Perchance to Stream? - A Roundup of Entry-Level Audio Streamers - Why Stream At All?

[@tibormichalcik9381]

I have upgraded power supply on my Pi2aes streamer recently.. specificaly, I have added supercapacitors after the supply. It has transformed it very greatly. quite a bit actually. It produces a 3D stage now, with so much better instrument separation and placement. but was strikes most is, how energetic and effortless the music flows now. I can feel the energy reserves that it has... I have not experienced this high end sound ever before at home. it is really so enjoyable now, I am very happy with it :)))

[@kennethoransky4881]

@@tibormichalcik9381 I did that with my Topping D50s dac. 12 Farads total. I experienced the same improvements you speak of. The only difference I use a 5v battery pack for the power supply.

[@kennethoransky4881]

I have added super capacitors to the 5v battery pack powering my Topping D50s dac and have noticed the same improvements.

[@bbfoto7248]

Ha! I'm still using an old faithful Logitech Squeezebox Touch with remote in the bonus/game room! It actually still works great and sounds decent for that system (casual listening) connected to a pair of original JBL LSR-305 active studio monitors.

[@GillesJoffroy]

Correction: 2.4 Ghz is slower but has a better range. 5 Ghz is faster but shorter in range.

[@aj8ky]

I think for streaming, especially mobile streaming 2.4ghz can be better. I had a WiiM mini and still own a WiiM pro, and used in 5ghz mode i had dropouts, limited range and trouble getting the signal through objects. Sometimes they literally wanted to be about a foot from the router or phone before they would play. The Poly streamer for example is much older (released 6+ yrs ago) and 2.4ghz only, but that’s so good I can have the router or my phone in a different part of the house. I can even control playback in another room. All the best!

[@kennethoransky4881]

Yes, usb connections are noisy. There are ways to overcome this. My main headphone system is notebook pc based. I use two devices to do this. A Topping HS-02 Galvanic isolater and a SMSL PO100 DDC. The DDC converts the usb to a coaxial connection to my dac.

[@aj8ky]

I use S.M.S.L PO100PRO DDC for same reason. I turn any usb signal to optical before going to my DAC. Along with using ifi power2 low noise power supplies it makes a big difference! All the best!

[@naps3386]

There is no measurable noise from USB into the analog circuits of any device Archimago has measured over the years. No separate line power injectors needed, no shielding, no special cabling.

[@naps3386]

Optical is worse than USB according to Archimago’s measurements.

[@kennethoransky4881]

@@naps3386 DDCs reclock the data. I just trust my ears,

[@aj8ky]

@@naps3386 I can only say what I’ve heard through my own testing and what I’ve read from others research. Also, it’s well known that not all USB connections are born equal, and neither are all optical connections. Also devices have different amounts of electronic noise, a laptop for instance will tend to be noisier than say a phone. Since I’ve tested it for myself, the man who designed my DAC, has also held a seminar earlier this year in which he states that USB is noisier (rfi) than optical and that optical is the best digital connection. I’m using a Dac he created, so it makes sense that optical would sound better than USB for my setup. All the best!

[@jp93309]

I have the Wiim Mini and recently picked up the arylic s10+ because of Airplay1 (for lossless apple music) which the Wiim lacked. Unfortunately the dropouts are kind of annoying. I’m outputting toslink to an SMSL PS200 dac which also has a usb input. Would the Fiio outputting usb to the SMSL dac be enough to power the dac too?

[@trebep]

Would love to have this same type of video for mid-hifi streamers. I have the DMP-A6 and want to upgrade at some point, but want a device that is not a DAC, just a streamer. Can’t justify the HiFi Rose RS130, but wondering what the best streamer is around $1000. Volumio Rivo seems tempting. You would crush a video like this with your thorough analysis.

[@trekkis]

Wiim ultra is uncomparably better than eversolo. Huge upgrade.

[@trebep]

@ I haven’t seen any reviews that say it is better, but for sure it is a great value. I do not have an opinion as I only have the A6. I bought the WiiM pro+ for my son who is just starting out on his audio journey. Great app, decent sound. Extremely polished product. The software experience is extremely solid, and intuitive. It just works. I have had the Ultra in my cart many times, but have too many recent purchases lately so have held off. Regardless, I like having my DAC of choice, which is why I wish there was more content on streamer only comparisons. This is a great video but I expect most viewers of this channel want the next level or two up. I cannot think of anyone more thorough to cover this topic.

[@trekkis]

There are no any really serious reviews on yt. All of them are too basic and often with serious errors - as one above (regarding bt, remote, nothing about peq). In case of streamers, first of all, all of them are better with external dac which can be far better than any internal ones. Personally for example, I far prefer r2r dacs like ares than even the best sigma used in streamers. One of many, and one of mains difference between wiim and eversolo is that eversolo is not DDC, so in practice can not be preamp and work with external dac the same time - which is huge, critical class - difference. Wiim can without any problem. And counting price difference, Much better dac can be bought like mentioned ares. For eversolo there is no point to use it with external dac. Also, second most important upgrade is lfe connection with bass management. Each audio system needs decent (closed) sub. But sub require proper cross and bass management. Wiim is providing that (also as DDC), eversolo is not. External dac + lfe alone results uncomparably better sound. Also, there is very useful arc connection for tv, analog in connection, Chromecast, far better, more stable and polished app, connect protocols (like tidal connect or even spotify connect) are definitely much more stable. Also there is auto room correction (but this is not important, peq is what really matter). And more. I had two A6, both returned or sold. Difference between wiim is huge.

[@hillikja]

Wiim Ultra connected via. USB to my SU6 is working great for me

[@tamersosman]

Can it stream off line content from mobile?

[@cody112ng]

Will you check out on the new apos tube amp?

[@VitalyOkunev]

Hay. How much the quality will be effected if i connect optical from ,y to directly to a dac and not via streamer? will it be different than connecting a streamer via optical to a dac? if the bitrate is the same. Thank you?

[@TheVeganVicar]

Thanks, Professor! Reverend Dr. Thomas, ✝️ The Vegan Vicar 🌱

[@TheVeganVicar]

@@One-Two_swift-kickbox, do you eat raw meat like a CARNIVORE, or do you cook ‘your’ dead animals with a variety of spices and/or sauces, in order to disguise its unpalatable taste?🍖 Be PERFECTLY honest. 🤓

[@trekkis]

Wiim mini has bt and remote. And works with roon. And have peq. S10 as far as I know does not have peq.

[@wavetheorysound]

@@trekkis you are correct about Wiim Mini having BT. I missed that. It's stated on their webpage but not featured as a primary playback method. The Mini does not come with a remote control in the retail package. There is a Wiim remote that looks compatible but is sold separately. The Mini does NOT support Roon as a Roon endpoint. Roon can be played through Airplay but that caps Roon's ability to playback losslessly.

[@trekkis]

There are offers with remote. Most important thing is that you can use remote (bt one) and that should be stated in comparison. Method is method, mini with roon simply works.

[@aj8ky]

The Bluetooth in the mini is more designed to be used for device detection, remote control and app connection rather then music listening. It’s the same thing with the poly and 2go streamers. They will play through Bluetooth, but there’s no decent codecs it’s just SBC. It’s more for in a pinch when you can’t get WiFi, but neither of those company’s recommend using it otherwise. All the best!

[@trekkis]

There is aac, but lack of anything better.

[@danielsamson9505]

👌👍👻👻🙂

[@crazyfingers_kc]

I have a WiiM Pro Plus that i used as my streamer and DAC, but i switched over to DSP so the DAC in the WiiM is basically pointless now as the DSP converts from analog to digital and back to analog again. Would I gain anything by upgrading to a better streamer, say the WiiM Ultra? In my head, I can't justify it.

[@trekkis]

@@crazyfingers_kc arc, media server and lfe with bass management. Definietly worth changing.

[@crazyfingers_kc]

@trekkis I have DSP for bass management, plus my preamp is a Marantz SR7008, so I have an LFE channel if I wish to use it. I choose not to. I do have eARC with my preamp

[@trekkis]

And all of this is in one wiim included. So rest of money can be spent better than for redundant equipment. LFE channel is different thing. There is no lfe channel support in wiim, wiim is not multichannel device (i do not like them). Lfe connection is normal band, but with cross management including low and high pass filters (also when wiim works as DDC) with very good slope. Which is not standard in case of different implementations, especially when someone is using pararel high level connections - lot worse in practice. Even low levels integrated ones, in some cases have terrible slope. In all such cases wiim is huge upgrade for bass management (but not ideal as slope can not be adjusted and there are only two phase options). External dsp is needless.

[@crazyfingers_kc]

@trekkis if I was looking to replace my preamp, yes I absolutely agree. However, I like my preamp and don't want to replace it with the wiim ultra. This was more a hypothetical to ascertain whether or not I'd hear a difference in streamers given my current setup

[@trekkis]

There is one difference in sound quality within streamer as transport. Wiim ultra has asynchronous usb connection, wiim pro has not. Only synchronous connections with relative simple clock. But is this worth changing? In theory, yes, in theory impact is significant. For me - no. Nothing else can be improved in case of transport.