Spec me a streamer/DAC

[mid_gen]

Time to sort out the digital side of my system.

Looking for a streamer/DAC solution that has a fairly simple set of requirements.

1) An optical input that'll take the output from my TV

2) The unit defaults to the optical input when turned on

3) Tidal Connect and supports hires flac

Budget is flexible. I would like to stick with Naim but apparently the ND units fail at point 2, which is a non-starter. Telling the missus she has to open an app to switch inputs before the TV works isn't an option.

 

[mid_gen]

Cambridge Audio CNX100 is on the list. Trying to establish point 2....

 

[Grimley]

WiiM Pro plus?

 

[mid_gen]

WiiM Pro plus?

I was just reading up on it, seems it has an auto-sensing input option that would do the job.

You have one?

 

[Grimley]

No. Some of the YT content creators seem to love their products. I don't listen to music often enough to justify buying one.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

If you’re in the price area for Naim gear, these might be worth considering:

Sim Moon 380d Neo with MIND module streamer / dac | eBay

MOON is known for it’s powerhouse amplifiers, transparent preamplifiers, and their unique and rather stunning industrial design. They recently have been getting accolades for their cutting edge digital products, including disc players with digital inputs, DAC’s, and network streamers. In for...

www.ebay.co.uk

Linn Akurate DSM / Utopik Power Supply / Incl Spare Dynamic PS | eBay

Installed by my Linn dealer Rococo Systems in January 2024.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[mid_gen]

If you’re in the price area for Naim gear, these might be worth considering:

Sim Moon 380d Neo with MIND module streamer / dac | eBay

MOON is known for it’s powerhouse amplifiers, transparent preamplifiers, and their unique and rather stunning industrial design. They recently have been getting accolades for their cutting edge digital products, including disc players with digital inputs, DAC’s, and network streamers. In for...

www.ebay.co.uk

Linn Akurate DSM / Utopik Power Supply / Incl Spare Dynamic PS | eBay

Installed by my Linn dealer Rococo Systems in January 2024.

www.ebay.co.uk

Some nice options!

Reading up on the Wiim though, it seems like it'll tick all the feature boxes. It also has bit-perfect digital output, so I can add something like a simple decent DAC like a Chord Qutest to round it off and have a solution to fit my needs.

 

[mid_gen]

Got a WiiM Pro Plus yesterday and gave it a good listen.

First of all, massive upgrade for my TV which was going through a 10quid amazon optical DAC. No surprises really! Certainly good enough for YouTube content.

Listened to various Tidal sources and it's definitely lot letting you down at the price point, very enjoyable listen. Hires sources were a little bright. I did some AB testing with Mammal Hands - Shadow Work, and well, it's not bothering my vinyl setup that's for sure. Decent though.

The software is very good and the optical auto sensing works as expected.

Now to keep an eye out for a DAC at some point!

 

[hornetstinger]

Got a WiiM Pro Plus yesterday and gave it a good listen.

First of all, massive upgrade for my TV which was going through a 10quid amazon optical DAC. No surprises really! Certainly good enough for YouTube content.

Listened to various Tidal sources and it's definitely lot letting you down at the price point, very enjoyable listen. Hires sources were a little bright. I did some AB testing with Mammal Hands - Shadow Work, and well, it's not bothering my vinyl setup that's for sure. Decent though.

The software is very good and the optical auto sensing works as expected.

Now to keep an eye out for a DAC at some point!

Get LMS installed

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

Got a WiiM Pro Plus yesterday and gave it a good listen.

First of all, massive upgrade for my TV which was going through a 10quid amazon optical DAC. No surprises really! Certainly good enough for YouTube content.

Listened to various Tidal sources and it's definitely lot letting you down at the price point, very enjoyable listen. Hires sources were a little bright. I did some AB testing with Mammal Hands - Shadow Work, and well, it's not bothering my vinyl setup that's for sure. Decent though.

The software is very good and the optical auto sensing works as expected.

Now to keep an eye out for a DAC at some point!

Where in the country are you, I’ve got an old Meridian unit if you wish to test out how old/not cheap compares to new

 

[hornetstinger]

Where in the country are you, I’ve got an old Meridian unit if you wish to test out how old/not cheap compares to new

What bitrate/sampling rate does it support?

 

[mid_gen]

Get LMS installed

No thanks.

 

[hornetstinger]

No thanks.

Much better than DNLA UPNP service, crap

 

[mid_gen]

Where in the country are you, I’ve got an old Meridian unit if you wish to test out how old/not cheap compares to new

Derby way. Not sure it'd support the bit rates from Tidal max? Depending on how old it is!

 

[mid_gen]

Much better than DNLA UPNP service, crap

That's nice.

 

[hornetstinger]

That's nice.

yup. I if had choice of eversolo A8 (if it didn't have soft client ) or Wiim Pro, I'd rather have wiim pro.

 

[mid_gen]

It's pretty good. When I get a DAC, I'll buy a regular WiiM pro to connect to it, and move the Pro Plus into the dining room for multiroom.

 

[hornetstinger]

It's pretty good. When I get a DAC, I'll buy a regular WiiM pro to connect to it, and move the Pro Plus into the dining room for multiroom.

Yeah that would be the streamer I would buy (Pro Plus) but I've not been impressed with the generic DNLA servers, they're just too basic. This is for my local music collection, not the radio streaming side.

Would highly recommend trying LMS, enabling the softsqueeze on the Wiim giving it a go.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

Derby way. Not sure it'd support the bit rates from Tidal max? Depending on how old it is!

Balls, I’m down in Surrey, and I’d be very uncomfortable to post it.
It supports upto 2496. Shame really, as you’d have been able to test it out against some new gear to see how it compares

 

[mid_gen]

Balls, I’m down in Surrey, and I’d be very uncomfortable to post it.
It supports upto 2496. Shame really, as you’d have been able to test it out against some new gear to see how it compares

No worries. I'm not in a rush, spent enough on my setup for a while, will be keeping an eye out for a good deal on a used DAC, but not desperate, my serious listening is still done on CD or vinyl!