Forums - Streaming newbie looking for advice.

Katiebo17

Verified Member

Posts: 4

Streaming newbie looking for advice.
06/20/25 at 19:01:13

Hello everyone! I am currently looking to add streaming to my system. As a physical media person I just don’t know where to start. I also don’t know how much use a streamer will get in my system as I like the hand-on approach to the audio experience. That being said what would be a reasonable first step? I have done a little research and love the price point of the Wiim ultra. However, if it would be akin to throwing money away then I would probably pass and get something further up the ladder. My current amplification includes a Torri mk3 and SE84UFO2.1 that I switch between. I may be picking up a SE34I.5 soon too (yes, I’m a bit of a Decware fan). Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

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HockessinKid

Seasoned Member

Posts: 1289

Re: Streaming newbie looking for advice.
Reply #1 - 06/20/25 at 19:45:26

There are a lot of different options to consider, ranging in complexity, cost and which streaming service you're going to use. You might want to look at a single unit combined streamer/DAC as a starting point. Many of these provide for different streaming service options such as Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, etc. FWIW, I use Qobuz as I found it has the best sound quality.

You'll also need to think about how your going to connect the streamer/DAC to your router. Many prefer to use the built in WiFi on a streamer/DAC, however this can be glitchy depending on your home wifi set up. In my system I found that using an Ethernet cable to my router through an AC extender proved the most reliable.

There are a lot of options for single box streamer/DAC's out there. I'm pretty sure that some will recommend a separate streamer and DAC set up. The inexpensive WiiM and Bluesound offerings are pretty basic and straightforward to set up, but don't offer really good sound quality for high resolution music IMHO.

I suggest you check out offerings from Eversolo and Cambridge Audio as well.

HK

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Nottingham Interspace TT > MWI PH 9.0XT phono preamp or MWI modded Cambridge CNX V2 > CSP3-25th preamp > STL STR-1002 Super > ZMA-25th amplifier > PI Audio UberBUSS > Caintuck Lii15 Magnum speakers > Vera-Fi Snub Station > SA AUVA's > Snake River & ZenWave cables.

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Dominick

Seasoned Member

Still like that old
time Rock and Roll!!

Posts: 1472

Re: Streaming newbie looking for advice.
Reply #2 - 06/21/25 at 04:01:13

As HK said…there are a lot of different options out there with different price points. I started out with a Google Chromecast Audio streamer that kept me busy until I could afford something better. It maxes out at 24/96, but it’s still Hi Res. I then jumped into an AudioQuest Dragon Red and used it with Qobuz and Tidal. Right now I’m using Roon that’s paired with a Rapberry Pi as an endpoint and a Schiit Bifrost 2 DAC, which I’m very happy with.

I also highly recommended Qobuz as well. Out of all the streaming services, I find them to be the best in terms of sound quality.

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Rasp. Pi 4 [Roon], Schiit Bifrost True Multibit DAC, ZBIT, ZROCK2, My Audio Cables Ultra Silver+, ZSB, CSP2+ 25th, DAG Cables, DHC1, Torii MKIV 25th /2 White Zen SE84C+ 25th mono’s, Rega P2 Turntable, White top ZP3, Velodyne Dual Firing Sub, ERR’s [Bubbinga Wood]

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JMeader Senior Member Posts: 70	Re: Streaming newbie looking for advice. Reply #3 - 06/23/25 at 16:46:08 Do you plan on playing your own digitized music say from a USB drive. If so this increases some of your options See my signature Enjoy the music
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JHC

Senior Member

Posts: 54

Re: Streaming newbie looking for advice.
Reply #4 - Yesterday at 16:29:00

Giving this a little bump as my entry into streaming matches the OP.

I have a vinyl only system at the moment but I use Tidal extensively on my phone/computer. So, it makes sense (or, maybe not) to think about how to link Tidal to my system. I would use it to stream only so no need for Roon. My thoughts at the moment were:

1. Get a Cambridge streamer/dac combo and call it done (sadly, Modwright no longer offers their mods)
2. Get a decent dac (Denefrips, Holo, or something else) and link it to my phone/old ipad
3. Do nothing and enjoy the vinyl.

Every few months I try and search around for a reason why phone/ipad/computer cant work as a streamer but never seem to find much other than generalization about bad sound or lack of fidelity. Those are strong reasons, but from what I have read they seem more like opinion than anything backed with evidence.

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Sumiko Starling > VPI Signature Classic > Tavish Classic phono stage > Pine Tree Audio 67+ preamp > SE84UFO x2 balanced monos > Omega CAMs

Reference Albums: F♯A♯∞, Life Metal, Nirvana Unplugged, Timewave Zero, Nebraska

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JHC Senior Member Posts: 54	Re: Streaming newbie looking for advice. Reply #5 - Yesterday at 16:31:06 I'll also add that every once in a while I hook my phone up to the preamp with a nice cable that PineTree Audio made and, honestly, it sounds pretty good.
Back to top	Sumiko Starling > VPI Signature Classic > Tavish Classic phono stage > Pine Tree Audio 67+ preamp > SE84UFO x2 balanced monos > Omega CAMs Reference Albums: F♯A♯∞, Life Metal, Nirvana Unplugged, Timewave Zero, Nebraska IP Logged

Geno Seasoned Member Without music, life would be a mistake. Posts: 2267	Re: Streaming newbie looking for advice. Reply #6 - Yesterday at 17:13:41 Hi JHC. IMO, based on what I’ve read, in your shoes, I’d go with the CXN100. They say that it is a pretty significant upgrade over the CXNv2, so the next best thing to the V2 with ModWright mods. https://www.musicdirect.com/equipment/network-audio-player/cambridge-cxn100-netw... Best, Geno
Back to top	(2)SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) OR Sansui AU222/800 Cambridge Audio CXN(ModWrt) SL1210 MK5(KAB Mods) London Decca Maroon cart • Darlingt.Labs MP8b Otari MX5050-Bii2 R2R ZLC Power Cond Lii Audio PT-10 OR F-12 OR Betsy Alnico 8"/ W-15 in Open Baffles IP Logged

JHC

Senior Member

Posts: 54

Re: Streaming newbie looking for advice.
Reply #7 - Yesterday at 17:41:44

Thanks Geno, I appreciate it. That pushes me even more towards the direction I was thinking.

It's too bad Modwright aren't doing their mods anymore—or too bad Cambridge has stopped allowing them to purchase spare parts. They do have the Analog Bridge which is the replacement (albeit, a pretty pricey one). Would love to know if anyone has any experience with it.

https://www.modwright.com/products/analog-bridge/

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Sumiko Starling > VPI Signature Classic > Tavish Classic phono stage > Pine Tree Audio 67+ preamp > SE84UFO x2 balanced monos > Omega CAMs

Reference Albums: F♯A♯∞, Life Metal, Nirvana Unplugged, Timewave Zero, Nebraska

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MM

Seasoned Member

Posts: 346

Re: Streaming newbie looking for advice.
Reply #8 - Yesterday at 17:56:20

I’ve never heard the Cambridge modified CXN but I enjoyed the CXNv2 until it didn’t work anymore and then traded up for the CXN100. I wouldn’t say the 100 is a huge sonic leap above the v2 but I enjoy both very much for both their sound and simplistic hi-res streaming ability. I’ve had numerous high end DAC’s and pre’s over the years and always return to the Cambridge streamer to my Decware amp.

I’m running the Sarah now but have previously had the UFO 25 and monoblocks. All pair nicely with the CXN and you have so much tube tuning ability with the amps I can get to whatever characteristics I desire by tube changes or room treatment upgrades.

Last time I looked the v2’s were selling fairly inexpensively second-hand.

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Cambridge CXN100, DSR3 Interconnects, SEWE 300b, ZSTYX SC, Lii F15 & W15 in open baffle.

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Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. Dick Posts: 26756	Re: Streaming newbie looking for advice. Reply #9 - Yesterday at 19:22:24 I considered a Cambridge when my Oppo UDP-205 died that was the digital center of my audio/visual system but there's no HDMI in or out, which really helps with my Apple TV and DVR so I went with a NAD M51. That is a discontinued model but an EXCELLENT component. Really elevated the sound of that system.
Back to top	HR-1,ZBIT,ZROCK3,SEWE300B; Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD, DAC Mk II,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls, Reference spkrcbls; Mapleshade SamsonV3;VeraFi Audio cpts VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects;Stack EQ; headphones:Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1 IP Logged

JHC

Senior Member

Posts: 54

Re: Streaming newbie looking for advice.
Reply #10 - Yesterday at 19:49:43

Thanks MM and Lon.

It looks like the EXN100 has HDMI ports along with an improved DAC. I have never considered hooking up a TV, but nice to have it as an option, Nice to know the Cambridge works well with Decware components. I believe in one thread a while ago Steve even mentioned just getting a CXN as a final streamer/dac solution (I forget his exact wording).

https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/usa/en/products/ex/exn100

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Sumiko Starling > VPI Signature Classic > Tavish Classic phono stage > Pine Tree Audio 67+ preamp > SE84UFO x2 balanced monos > Omega CAMs

Reference Albums: F♯A♯∞, Life Metal, Nirvana Unplugged, Timewave Zero, Nebraska

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Lon

Seasoned Member

"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. Dick

Posts: 26756

Re: Streaming newbie looking for advice.
Reply #11 - Yesterday at 20:49:27

I have to say that using HDMI out from my Apple TV+ into the NAD M51 and then to my CSP3 with all the mods and into the Zen amp is a fantastic sound--really worth trying out. Likewise I used to run the HDMI out of my DVR into the NAD M51 but I bought a Wyred4Sound re-clocker that upsamples the sound to 24/96 and then I send that out via optical to the M51 and get even better sound. I love to hear these components through my stereo (speakers are HR-1; for audio and video discs I use a Sony blu-ray player into the NAD M51 via coaxial).

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HR-1,ZBIT,ZROCK3,SEWE300B; Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD, DAC Mk II,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls, Reference spkrcbls; Mapleshade SamsonV3;VeraFi Audio cpts VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects;Stack EQ; headphones:Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1

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