Budget Network Streamer

[OM_2K19]

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sound.balenalabs.io

 

[lithiumnk]

I think the best budget streamer is pi2aes by pi2design. It sounds extremely good as compared to ~1500 usd DDC/streamers.

 

[300b]

I have a Marantz 6005 network streamer for sale, pm if interested.

 

[Yogesh]

I was wondering whether Portable DAPs can be used as streamers?! Spotify & Tidal already can be remote controlled. Apps like HiBy link also offer remote control. DAPs also happen to have decent DACs, that is also an advantage.

How feasible & practical is this option?

 

[Bhaskar Jyoti Talapatra]

I was wondering whether Portable DAPs can be used as streamers?! Spotify & Tidal already can be remote controlled. Apps like HiBy link also offer remote control. DAPs also happen to have decent DACs, that is also an advantage.

How feasible & practical is this optio

Seems to be a good option . Besides using it in an audio chain one can listen to music by using a headphone. But a noob question, do all the daps available have linelevel out to connect it to amp?
Regards

 

[Yogesh]

Seems to be a good option . Besides using it in an audio chain one can listen to music by using a headphone. But a noob question, do all the daps available have linelevel out to connect it to amp?
Regards

Not all have line level output, but we could use headphone out I guess.

 

[amrutmhatre90]

I have ordered this super cheap DAP, plays MQA from Tidal too. My main aim also was to have a cheap streamer, this can double up as a portable music player when you go out. Will be using it it my car too
Other DAPs with MQA cost nearly double the value. And this also had a Line Out option.

https://www.headphonezone.in/products/astell-kern-activo-ct10?variant=15938595684415

Will post my views after using it.

 

[Yogesh]

I have ordered this super cheap DAP, plays MQA from Tidal too. My main aim also was to have a cheap streamer, this can double up as a portable music player when you go out. Will be using it it my car too
Other DAPs with MQA cost nearly double the value. And this also had a Line Out option.

https://www.headphonezone.in/products/astell-kern-activo-ct10?variant=15938595684415

Will post my views after using it.

This won't do MQA full unfolding AFAIK. Check FAQ on HPZ page.

Is there an option to control playback remotely?

 

[amrutmhatre90]

No, this won't do the full unfolding.
Just received this morning, option to playback via DLNA is possible but can't control streaming services. Only internal library.

Testing out with my AVR right now, HEOs vs CT10 not able to make much difference, will do more testing.

Edit: Seems controlling streaming also is possible. Will check it out.

 

[Dalinar]

Hi folks, you will be able to run the CT10 pretty much like a streamer. This is what I do.

You can install Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal APKs on the CT10, check thread here. I have all my music on my desktop and use Foobar - and use DLNA to stream onto CT10, you need a Upnp component on foobar. I also use the foobar android controller and am able to play remote playback via my shared music drive via phone. That is another component you can install. I also play youtube playlists using foobar which streams to the DAP.

Only thing that CT10 doesnt allow is the native Spotify connect. Meaning at home, on a chrome cast for example, everyone on the same wifi network could stream to the device which had a streamer that is spotify enabled. With a CT10, you are logged into spotify on the CT10, so only you can control remote playback on a different device running spotify with the same logins.

Let me know if this helps. And yes I use line out on CT10, set it to 2V - turn the volume knob - you will see a line out option at the top - not super intuitive. you can set the 1, 1.8 or 2V I think.

My chain is CT10, amazon 3.5 to RCA, PM6006, D225

Some other challenges:
- to run Spotify, you'll need to pick up the DAP and turn it on. But you can switch to DLNA content via foobar easily - not switch back to spotify
- Battery backup is not that great - so I kind of charge it too often/leave it plugged in mostly - but have been using it this way for 5 months now without issues. Used it sparingly before that.
- Wish it had an optical out so I could use the DAC in the amp - but the DAC in the CT10 is good as well since it comes from the AK family

Listening impressions:
- I pretty much only listen to carnatic and hindustani music. Some fusion stuff but some elements of indian classical has to be there.. this is 80% of the time and I run music through the day in the background. They sound great, mostly vocals and indian insturmentals.
- If I want to listen to music critically, I prefer the headphones via the 6006 headphone out running the CT10 itself. I listen to all genres otherwise and keep exploring new stuff in that sense. These are generally handpicked bandcamp albums that I pay these days for.
- A lot of my old FLAC collection is downloaded from some years ago and some of them sound great, which I keep going back to.. Favs being albums by RATM, king, clapton, Jerry Garcia and Allman brothers kind of things..

 

[chander]

You can also check out the FiiO android based DAP line and use FiiO link app on your android phones (I do not think it works with iOS, however I am not 100% sure). I believe the higher models come with Line Out, not sure about the cheaper ones. On M11 and above you can load up your library upto 2TB (theoretically), and almost all accept an SD card. You can control this library thru the FiiO link app too. I don't remember having ever used the DLNA feature so cant comment there.

 

[amrutmhatre90]

I used and tested Activo Ct10 extensively today with my x3700 and Crowns. Almost for 4-6 hours.

First impressions, HEOs sounds better then the DAP. Now I tested same songs, even tested HEOs with 16bit 44.1khz vs CT10 24bit 88.2khz or 96khz same songs and I liked what I heard from HEOs.
Now this can be just me, but the HEOs had better bass and heft to it. With CT10 the bass just disappeared and got slightly more brighter tone. EQ spoils the way it sounds so did not use at all.
This was with 2V Line Out.

Coming to the CT10 it is very compact and the interface is smooth. Feels good in hand. Can control it through DLNA, installed Mconnect on my phone, was able to play TIDAL 24bit 44khz songs through CT10. And obviously can use the internal library.

Sometimes the songs in the library showed up as 16bit 44khz MQA and sometimes 24bit 96khz. Was not able to reproduce the problem. Was able to install old Tidal APK version which supports android 5. But it does download library. Battery is just meh and gets warm.

I am still clueless should I use this as a streamer or no, for people who have gear without wifi this is the best option. DLNA support makes things awesome too.

Will be listening to more music on it , to see does ir require burn in or no. And testing it out with headphones ranging from 1k to 30k to see is it a good upgrade from phone.

Will I keep it? Not sure, currently not able to see much value to it from my current setup. Might let it go.

If anyone has tips on how to improve sound quality, it will be more than helpful.

 

[Analogous]

Portable DAPs can be used as streamers?

I use my AK Kann as a streamer and AKconnect App to stream Tidal.
Best to verify if the DAP you are considering has this function.
No MQA, but I recall reading some where that newer models from AK have this? Not sure if software updates will be able to do this for older ones.
But having used a dedicated streamer (Bluesound node 2)I do prefer this option over the DAP as a streamer for the convenience. The UI of the BluOS is better than AKConnect. The MUOS app interface on the much cheaper DNM AS2 streamer (Rs.8200) is not as good as the AK connect app IMO. Haven’t tried HEOS.