Top 5 streamer devices by ASR community

[snapcrackle]

It's quite easy to replicate a SBT with a Pi and touchscreen. I use a 5" touchscreen with piCorePlayer, a Pi 3A+ and a Justboom Digi Zero, with coax digital output to my RME DAC. Just about ideal for my needs.

Late in replying but - yes nearly replicated apart from having a dedicated IR remote control which the SBT has and this has not (no need to unlock a smart device - just point and shoot from the remote). Nit picking I know but still ....

 

[Thermionics]

I'm using a bunch of Raspberry Pi endpoints (3B+, 4B, CM4) throughout the house running Moode and connecting to a Windows Server 2016 box running LMS. The 4B/CM4 endpoints are all USB-connected to DACs, while the 3B+ endpoints are all using various HiFiBerry hats. Sound quality is excellent, and if I'm so inclined, I can synchronize output throughout the house for whole-house audio.

 

[MrOtto]

These "top 5" threads, "recommended me" threads needs a vote in the first post, which OP is updating when a new streamer is recommended in the thread, and people using this can vote for it.

 

[ahofer]

I'm using a bunch of Raspberry Pi endpoints (3B+, 4B, CM4) throughout the house running Moode and connecting to a Windows Server 2016 box running LMS. The 4B/CM4 endpoints are all USB-connected to DACs, while the 3B+ endpoints are all using various HiFiBerry hats. Sound quality is excellent, and if I'm so inclined, I can synchronize output throughout the house for whole-house audio.

The DIY/raspberry pi option, for Roon or Moode, really is pretty terrific, and shouldn’t be so intimidating. When the supply situation works itself out, I’m going to pick up some more.

 

[Thermionics]

The DIY/raspberry pi option, for Roon or Moode, really is pretty terrific, and shouldn’t be so intimidating. When the supply situation works itself out, I’m going to pick up some more.

With the Pi 4, no real reason to use a hat if you have a good DAC with a USB input. With the Pi 3, the results could be a bit hit or miss.

 

[ahofer]

With the Pi 4, no real reason to use a hat if you have a good DAC with a USB input. With the Pi 3, the results could be a bit hit or miss.

Yeah I don’t use a hat. and I hear the pi 3 USB thing was overblown.

 

[olbobcat]

Has anyone seen any Pi4 in stock anywhere in the USA? It is hard to say it works the best when I can never seem to purchase one.

 

[Thermionics]

Yeah I don’t use a hat. and I hear the pi 3 USB thing was overblown.

I had some problems when trying to use a Pi 3 with an external USB DAC (Auralic Vega), so I wouldn't say it was necessarily overblown.

 

[Dennis_FL]

“)

With the Pi 4, no real reason to use a hat if you have a good DAC with a USB input. With the Pi 3, the results could be a bit hit or miss.

I‘m currently using a Pi4 USB to my DAC but as I understand it, the USB is not perfect…primarily due to the clock transmission. I just ordered an Allo DigiOne but for different reasons than SQ…but I understand the SQ will improve a lot as the board reclocks if that’s the right word. Amir tested the DigiOne and the Signature with high praise

 

[JeremyFife]

I needed Amazon support (family choice) which limits the choice ...
WiiM Mini, £90 GBP, works perfectly for me. No setup hassle of any sort, optical output to my DAC. Done.

 

[somebodyelse]

I‘m currently using a Pi4 USB to my DAC but as I understand it, the USB is not perfect…primarily due to the clock transmission. I just ordered an Allo DigiOne but for different reasons than SQ…but I understand the SQ will improve a lot as the board reclocks if that’s the right word. Amir tested the DigiOne and the Signature with high praise

Please explain the bit about USB, preferably with evidence. From tests here we've seen no evidence that USB reclockers improve DAC performance for a competently engineered USB DAC. Archimago's tests with multiple USB sources connected to a competent DAC also show no difference in performance. Allo's DACs have measured well and been praised for it, but that doesn't make claims about UBS clocking more believable.

 

[Deleted member 48726]

Chromecast Audio fan here. Using Toslink to MiniDSP 2x4 HD to power amp.

 

[Oukkidoukki]

Chromecast audio + ipad. Payed 10€ for ca. Thats price for streamer. Usb cables was too much of a hasle. Sound might be little bit better with usb but not much. I don’t understand playing with bluetooth when there is this lossless wifi thing.

 

[Overseas]

Plug'n'play fan here. Would not be able to assemble a PI.. whatever it is called... by myself.

Got some streaming devices: Yamaha Musiccast, Denon Heos, Triangle AIO C, HK Omni Adapt +. I like Heos app the most.

For plug'n'play I think Yamaha Musiccast stereo devices are very good and affordable.

For tight budgets look for the tiny Triangle AIO C, preferrably to use with the optical output.

 

[Dennis_FL]

Please explain the bit about USB, preferably with evidence. From tests here we've seen no evidence that USB reclockers improve DAC performance for a competently engineered USB DAC. Archimago's tests with multiple USB sources connected to a competent DAC also show no difference in performance. Allo's DACs have measured well and been praised for it, but that doesn't make claims about UBS clocking more believable.

I think the clock comment came from a video (Darko or Hans) and I need to do some hunting.....but Allo has a USB add on board for the Sparky or RPI described here for some additional cautions.

 

[somebodyelse]

I think the clock comment came from a video (Darko or Hans) and I need to do some hunting.....

Here we go again...

but Allo has a USB add on board for the Sparky or RPI described here for some additional cautions.

Allo make some well engineered hardware. They also play into the sort of audiophile myths you'll see Darko and Hans perpetuating. Take the DigiOne for example - it has demonstrably lower levels of jitter on its S/PDIF output than the Topping D10 it was measured against. The problem is that for any well engineered DAC this won't make any difference at the analog output because the DAC won't be sensitive to jitter as shown in the many DAC tests here and elsewhere. That's why in the DigiOne Signature test a DAC with known poor jitter rejection was used. Similarly there are DACs with poor USB implementations that might potentially be helped by a 'special' USB device, but it would be better to change to a DAC that didn't have a problem in the first place. Noise issues due to grounding are another matter entirely, but measurable and demonstrable, and with known inexpensive solutions.

 

[Dennis_FL]

Here we go again...

Allo make some well engineered hardware. They also play into the sort of audiophile myths you'll see Darko and Hans perpetuating. Take the DigiOne for example - it has demonstrably lower levels of jitter on its S/PDIF output than the Topping D10 it was measured against. The problem is that for any well engineered DAC this won't make any difference at the analog output because the DAC won't be sensitive to jitter as shown in the many DAC tests here and elsewhere. That's why in the DigiOne Signature test a DAC with known poor jitter rejection was used. Similarly there are DACs with poor USB implementations that might potentially be helped by a 'special' USB device, but it would be better to change to a DAC that didn't have a problem in the first place. Noise issues due to grounding are another matter entirely, but measurable and demonstrable, and with known inexpensive solutions.

I have a different need. I need two inputs to my DAC. I have one input need for Roon from a RPI4 with Ropieee and another for the Mac Mini USB output of Tidal, SiriusXM, QOBUZ, etc.

Tidal and QOBUZ access is also available in Roon but SiriusXM isn't. I bought an SMSL PO100 for the Mac USB but the darn thing went dead in a couple of months and I returned it.

So now, I am going to run the Mac USB directly to the Gustard DAC and use a DigiOne for S/PDIF for Roon to the same DAC.

FYI--- I have had a history of DSD related noise issues with USB and after a few updates to the DAC firmware and changing from the Mac USB to RPI/Ropieee USB, the noise is gone. So I am very happy with the current SQ.