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