Top 5 streamer devices by ASR community

[intothedragon]

Is there a consensus among ASR community about what are the best Audio Streamers today on the market?
From Allo Digione signature to Cambridge Audio CXN V2,
what are the top 5 more recommended and mentioned streamers?

 

[ahofer]

I think you are going to hear a lot about Chromecast and build-your-own with Raspberry Pi. Same fidelity, reliable, small, and inexpensive. Anything with that profile is hard to beat if the funds will be redeployed towards the transducers.

I do think the Cambridge Audio hardware and software works well across streaming protocols and platforms (CXN V2 and Edge).

 

[jtwrace]

RPi4 with RoPieeeXL is what I use and quite frankly is all that's required IMO.

 

[nimar]

Pi 3 or 4 with https://dietpi.com Its got enough audio-centric stuff in there to be useful but is also a well maintained linux distro. Some of the other specialists audio distros have some iffy security practices. These things are usually on 24/7 and connected to the internet, you don't want to become a vector.

Chromecast's are easy but you can get better performance from a Pi/USB DAC (or a pi + hat for digital out) and aren't letting google into your life.

 

[Phorize]

Nothing beats the flexibility and cheapness of the pi. Pi 4 can do dsp adequately too.

But I should qualify that, the software stack is getting better and better but it still feels like the Linux desktop in 2005.i.e powerful but lacks finesse.

 

[JeffS7444]

RPi 3 with JustBoom Digi Hat and Revo Superconnect here.

Would have included AppleTV, but although it works fine for music, that's not the main reason I bought it.

 

[ahofer]

RPi4 with RoPieeeXL is what I use and quite frankly is all that's required IMO.

Can't argue with that. BTW, love the way your system resources are tilted to the speakers!

I listened to the M2s at the Harman showroom in NYC some years ago. Didn't like them in that context, but it was very old school - along the long wall of a switchable auditioning system. Couldn't believe they would display them that way.

 

[intothedragon]

I think you are going to hear a lot about Chromecast and build-your-own with Raspberry Pi. Same fidelity, reliable, small, and inexpensive. Anything with that profile is hard to beat if the funds will be redeployed towards the transducers.

I do think the Cambridge Audio hardware and software works well across streaming protocols and platforms (CXN V2 and Edge).

I agree about the Same fidelity, reliable, small but not inexpensive at all a complete Allo Digione bundle goes for almost 500 euros and you need to deal with all that power supplies and extra cables. Also that cheap cases and bad looking. But I'm still really curious to test one on my system.

 

[intothedragon]

RPi4 with RoPieeeXL is what I use and quite frankly is all that's required IMO.

are you connecting the RPi4 to your DAC/Amp using USB only?

 

[intothedragon]

RPi 3 with JustBoom Digi Hat and Revo Superconnect here.

Would have included AppleTV, but although it works fine for music, that's not the main reason I bought it.

I'm new to RPi World, besides Hifiberry, Allo and Justboom Digi, which other RPi Hats are recommended for audio?

 

[JeffS7444]

Pimoroni has got some interesting stuff, and Infineon offers a crazy power amp (~$40) which gets all the power it needs from the same 5 volt power supply used by the RPi.

 

[jtwrace]

are you connecting the RPi4 to your DAC/Amp using USB only?

Yes, RPi4 to D90 via USB

 

[ahofer]

I agree about the Same fidelity, reliable, small but not inexpensive at all a complete Allo Digione bundle goes for almost 500 euros and you need to deal with all that power supplies and extra cables. Also that cheap cases and bad looking. But I'm still really curious to test one on my system.

Not if you get away from third party assemblers' profit margin. You can roll your own USB-based streamer for well under $100 using Ropiee/Volumio/MoOde/whatever (I have two built this way). A 'hat" for SPDIF/Optical isn't too much more.

 

[Soniclife]

The most important part of a steamer is the interface / software, it must allow you to play all your music and streaming services, and do so in a way you like. This is a personal choice, different people can have diametrically opposed ideas on how they should work. After that as long as the hardware squirts out the correct bits they are all the same.

 

[Apesbrain]

If you don't want to DIY, here is a new and very economical solution:
https://polyvection.com/en/product/dac32/
https://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?113633-DAC32-low-cost-high-performance-music-streamer

Because it is running Squeezelite, I believe it can be either a Logitech Media Server or Roon endpoint.

 

[Zensō]

Roon > RPi4 / Ropieee XL > USB > RME ADI-2 DAC FS

 

[sergeauckland]

I use a SqueezeBox Touch, and don't see me changing any time soon. The server software, LMS, keeps getting better, and even the SBT's firmware is regularly updated. If mine ever failed, I think I would immediately buy another on eBay.

S

 

[Zensō]

I'm new to RPi World, besides Hifiberry, Allo and Justboom Digi, which other RPi Hats are recommended for audio?

The USB issues of the older Rpi's are solved with the RPi4. The primary reason to use a HAT now is if you want to build an AIO with a DAC HAT, or your existing DAC doesn't have a USB input.

 

[intothedragon]

The USB issues of the older Rpi's are solved with the RPi4. The primary reason to use a HAT now is if you want to build an AIO with a DAC HAT, or your existing DAC doesn't have a USB input.

I have a Rotel RA-1572 amp that has a decent DAC, so I only need an RPi4 without any extra Hats? maybe a good power source? would make a difference?

 

[intothedragon]

Yes, RPi4 to D90 via USB

did you have any interference, noise, or poor performance because of the USB connection?