Streaming- ur journey

[Latteman]

Once a dark art is now mainstream in most HiFi setups-
We once had LW, MW & FM which if u argue correctly was streaming. Now with Ethernet, wifi & Bluetooth not only has the choice and the sound quality improved but also the audio equipment.
How did it all start for me? Where am I now?
In the not so distant past- iPhone 5 via headphone socket /rca cable to the amplifier. Then I discovered Bluetooth receivers- cheap Chinese things and things made by Project.- optical fibre
This meant I had to get a dac- first proper dac was a Little Dot dac1 (this also meant my cd collection improved)
Various pieces came and went- nothing serious then I got a MF Clic- From RD’s suggestion I found Radio Paradise. Streaming services were beginning to be established and like others I started on free Spotify but grew weary of it and moved to iTunes and now Tidal Masters- this again meant a change in equipment to accommodate the option of streaming quality available .
Through fortune and misfortune I found a brand of dac/chipset I prefer.
My streaming has come a long way from an iPhone 5 but strangely the iPhone (Xr) is still at the heart of my setup.
I use a Streaming Transport into dac- the transport is controlled by the iPhone app and as I mostly use tidal connect or the built in Radio, my iPhone is free to do other things- even leave the house
I have a ifi Zen Stream to Ifi Zen V2 signature dac - they are loaded with audio enhancing features and I find them very easy to use and the sound quality is great. BUT (as always)
I find myself craving a streaming transport with an audio art display. The obvious choice is the Eversolo with its screen but that will be a change in DAC chip and therefore sound signature- the ifi has better transports but not with a viewable screen.
I believe the Ifi will offer me the sound quality I prefer but vanity wants a screen.
As a compromise I can use my laptop to control the tidal connection to the ifi stream and Bluetooth the screen to my Tv so having the tv as a silent display. This seems to work but I just can’t seem to reason the additional electricity with a large Tv & laptop being powered, plus I’m not sure if it’s my imagination or not because the iPhone sounds better than the laptop but either are jut a ‘remote’.
Streaming- the new expensive audio source

[Fretless]

An interesting journey, curious to see where it takes you next.

[Vinyl-ant]

My use of streaming very short. Started with a squeezebox donkeys years ago, a very useful box of tricks with a very big and readable display. Running squeezecentre on a mac and streaming the itunes library.
It was an arseache to go faffing with the computer all the time, it dropped out alot when other people were using the wifi, and wound me up something chronic. it wasnt used a great deal.

Next was an apple tv gen 3 that emma bought for me. This was connected to the telly and also streamed the itunes library. Sounded nice, and again was an arse because others using the tv meant it didnt get used alot.

Then it was my daughter mithering for spotify that set the next stage off. I though spotify sounded shite and got tidal instead. Then she decided to pay for spotify herself, so i was streaming on the phone with some sennheiser momentum headphones.
I bought a wiim mini to stream tidal into the main system. That is connected to a topping e30 dac.

It isnt used very much.

I am a luddite and just put records on. You lot know me well enough by now to have seen that coming.

However.

I have another wiim mini upstairs which i predict will be used much more because its for my headphone system. Wifi is not that good upstairs, so i may have to get an extender, but it came today and it worked fine.

To be quite honest, streaming does nothing for me, but that might change in the headphone system. The wiim mini gives some great bang for the buck, at 90 quid with all the control offboard on a phone, streaming tidal via tidal connect. Connected to a dac via optical, the sound quality is pretty good, and its perfectly acceptable via the single ended output too.

Onwards!

[slinger]

I use a 'clone' of the Wiim Mini in the kitchen, the iEast M50 (available from Hifi Express). It's slightly cheaper.

Uses the same Audiocast app as the Wiim and thus has identical functionality. The onboard DAC chip is an ESS Sabre and gives very acceptable SQ.

If anyone's looking for an alternative ...

[CN211276]

viewtopic.php?t=51499#p232056

I posted this over a year ago. Since I have found that WAV sounds better than FLAC. Not sure why but it could be because the DAC has an easier task processing it. Therefore I have been converting my FLAC ripped CDs to WAV. I have also been buying second hand CD versions of favourite albums I have on vinyl to rip to WAV. I search out versions which were mastered before the loudness wars got out of hand. The short length of audiophile ethernet cable I referred to in the link now connects the NAS to the first switch.

[Fretless]

Ethernet cables: I find it hard to hear much difference between an Audiophile link (in my case AQ Cinnamon) and a generic CAT8 cable that is 1/10th of the price.

Most of my setups here now have CAT8 links between network switch & streamer.

Longer runs from modem to switches are CAT6.

[CN211276]

My long run of ethernet cable is Farnels Cat 8. I originally bought a short length of audiophile ethernet to connect the switch to the streamer. This became redundant three years ago when I bought the NA Eno which incorporates its own length. The redundant length was moved to the connection with the other switch at the start of the chain.

[slinger]

I use Blue Jeans Cables' Cat6a throughout my audio and AV setups. They are not overly expensive and the build quality is superb. Each cable is thoroughly tested before it's sent out, and a printout of the test results is sent with your cable.

Belden manufactures "special" patch-cord-optimized Cat 6a (and Cat 6 ) cable stocks for Blue Jeans, which they then terminate and sell under the Blue Jeans Cable brand. I've read that it's from Belden's bonded-pair 10GX series They use Sentinel brand RJ-45 connectors.

I'm now exploring optical options.

[CN211276]

I'm now exploring optical options.

I would be interested in your findings as my streamer is connected by an optical cable.

[Swamper68]

I'd be very interested to hear about anyone's impressions on network switches.
Best ones they'd used, best value, sonic difference, and so
This seems seems to be my next step and they moment to squeeze that extra drop out of the NAD C658.
The NAD was bought because of the integrated Dirac Live function, which is essential in my house.
Plus the Bluos software is top notch to use.