I researched the best music streamer to find the ideal option for my audio setup, especially for high quality streaming and ease of use. After reading expert reviews from trusted sources like what hifi,the new york times, darko.audio and sound and vision, two models consistently stand out as top recommendations:
The Wiim comes with a 3.5 touchscreen, built in phono input, headphone output, hdmiI Aarc and compatibility with google cast, alexa, spotify, amazon music and more. It also functions as a digital preamp, making it an all in one solution for both streaming and system control.
The Bluesound is a compact, wireless, high resolution music streamer and built for multi room setups. Bluesound has a strong reputation for audio fidelity and integration with services . The node nano supports lossless formats and integrates into the bluos ecosystem which is a plus for expanding later.
However,I am having trouble deciding which one is best to meet my needs. I am torn between these two—wiim seems very full featured for the price while the bluesound option gets a lot of praise for pure audio quality. Has anyone here used either one? Any thoughts on sound quality, app experience or long term reliability?Any advice or personal experience would be much appreciated.
First, be aware of streamer vs dac. Some boxes have both. Up the ladder, they get separated.
I began with Bluesound Node, then the NeoStream, then Topping DAC with NeoStream used only as streamer, then to much better DAC and the PSA AirLens. Drip, drip, drip. Now earlier stage components sleep in boxes. No doubt, the future will take more steps/drips. Others here have already taken such steps, bigger and bigger as they evolve.
Thus, be ware of accumulating overtaken components. Likely, it will happen. So the question, how much money do you want to eventually save if you purchase a box now to be surpassed, leaving the original box dormant (ie, an expense in the closet).
Good night, and good luck. (great movie and Broadway play) Oh, what fun it is.
If the advanced features and screen don’t matter to you, the WiiM Pro Plus is a bargain. I pair it with a Schiit Modi 2 Multibit DAC with excellent results for background and casual listening. For critical and deeper listening sessions, I’ve focused my audio dollars on CD and vinyl playback. Enjoy!
I alternate often between NOS and over sampling mode on the Schiit. I like them both and I can never really decide which one I like best. A slight nod to NOS mode most of time.
Depending on (1) your current budget and (2) where you expect to be with streaming in future years the BlueSound Node Nano is an easy recommendation. Had a BlueSound Node and it was trouble free, easy to use and reliable app which is paramount IMO. Sold it here, more like gave it away as irt was as new, for $175 shipped. My wife then changed her mind and deciced she did want a streaming stereo for her condo/office, but no multiple boxes, and simple speakers. We stopped in at Madison’s University Audio. She selected the NAD C379 and a pair of bookshelf Sonus Faber Lumina II speakers. Her ears, her choice. She loves the simplicity of the BlueSound app, with easy access to Qobuz and Tune-in. Now broken in she is most pleased, especially after I replaced the complimentary zip cord with a $2,800 pair of Nirvana SL speaker cables. Everything just locked in. A nice budget streaming system.
So my recommendation, get the BlueSound Node Nano for the sound, simplicity and the BlueSound OS app.
That depends on the product. The MU2, for instance, is a streamer, DAC and preamp all in one, and sounds ridiculously fantastic, and is something to aspire to.
The PMG streamer/DAC is also on it’s way, and is also something to look forward to.
I have had many many streamers as my journey progressed. I have found until you spend a buttload of money they sound similar. I have found 3 tiers.
the ones you listed above are in that tier. High value, high functionality. my guess is you will not “hear” a difference.
spend $1200-2000 and you get that next level of clarity and detail in your music. You may even get LESS features in that price than the lower. I know sounds weird but they are built for quality sound not bells and whistles.
$3000-5000 tier.. sounds better bells and whistles come back.
I know this is short and sweet and much more info behind it. And Yes there is higher tier(s), but I have not yet reach them (MU2, Wolf, and others.) so I am not one who can advise on those.
I have tried the three-tier (and higher) journey, and Brian is spot on. It really depends on your end goal here. If you just use streamer to find new music or use it for background music, you do not need to spend much. However, if your desire is to enjoy high-quality music, you should just start on the third tier. The streamer alone is not enough to do the job, the implementation of noise filtering and cabling all matters.
For example, I did not reach a level that was deemed satisfying to me until I moved to a Lumin U2, plus a bunch of filtering devices before it. Unfortunately, my main listening enjoyment was still from discs because CD was still better. So, I did not stop there.
I’ve been immersed in the BS ecosystem for 7 years and overall am very satisfied.
As others have mentioned, it’s doubtful there will be any meaningful difference in sound quality. It and everything else in the system would have to move up in the food chain first.
Useful features and I/O will be more important.
Good luck!
Does anyone have any experience with the Rockna Wavelight Server (a/k/a the WLS)?
It looks like it has a lot of potential to me:
Trying to figure out if/how it would work as an endpoint with Roon and/or JRMC or only as a server (if that makes any sense).
From the website:
“The WLS has the ability to let you choose from a variety of server software and audio services including Roon, MPD, LMS and so on. There are many use scenarios, the device can be used as core , or can be used as renderer or endpoint .”
Looks promising.
It is designed to have as much as 16TB of internal storage. I wonder if it sounds as good as it looks. I2S out is an option so it might work with PSA DACs.
In addition to the sound quality, as I noted above, I would like to know more about how well it plays with music rendering software like Roon, JRMC etc.
Maybe someone here owns one or has had a chance to play with one…?
