering:
1. WIIM Mini - ruled out because it doesn't support Roon.
2. WIIM Pro - this seems to tick all the boxes and is what I am tempted to go with.
3. WIIM Pro Plus - doesn't add anything over Pro if using digital-out. Same with Ultra
4. FiiO SR11 - doesn't support Spotify Connect
5. Bluesound - older models, or Node Nano - bit more than I wanted to spend, but would consider if the user experience significantly better.
6. Raspberry Pi - still considering this as I don't mind a bit of tinkering, can always repurpose it later, but doesn't seem to add much over WIIM Pro, would lose Spotify Lossless, and I worry I'll end up having to go into its interface more than a dedicated device (maybe not?).
What else should I be looking at? Any thoughts? I feel I understand the technology reasonably well - what I do not have is any hands-on experience at all of what these are like from a user-experience level.
Thanks.
I've been out of the audio game for a few years but getting back in and looking to add a streamer to my setup, which is:
Mac Mini > RME ADI-2 DAC > home-built Hypex nCore monoblocks > ATC SCM11 speakers
I used to use only Roon, but now I tend to use Spotify more. Everything works fine from the Mac Mini but I also use that machine for various other stuff and often find I need to open/re-open apps or change stuff or change sound outputs and generally just want something dedicated connected to the DAC full-time.
To be clear, while I want to maintain decent sound quality - that is NOT my priority here. I want a device that can:
- Act as Roon endpoint for the Mac Mini, run Spotify Connect controlled by the Spotify app on my iPhone and Macbook. Also Airplay from time to time.
- Sit there connected to the ADI-2 DAC and "just work" with the minimum amount of user interaction, not having to manually select stream inputs, and not have to use the device's app to control music.
- The device does NOT need to manage local music files itself.
- Primary goal should be functionality, slick and easy user experience, seamless auto-switching between input streams/sources.
- Should be similar or smaller size than the ADI-2 (not component size).
- It would be "nice" for the device to support Spotify Lossless, but not strictly essential. I understand many open-source solutions (RPI, Librespot ?) don't.
- £100-300 max, (secondhand is fine) in the UK
I've been doing a bunch of reading and so far this is what I'm considering:
1. WIIM Mini - ruled out because it doesn't support Roon.
2. WIIM Pro - this seems to tick all the boxes and is what I am tempted to go with.
3. WIIM Pro Plus - doesn't add anything over Pro if using digital-out. Same with Ultra
4. FiiO SR11 - doesn't support Spotify Connect
5. Bluesound - older models, or Node Nano - bit more than I wanted to spend, but would consider if the user experience significantly better.
6. Raspberry Pi - still considering this as I don't mind a bit of tinkering, can always repurpose it later, but doesn't seem to add much over WIIM Pro, would lose Spotify Lossless, and I worry I'll end up having to go into its interface more than a dedicated device (maybe not?).
What else should I be looking at? Any thoughts? I feel I understand the technology reasonably well - what I do not have is any hands-on experience at all of what these are like from a user-experience level.
Thanks.
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