A glowing review indeed. Looks perfect for a roon setup if your goodselves use one.Found this glowing review online
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SILENT ANGEL RHEIN Z1 & FORESTER F2 - REVIEW — AUDIOKEY REVIEWS
Wow! These grooved, little, metal, black boxes carry a wallop of high-fidelity goodness and compelling musicality that clearly sets them far above their combined price. And I must admit, having reviewed, auditioned, and owned some very high value/cost streamers, I am very impressed by the Silent Angwww.audiokeyreviews.com
You are not alone sirI really wonder why streamers cost so much
There are several stand Alone streamers and Streamer- DACs that cater to a variety of budgets. Some are great VFM too. But I am looking for aI really wonder why streamers cost so much
Actually there are a ton more servers out there. With new ones added daily for good measureI have been looking around for a network server which is simple and easy to use with my sizeable digital audio collection. I have a nice DAC. I realised there are not too many. Many seem to be using their PCs, Mac mini, NUCs or RasPi based computers with third party software which they are happy with and cost far less.
Computer servers designed solely for audio seem to have limited demand. Innuos, Aurender, and Silent angel are three that I know which have such servers. There may be more…such niche products with customised software are priced high till the demand and subsequently competition picks up?
Ooooo! Thank you. Lots of research to do.Actually there are a ton more servers out there. With new ones added daily for good measure
It almost looks like a cottage industry, with everyone and their uncle having a go at building one
wadax
anitpodes
pink faun
total dac
lumin
aurender
innuos
silent angel
auralic
eddiescreation
small green computer
roon nucleus and plus
and lots more that i cant recollect now.
I Used to Wonder like that, tried almost every fork of DIY with Raspberry pi and bridges including Ustars R19 and Pi2aes board... Macmini, Nuc Android boxes, iPhone 12, OnePlus one All Have been Tried for Streaming Purposes.I really wonder why streamers cost so much
I havent tried Ampache, so cant comment on its usability. But when it comes to streamers, the app and user experience is as important as the sound quality. I had tried volumio before on a Rpi gen 3, and its search and indexing times were too long in the tooth. So moved to roon, but felt it was a overkill in box count and expense for the small local library I had. So junked that too.Then there are device less internet services like this.
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Ampache - Music Streaming Server
A web based audio/video streaming application and file manager allowing you to access your music & videos from anywhere, using almost any internet enabled device.ampache.org
Wondering if it will be a upgrade from the Blusound Node2i I am currently using…Look at a used Auralic Aries Mini. I don’t think they make them anymore. Before buying just make sure it’s supported by the company. Get it with its own LPS. Should be like 400-500 USD. Gets the job done.
Thanks for sharing your experience.I havent tried Ampache, so cant comment on its usability. But when it comes to streamers, the app and user experience is as important as the sound quality. I had tried volumio before on a Rpi gen 3, and its search and indexing times were too long in the tooth. So moved to roon, but felt it was a overkill in box count and expense for the small local library I had. So junked that too.
Subsequently, I was using bluetooth from a BlueMe HD receiver powered by a cheap 5V chinese LPSU to feed optical into the dac. My tab had LDAC codec which the BlueMe supported, so I was very happy with this for quite a while. Then i bought a used Cambridge audio 851N streamer from our forum, which sounded very good too. So stopped using the BlueMe HD.
Finally, I recently bought a Lumin transport, just to see what the hoopla was all about. And feel its been a good upgrade over the Azur 851N, but at multiple times the cost. The Lumin app is very basic at best, but is robust and gets the job done.
I also had a bluesound powernode in the very past, and loved the app. It is still the best app around. And there are 3rd party power mod kits available for the latest gen bluesound node if you go down that path. The app is lovely and a breeze to use. I also have a yamaha WXC-50 in the closet which is a swiss army knife kind of thing and I found the musicast app stable too.
So lots of options, but as @prem suggested both the auralic aries mini and bluesound node get the job done without much faff. Though there are better sounding ones out there, depending on how much one is willing to spend.
If you can share more about your streaming needs, like library size for local files, do you use online streaming tidal / spotify/qobuz , do you use roon etc... then it can help narrow down the choices![]()
Several years back, I had heard both. I had preferred the SQ of Auralic Mini. It was more open sounding. Bluesound was a bit mushy in comparison, trying to make it sound sweeter.Wondering if it will be a upgrade from the Blusound Node2i I am currently using…
The server function to access my stored music is another feature that seems to be missing.
Hi and good morning againThanks for sharing your experience.
I currently have the blue sound node 2i. The UI as you have mentioned is very nice.
My locally stored music library is @ 2TB. Easy file browsing is a must.
i stream Qobuz and Spot. But not Roon.
I am looking for a Streamer and Server in one box (with a optical or USB out)
Munich M1T is Not as Roon Server but as Endpoint Mainly, Zhein Can Perform as Roon Server.Silent angel servers - Munich / Rhein etc - They are mainly geared as roon servers
Thank you @Yelamanchili manohar . This is a super helpful comparison. Thank you for taking the trouble to note these down. I am sure others on a simile quest will appreciate this nice comparative summary as well.Hi and good morning again
For streamer cum server with on-board storage below are the available options : ( Ive seen crazy prices in india, so if any models have in-built option to switch voltage from 110V to 220V, I will mention that too )
1. Auralic Aries G1, G1.1, G2.0 or G2.1 - Auralic has the most neutral sounding servers. On-board storage can be added with SSD depending on which generation of product we choose. Roon not required as it has its own app. ( Voltage not changable from 110 to 220 V )
2. Innous Zen mini, Zen or Zenith - Has a rich and lush sound. Comes with in-built CD ripper and on board storage. Comes with own app. The latest gen is mk3. But products from Gen2 onwards can be considered. ( Voltage changable from 110 to 220 V )
3. Aurender - Slightly warmish sound - Has a great app - conductor. Roon wont work with this. Comes with on-board storage. Supposed to really good. Some models come with built-in ripper. ( Voltage changable from 110 to 220 V)
4. Lumin - Lumin u1 mini or u2 mini - But dont have inbuilt storage - Will have to add a NAS. Iam too dumb at computers, so I use a WD Mycloud 4 TB drive which works as my NAS, plugged into my router. If you want even lesser faff, you can consider adding their L1 NAS. which is very very simple to use. ( u1 mini and u2 mini come with SMPS that is universal voltage compliant ). But the higher up models are fixed voltage and non changable )
5. Melco - Has on-board storage, but no inbuilt CD ripping functionality. Has the best library back-up management among all above servers. A lot of variety in their range. Their current entry level N1A is multi voltage compliant. Works with thrid party apps like M-connect etc.
6. Silent angel servers - Munich / Rhein etc - They are mainly geared as roon servers i think. But i could be completely wrong. They seem to come with their own. So will have to research further on this.
Have to rush to work....will continue once i return back![]()
Thank youMunich M1T is Not as Roon Server but as Endpoint Mainly, Zhein Can Perform as Roon Server.
The VitoS on Silent Angel Streamer is quite Capable for Managing Library and Streaming Services, much Similar to Lumin or Aurender interface. You can attach Powered HDD to one of its 3 usb ports without any problems. Its quite faster interface, gets job done quite efficiently, hopefully that helps.
Configuring a Roon Server, by Nuc works cheaper even after lifetime subscription, and (barring Aurender) you can use many Streamers as Roon Endpoint in efficient multiroom solution.