Best Entry Level Streaming device for Tidal?

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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,906
    edited January 2017
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    One would assume if you want to stream Tidal, your looking for better sound. Otherwise you can go with many of the other cheaper services that offer a bit less sound quality.

    If that's the case, then I'd suggest in order to take advantage of Tidals better SQ, you won't fully realize that without a separate dac in the mix. Using the built in dacs on these cheaper devices may suffice for casual low to med. volume listening, but as the volume goes up their shortcomings become apparent. Especially if you have a somewhat revealing system in front of it. That's been my experience anyway.

    Also, most these cheaper streamers have a thin sound to them. Paring them up with a warmer sounding dac and cables is probably your best bet. The MF dac Mr. Wagner suggested earlier would be a safe bet. Many others too, preferences obviously dictate.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • doctor r
    doctor r Posts: 837
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    Love my Squeezbox Touch for streaming, just now needs to work with MQA files.
    integrated w/DAC module Gryphon Diablo 300
    server Wolf Alpha 3SX
    phono pre Dynamic Sounds Associates Phono II
    turntable/tonearms Origin Live Sovereign Mk3 dual arm, Origin Live Enterprise Mk4, Origin Live Illustrious Mk3c
    cartridges Miyajima Madake, Ortofon Windfeld Ti, Ortofon
    speakers Rockport Mira II
    cables Synergistic Research Cables, Gryphon VPI XLR, Sablon 2020 USB
    rack Adona Eris 6dw
    ultrasonic cleaner Degritter
  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
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    I use my Android phone and tablet, with USB AUDIO Pro and Tidal apps. I stream it via USB cable into a MHDT Labs external tube DAC and into my preamp from there. Even though I'm a dyed in the wool analog guy, it sounds really good to my ears.
  • kevhed72
    kevhed72 Posts: 4,958
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    Look for a used Shiit DAC.....or I may be looking to sell my Shiit Bifrost
  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
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    kevhed72 wrote: »
    Look for a used Shiit DAC.....or I may be looking to sell my Shiit Bifrost

    I'd like to be in line for the bifrost if you sell.