That’s reassuring, I want to see it and I’ll add a side mounted shelf now I know it won’t be ugly 
I got my AQ Firebird48 doing TV duty and it’s a waste! It is waiting for the AirLen/DS Mk2 so it can be used as a I2S connection. Looks like I don’t have other options here.
Hi Paul !
We are excited! What is the eta release date? Will there be an opportunity for early beta testing ? Thanks!
It sounds like my opticalRendu and Kitsune KTE SU-2 may either be headed to my office or the Marketplace.
I used a Powernode 2i for several years. The Node 2i part is very good, deservedly popular and great value.
I never place my expensive gear out of site, everything is on a rack with cones under them. Even my node 2 Is placed on a symposium platform. In earlier posts it was stated that there maybe would be cost cuts and would be in the case to hit a certain price point. I believe this is how it all got started.
It’s not that I expect the upcoming Streamer has casework that doesn’t match the Perfect Wave standard, but if you’d ask me, I’d have no problem to hide any piece of equipment that doesn’t have any meaning being on display. Given that everything is done with a smartphone or tablet anyway, there’s no need to have a streamer or DAC sitting in the front row of the rack imo. It’s just showing off boxes of equipment, there’s no knob you’d have to turn or press for any purpose than switching on and off.
When as usual 1/3rd of the budget or not so much less is going into the chassis, I’d personally think twice, what’s my priority in this case.
There’s been plenty of PSA gear that is half width. The NuWave DAC and phono are narrow components. I’ve haven’t owned either, but have seen them and they look very nice. I have faith the Streamer is going to look good as well. My hope is that it mirrors the design of the DS MKII since they will be very located very close to one another. That’s not a deal breaker, but it would be nice.
There’s also the Sprout. That’s a handsome little box.
I might have to take responsibility for that … I made a comment a while back that I don’t have any space in my rack (unless it goes on top of the DAC) so it would end up on the floor or somewhere else out of sight. The point of this comment was in reply to your quandary of make it pretty at a higher cost and no sound advantage or plain for a lower price and the same sound quality. I voted for plain and lower cost.
Most of mine are actually Raspberry Pis some have HATS. The one in my main system is the Allo USBridge Signature with a Shanti Power Supply. That combo is about $400 with some mixed reviews on what you get for that $400. I have no complaints with its sound quality but I know there are better to be had. I’m ready to upgrade but need the dust to settle on a few new products that came out this past year and read more reviews. I may also wait until Octave sees its release day come.
Will the streamer have either an internal hard drive for files, or a way to plug in a hard drive of ripped CDs and DSD files?
Will the sound quality playing those files match a PST playing discs?
The sound quality will be the same as the PST because we’re using the same galvanically isolated output circuit. So, be prepared to hear streaming as never before.
There will be no hard drive and no way to connect one. This is a standalone streamer specific to the task,.
Thanks for the information. Is there still a plan for a future server that includes a hard drive? Or it is in the back burner now.
Thank you. that’s great news in some respects… but means I either need to switch to streaming (still on CDs!), or save up for a PST. Decisions decisions!
Paul, the topic “output stage”, which was a big one in the early CD player era, got a little in the background meanwhile. What role does it play here and how does it differ in the PST and the new streamer?
Does this just mean no direct connection (ie. USB, SATA, etc.), or does it also mean no network connection to NAS based sources (such as Synology, etc.)?
It’s gotta be the former…at least I hope so. Otherwise, this product would be a non-starter, no?
It was said a few times before it certainly has network access…wouldn’t be a streamer otherwise;-)
Same set of output ports as well then? With double rate possible?
My understanding is it can stream from your network servers as well as the internet. Also, my personal experience tells me sound is better when storage is not inside the streamer 
If the only network INPUT connection is via WiFi? Without any wired stuff? And i2S OUTPUT to DSII of course.