I have the itch to upgrade my streamer - suggestions?

Options
rburgess714
rburgess714 Posts: 616
in Going Digital
It has been a while. I have been pretty happy with my setup for some time now and haven't had the urge to upgrade until recently, as I have been reading about Eversolo and HiFi Rose streamers. My current streamer is the Cambridge Audio 851N, which I have no issues with. I want to know if I will get more out of some newer streaming offerings. I only use Tidal as a service and like to use Tidal Connect, not the native Cambridge App. Budget is roughly 2K. Any suggestions?
Living Room
Parasound HINT 6, Yamaha Aventage RX-A 1060, Oppo 103D, Cambridge Audio Azur 851N, KLH Model 5s, Polk CSi A6, Samsung 65" LED

Office
Yamaha A-S501, Auralic Aries Mini, LSiM 703s

Douglas Connection ICs and Cables
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,126
    Options
    keep it. upgrade the dac
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,638
    edited April 9
    Options
    Yeah I mean that's one way to look at it. Since you already have it, you can try using the 851N as a streaming transport and do digital coax out into a different DAC.

    Trey says get a Ukrainian tube DAC!

    Edit: I see that the 851N also has balanced AES/EBU digital XLR in and out. Cool.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,126
    Options
    Abbas is the answer
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • stangman67
    stangman67 Posts: 2,197
    Options
    I went from a 851N to a Lumin U2 Mini (I already have a decent external DAC). I can’t say the change was massive, I did it more for real estate on the rack than for the actual upgrade of it. It’s a nice piece of kit though and right around your budget. Skip is a dealer
    2 Channel in my home attic/bar/man cave

    2 Channel Focal Kanta 3 I Modwright SWL9.0 Anniversary Pre I Modwright PH9.0X I Modwright KWA-150SE I VPI Prime Signature w/ Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC I Lumin U2 Mini I North Star Designs Intenso DAC I Audience OHNO ICs/Audience Furutech FP-S55N and FP-S032N Power Cables/Acoustic Zen Satori I Isotek Sirius
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,126
    Options
    I found with streamers once you ditch a switching power supply for a high quality linear... If you are just streaming tidal or quobuz the law of deminishing returns is massive.

    Going to a linear ps over switching yielded massive gains.

    Furthermore cleaning up the signal before it reaches the streamer has yielded insane amounts of performance.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • msg
    msg Posts: 9,528
    Options
    So this is what grooming looks like...
    I disabled signatures.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gyosa
    gyosa Posts: 712
    edited April 9
    Options
    I replaced my 851n with an Eversolo DMP-A8 in December…
    Also just replaced a Yamaha WXC-50 in my POOL system with an A6 (very affordable).

    Extremely happy … nice feature is being able to install virtually any music streaming app available that isn’t native to the A8/6 - SiriusXM , for example.

    Take a look at the A6 if the A8 is more than you need ..
    Both will do Tidal connect HI-rez FLAC.

    Endless customization , input / output options and state of the art specs and features .
    Both sound fantastic, btw - straight into the amps , no preamp needed.

    Bk
    PS Audio S300 , Yamaha wxc-50 , Salk SuperCharged Songtowers , Kimber Kable 4TC, Sony 42” - BEDROOM

    B&K EX-442 ( it will go in my casket when I die ... ) , PS Audio 4.6 preamp ( old school , but it still jams on ... ) , Eversolo DMP-A6 , Boston Acoustic voyager 7’s - POOL

    Parasound A21, Eversolo DMP-A8 , Kimber Kable 4vs , Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Towers , Sony XBR-A8F 65” OLED - DEN , MAIN system

    Onkyo TX-nr609 , Polk atrium 7 , Boston acoustic sound ware (4) , Boston acoustic sub , B&W center , Sharp 65” TV - PATIO
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 18,430
    Options
    VR3 wrote: »
    Going to a linear ps over switching yielded massive gains.

    That all depends on the topology and the amount of jitter, common mode noise and other unfiltered A/C signal noise is still left to go downstream. Some switching are better than a LPS. It just depends on so many factors. In general, yes. As a blanket statement? Yeah, no. FWIW.

    Tom

    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 3,018
    Options
    VR3 wrote: »
    Abbas is the answer
    How are they sneaking product out of Russia?
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • msg
    msg Posts: 9,528
    Options
    Black market deals at the borders - trade for American cigarettes and Levis.
    I disabled signatures.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rburgess714
    rburgess714 Posts: 616
    Options
    So I am hearing external DAC which I imagine would be beneficial but that’s another box and upgrading the power supply?

    As well as thumbs up on the Lumin and Eversolo.

    Considering ditching the AVR as well and doing 2-channel for tv and movies.
    Living Room
    Parasound HINT 6, Yamaha Aventage RX-A 1060, Oppo 103D, Cambridge Audio Azur 851N, KLH Model 5s, Polk CSi A6, Samsung 65" LED

    Office
    Yamaha A-S501, Auralic Aries Mini, LSiM 703s

    Douglas Connection ICs and Cables
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • WagnerRC
    WagnerRC Posts: 2,139
    Options
    Eversolo is a fantastic product.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,126
    Options
    Abbas is in Ukraine but they are shipping no problem
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 7,995
    Options
    rburgess714 wrote: »
    Considering ditching the AVR as well and doing 2-channel for tv and movies.

    https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/199884/2-channel-as-home-theater-stranger-things-edition
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es; Squeezebox Touch with Bolder Power Supply
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1    Cambridge Azur 551r; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gyosa
    gyosa Posts: 712
    Options
    I’m strictly a 2 ch system- even for tv …. The A8’s HDMI ARC input allowed me to ditch the AVR - never been happier !

    Bk




    rburgess714 wrote: »
    So I am hearing external DAC which I imagine would be beneficial but that’s another box and upgrading the power supply?

    As well as thumbs up on the Lumin and Eversolo.

    Considering ditching the AVR as well and doing 2-channel for tv and movies.

    PS Audio S300 , Yamaha wxc-50 , Salk SuperCharged Songtowers , Kimber Kable 4TC, Sony 42” - BEDROOM

    B&K EX-442 ( it will go in my casket when I die ... ) , PS Audio 4.6 preamp ( old school , but it still jams on ... ) , Eversolo DMP-A6 , Boston Acoustic voyager 7’s - POOL

    Parasound A21, Eversolo DMP-A8 , Kimber Kable 4vs , Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Towers , Sony XBR-A8F 65” OLED - DEN , MAIN system

    Onkyo TX-nr609 , Polk atrium 7 , Boston acoustic sound ware (4) , Boston acoustic sub , B&W center , Sharp 65” TV - PATIO
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter