Dillema: network receiver vs amp + streamer

[neno]

Dear all,

I need advice regarding dillemma i have about upgrade of my hifi home setup.

At the moment i have:

• Yamaha R-D202S stereo receiver (300€; 340$) https://europe.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/r-s202d/specs.html#product-tabs
• Yamaha NS-F51 speakers (400€; 450$) https://europe.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/speaker_systems/ns-f51/specs.html#product-tabs
• Audio Technica AT-LP3 turntable (250€; 285$) https://www.audio-technica.com/en-eu/at-lp3

It is a entry level setup that i made few years ago and it served it purpose… playing vinyl and bluetooth (mobile phone 2 receiver) streaming.

Recently i started thinking about upgrade with several conditions:

• play FLAC music from USB stick
• connect TV via optical link
• increase in audible sound quality when compared to current setup
• create simple and reliable setup that will last for years
• budget for upgrade max 1100€; 1250$

So i narrowed my solutions to:

• Network receiver
• Yamaha R-N600A (800€; 910$) https://europe.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/r-n600a/specs.html
• PRO: all in one device; can play music from USB stick via remote control and receiver display (no need for external app although it can be played also via MusicCast which in general is considered to be good streaming app)
• CON: current delivery is limited at lower impedance (8 ohm 2x80W; 4 ohm 2x60W); long term compatibility (end of life for streaming app; can't support future app's / standards)

or:

• Stereo amp + streamer
• Yamaha A-S701 (850€; 970$) https://europe.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/a-s701/specs.html#product-tabs
• PRO: better amplifier (according to some tests/reviews); long term reliability; separated from streamer/DAC which gives flexibility for future changes; no current delivery limitation at lower impedance
• CON: bigger price for upgrade in total since i need to buy external streamer

• Arylic S50 Pro+ (130€; 149$)
• PRO: can play FLAC from USB; has multiple connection options (optical, coax, line in, line out, sub out); can be replaced in future separately from amp
• CON: must use app, can't play best quality FLAC (ESS9023), redundancy? (DAC in streamer and DAC in amp)

I would be gratefull if you could give me some advice regarding solutions that i'm thinking about.

Best regards

 

[Vincent Kars]

which gives flexibility for future changes;

That is my feeling as well, streaming audio services comes and go, revamp their interface so pretty soon you have a nice brick.
Have a look at the WiiM product range, it covers all your needs at a decent price tag.

If you use a streamer, you might as well decide not to use a USB stick but pull the audio form any PC in your network (UPnP/DLNA)

 

[paul puma]

If you consider a second hand set up you could make a bigger step in quality (and separate the streamer).
that worked great for me.

 

[neno]

Is there any other type of device (not streamer) that can be used for FLAC reading (from USB stick or micro SD card) and sending digital signal via coax or toslink to amp DAC?

 

[Witterings]

I'd do as @Vincent Mars suggests and look at the WiiM Ultra OR if you want beter sould quality but more exopensive a Bluesound Node N132 you can plug your TV in via HDMI or Optical and you can plug a USB stick in for your FLAC files if you'd prefer to do that rather than storing them on the network.

The biggest upgrade apart from that would likely be your speakers.

 

[matthewpianist]

Based on real ownership experience... Forget the Yamaha receiver and amplifier. They're OK, but you'll get far superior sound from a Rega io. It has a much better phono stage too. Add a WiiM Ultra and upgrade your speakers to something better and you'll have made a considerable upgrade that's simple, reliable, offers extensive connectivity and plenty of flexibility for the future.

You could even go for the Rega System One - a very good upgrade on your turntable (P1), amp (iO) and speakers (Kytes) if you don't mind stand mounts - and add a WiiM Ultra. That's bang for buck that's pretty much impossible to beat unless you look secondhand.

 

[neno]

Idea behind USB stick (or MicroSD) inserted in streamer/reader is to have lowest possible number of independent / active / connected devices... because i don't really use streaming services and would like to play music from my small library.
I prefer USB stick option because it is passive ... it don't have to be powered, connected to network, maintained etc.
I would most probably take R-N800A or even R-N1000A if they had USB stick input... but they don't. Yamaha kept it only on R-N600A.

 

[neno]

Based on real ownership experience... Forget the Yamaha receiver and amplifier. They're OK, but you'll get far superior sound from a Rega io. It has a much better phono stage too. Add a WiiM Ultra and upgrade your speakers to something better and you'll have made a considerable upgrade that's simple, reliable, offers extensive connectivity and plenty of flexibility for the future.

Thx for suggestion. Friends have Marantz, Denon, JBL, Onkyo, Technics HiFi systems and to be totally honest i can't hear any significant difference between them... significant meaning audible for me. 45yo average music listener 🙂
So i believe Yamaha will deliver more less same audible experience for me within same price class.
Having said that only difference is features (USB lacking), reliability (my R-S202D has been serving me >4 years without any problem... and i've heard/read that Yamaha makes reliable products also in higher price classes) and design... i really like when i sit down to listen to the music to watch the amp/receiver... and Yamaha looks retro minimalistic, monolithic, almost like a piece of art. In aluminium silver of course 🙂