Many
audiophiles, myself included, nonetheless love bodily media. Chief Audioholic Gene
DellaSala spins vinyl in his 2-channel system, which just lately obtained an enormous
improve due to the RBH SFTR/AX lively audio system. And I nonetheless purchase CDs, ready for a
day when the inevitable compact disc revival makes CDs as cool as LPs as soon as
once more. However there’s little question that music streaming is the best way of the long run for
most folk. Even most audiophiles have embraced streaming. Gene loves streaming
Dolby Atmos music through an Apple TV in his kickass house theater, and I just lately
found a brand new band whereas listening to Spotify at my girlfriend’s place.
Hailing from New Zealand, The Beths have a sound that jogs my memory of Nineties
Weezer, however with a Kiwi lady singing lead. I’m obsessive about their latest
album, Professional in a Dying Subjectwhich got here out in 2022. One other new
favourite band is Trousdale, a pop-folk trio from Los Angeles, composed of ladies
of their twenties. To my information, they’ve by no means launched music on
bodily media; even at their concert events, they solely promote T-Shirts!
Why You Want a Community Streamer
If
you might have any sort of musically-satisfying audio system — even a easy pair of
powered audio system — including a community streamer could be transformative to the best way
you get pleasure from music. There are many high-end choices on the market, just like the
$5,500 NAD M66 streaming DAC/preamp, which options high-end DACs and no fewer
than 4 subwoofer outputs optimized by Dirac Reside Bass Management. Denafrips,
makers of the in style Aries and
Terminator R2R DACs,
has simply launched its first community streamer, the ARCE. (In case you’re British, or
simply an anglophile like me, be at liberty to insert a dad-joke right here.) The ARCE
sells for about $1,000 within the US and is all about maximizing audio efficiency.
There’s no WiFi on board, so ethernet connectivity is your solely choice. And
there’s no inside DAC — it’s a digital transport solely. Each the M66 and the
ARCE will certainly make sure audiophiles very blissful, however neither is more likely to
appeal to first-time streamers, budding audiophiles, or these with strict budgets.
So let’s check out a couple of easy and reasonably priced streamers which have been
launched in 2023, all sharing the purpose of creating music streaming simple and
accessible whereas delivering good sound high quality within the course of. The entire
streamers beneath provide each Wi-Fi and ethernet connectivity (plus Bluetooth),
and all provide line-level analog RCA outputs in addition to digital outputs through each
optical and coaxial S/PIDF connections.
WiiM
Professional Plus ($219)
I
just lately wrote concerning the $149 WiiM
Professional streamer,
which is a bigger model of the $99 WiiM Mini streamer that my girlfriend
makes use of. These cheap devices work extremely nicely, thanks largely to
the WiiM app, which affords a
surprisingly clean user-friendly expertise for such an reasonably priced household of
merchandise. Linkplay Expertise Inc., the worldwide expertise firm behind WiiM,
delivers common firmware updates to increase the capabilities of those streamers
and to make sure bug-free efficiency. Actually, the one draw back to the WiiM
streamers is that the sound high quality from their analog outputs leaves a lot to be
desired. At my girlfriend’s place, I put collectively a easy repair. A $14 optical
cable from Blue
Denims Cable
connects the WiiM Mini to a $129 Schiit Audio Modi+ DAC. The sound high quality is
a lot improved, and the consumer expertise stays simple as pie. The additional field and
further cables are largely hidden behind the TV, however these in search of a less complicated
and cleaner setup may as an alternative select the brand new WiiM Professional Plus ($219), which affords the identical
performance because the common WiiM Professional, however with higher sound high quality due to an
improved built-in DAC constructed round a premium AKM chip.
Like
the common WiiM Professional, the WiiM Professional Plus
affords AirPlay 2, Chromecast Audio, Spotify Join, Tidal Join, Qobuz,
Amazon Music, and extra. Roon Prepared certification is in course of (the common
WiiM Professional is already licensed Roon Prepared). However now the sound high quality is turned
up a couple of notches by a premium AKM DAC and Texas
Devices op amp. Particularly, there’s a new-generation AKM 4493SEQ DAC chip
underneath the hood, which reportedly affords “a number one degree of low distortion and
huge dynamic vary due to AKM’s Velvet Sound Expertise.” The WiiM Professional Plus
helps PCM as much as 768 kHz, together with DSD512 and PCM/DSD computerized switching. Along with this new
DAC chip, which affords large enhancements (on paper, a minimum of) in comparison with the
DAC used within the different WiiM steamers, the WiiM Professional Plus makes use of “an ultra-low-noise clock, energy
provide, and cautious PCB structure to realize lower than -110dB THD+N efficiency
for analog audio output, lowering any undesirable noise or distortion within the
sound,” based on WiiM. The analog line-in efficiency additionally will get a lift
due to using a TI Burr-Brown Audio PCM1861 ADC chip.
My
imaginative and prescient for the WiiM Professional Plus was clear: to create a product that displays our
customers’ needs and elevates their music streaming expertise. With their
invaluable suggestions, we’ve achieved simply that, delivering superior audio
high quality, simplified setup and an reasonably priced resolution that exceeds expectations.
The WiiM Professional Plus stands as an announcement of our dedication to offering music
fans with a seamless and enriching audio expertise.”
—
Dr. Lifeng Zhao, CEO of Linkplay Expertise
Extra
data: WiiM Professional Plus
NAD
CS1 Endpoint Community Streamer ($349)
Whereas
NAD now makes high-end merchandise just like the aforementioned Masters Collection M66
streaming DAC/preamp, the corporate has not overpassed its value-oriented
roots, as evidenced by the CS1 Endpoint Community Streamer ($349). The CS1
reportedly employs “audiophile-grade elements,” and might play high-resolution
audio as much as 24-bit/192kHz. This tiny gadget handles Apple AirPlay 2,
Chromecast, Spotify Join, Tidal Join, and DLNA apps. It is usually licensed Roon Prepared, so you’ll be able to management playback
with the music apps you already use day by day. Not like the opposite streamers
mentioned on this article, the CS1 doesn’t have its personal app. As a substitute, it really works
as an endpoint for current apps. For a lot of, this gained’t matter. In case you primarily
use Roon or Spotify Join, the absence of a devoted app for the CS1 is
unlikely to be a priority. However I believe it’s disappointing that the CS1 doesn’t
use BluOS, contemplating each NAD and Bluesound are owned by Lenbrook, and lots of
NAD merchandise do use the wonderful and fully-featured BluOS management system.
(At present, the least costly approach so as to add BluOS to an current stereo is through
the $600 Bluesound Node.) However, NAD says that the CS1 does provide “an
superior differential digital part based mostly on Texas Devices’ PCM5142 DAC,
a design identified for its huge dynamic vary, low noise ground, and immunity to
clock jitter.” It’s restricted to 24-bit/192kHz PCM, nevertheless it’s unlikely that consumers
of the CS1 will probably be within the small minority of audiophiles who want greater
decision than that. Tidal customers who get pleasure from MQA will probably be happy to be taught that
MQA pass-through is supported for each digital outputs, enabling full decoding
and rendering by a suitable exterior DAC (although it stays to be seen how
lengthy this function will stay related, as MQA seems to be shedding its grip on
Tidal, which just lately started streaming high-res FLAC).
Streaming
has profoundly altered the best way individuals uncover and expertise music. The CS1
makes it simple so as to add streaming to a legacy stereo or home-theatre setup. Or
somebody may configure a low-footprint system for a den or house workplace by
combining the CS1 with a pair of powered audio system. Streaming doesn’t get
easier than this.
— Cas Oostvogel, Product Supervisor of NAD Electronics
Extra
data: NAD CS1 Endpoint Community Streamer
Cambridge
Audio AXN10 ($599) and MXN10 ($499)
One other
firm identified for very good high-value audio electronics is Cambridge Audio. This
yr, Cambridge launched two reasonably priced community streamers, the AXN10 ($599) and
MXN10 ($499), each constructed across the firm’s developed-in-house StreamMagic
platform. Curiously, the 2 streamers are functionally and sonically
similar. The one distinction is their form-factor. The complete-width AXN10 is
designed to be an aesthetic match for Cambridge Audio’s entry-level AX Collection
of elements, which incorporates two built-in amps, two stereo receivers, and a
CD participant.
The half-width MXN10 is for individuals who want one thing smaller and
aren’t involved with constructing an identical stack of drugs. That stated, the MXN10
can be a wonderful match for Cambridge’s half-width DacMagic 200M ($549) and Alva Duo
phono preamp ($349). The AXN10 and MXN10 each provide Spotify Join, Tidal, and
Qobuz assist, together with Airplay 2, Chromecast, and the power to play information from
USB or NAS drives. Each are Roon Prepared as nicely. Inside, the streamers use
Cambridge’s newest StreamMagic Gen 4 module and software program to ship
audio knowledge to the ESS Sabre ES9033Q DAC chip, able to dealing with 32bit/768KHz
PCM and DSD512. Cambridge says the streamers ship “no-compromise hi-fi sound
and rock-solid streaming efficiency.”
At
Cambridge Audio we consider in providing our listeners selection; it’s important to
provide various routes to the music you like. We’re delighted to increase the
StreamMagic household to much more listeners worldwide.
—
Stuart George,
Cambridge Audio CEO
Extra
data: Cambridge Audio AXN10; Cambridge Audio MXN10
