Let's talk about streamers!

[Jasonovich]

I admit I'm a raving Matrix fanbois!
I just admire how they just outdo everyone in the streamer market, Rose, Eversolo, Blue Note, meh move aside!

I have their old and superseded model the Matrix Mini-i4, it's pretty much understated but the quality of the sound and construction is truly wonderful. I wouldn't want to upgrade to their newer and more attractive models because, firstly it isn't a necessary purchase and, now that I have retired, I need to be more frugal with money - cough cough!

It's like we all wouldn't mind driving a Ferrari and dreaming is FREE, anyhow, this is just to stir up conversation about streamers. Do you have one streamer in mind for the near future and what brand would be your personal choice?


Below product review from HiFi News

Matrix Audio MS-1 Network-attached DAC/streamer

When a manufacturer announces a new model, it’s tempting to compare it to what’s come before, looking for where upgrades have been made. And, yes, the MS-1 from China’s Matrix Audio does carry on technology and design features from the company’s earlier network players, including the Element X2...

www.hifinews.com

Those Fink Team Borg speakers look pretty cool!

View: https://youtu.be/clCpW4WqrWY?si=OfbHwJySHsHgQgiY


More YT blah!

View: https://youtu.be/RrxfnN5O0JU?si=TlKDgZTKOv7yhliO

View: https://youtu.be/h-oPnldTHdY?si=eC-WMutY2AvyS32e

 

[ninanina]

After saying that I would never buy a streamer, as we have a reasonable turntable and cd player, I’m now a complete convert

We have a fairly lowly Cambridge Audio MXN10

Since we’ve had the streamer we’ve hardly touched the turntable or cd player

I only paid £350 brand new for the MXN10 from CA and honestly it sounds amazing

We are using Qobuz as our streaming service and it’s so good and not yet can we not find what we want to play from it, even some obscure stuff

I’m absolutely sure there are better streamers out there but the little MXN10 is, so far, doing great

 

[Rodolfo]

I still prefer Hi-Fi.

Sh/Couldn't this "stirring up" be done in the Music Streaming section for fans of such pleasures? Please. 😉

 

[Al ears]

I admit I'm a raving Matrix fanbois!
I just admire how they just outdo everyone in the streamer market, Rose, Eversolo, Blue Note, meh move aside!

I have their old and superseded model the Matrix Mini-i4, it's pretty much understated but the quality of the sound and construction is truly wonderful. I wouldn't want to upgrade to their newer and more attractive models because, firstly it isn't a necessary purchase and, now that I have retired, I need to be more frugal with money - cough cough!

It's like we all wouldn't mind driving a Ferrari and dreaming is FREE, anyhow, this is just to stir up conversation about streamers. Do you one in mind for the near future and what brand would be your personal choice?


Below product review from HiFi News

Matrix Audio MS-1 Network-attached DAC/streamer

When a manufacturer announces a new model, it’s tempting to compare it to what’s come before, looking for where upgrades have been made. And, yes, the MS-1 from China’s Matrix Audio does carry on technology and design features from the company’s earlier network players, including the Element X2...

www.hifinews.com

Those Fink Team Borg speakers look pretty cool!

View: https://youtu.be/clCpW4WqrWY?si=OfbHwJySHsHgQgiY


More YT blah!

View: https://youtu.be/RrxfnN5O0JU?si=TlKDgZTKOv7yhliO

View: https://youtu.be/h-oPnldTHdY?si=eC-WMutY2AvyS32e

How much for a source???

 

[GroeneLeeuw]

I have an Eversolo DMP-A6 Master Edition.
Wonderful machine is what I can say.
In combination with Rotel 1592 MKI & Focal Vestia N4

 

[Jasonovich]

How much for a source???

Forgive me AI not sure I understood the question, do you mean the cost for each model?

The top of the range MS-1 (includes DAC) comes in two flavours pre or without pre amp, with the latter, it'll set you back £11K



The Streamer Transport (no DAC) NT-1 £4.5K and cheaper sibling TT-1 £1.8K
All in one TS-1 (DAC, streamer, preamp, headphone amp) £2.K

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

I don't do much streaming but, when I do, the PC can access anything and everything I might want to try. No need for a dedicated streamer.

 

[Entrigo]

Forgive me AI not sure I understood the question, do you mean the cost for each model?

The top of the range MS-1 (includes DAC) comes in two flavours pre or without pre amp, with the latter, it'll set you back £11K

View attachment 11512

The Streamer Transport (no DAC) NT-1 £4.5K and cheaper sibling TT-1 £1.8K
All in one TS-1 (DAC, streamer, preamp, headphone amp) £2.K

Ooopppps I just fell off the sofa...

Anyway, after "all DACs sound the same", surely all streamers do too. After all, they just process 1s and 0s...

🙃

 

[Entrigo]

I don't do much streaming but, when I do, the PC can access anything and everything I might want to try. No need for a dedicated streamer.

Well I thought the same, and was using a plain old super cheap Google Chrome Cast Audio, but the jump from that to a still modest Wiim Pro Plus was pretty clear. Also, I was recently "told off" for using my Mac to stream via USB - apparently the iPhone is better. Followed a bit of research showing how PCs aren't always the best to stream directly from.

Joke above aside, I am still unsure how the streaming source makes a difference when, as it seems people say, the biggest difference is made by the DAC 🤷‍♂️

 

[Vincent Kars]

What does a streamer do?
First of all it is a interface (hopefully not to clumsy) to browse/search a server over the network.
If you select a track, it will be downloaded using a network protocol.
No DAC (the chip doing the DA) understands networking so the data had to be converted to a protocol the chip does understand e.g. UAC2 (USB audio), S/PDIF for outboard DAC's or in case of a internal DAC, I2S.
Basically it a interface + protocol converter. A protocol converter shouldn't have a sound as it only converts one protocol to another.

 

[Integralista]

I admit I'm a raving Matrix fanbois!
I just admire how they just outdo everyone in the streamer market, Rose, Eversolo, Blue Note, meh move aside!

I have their old and superseded model the Matrix Mini-i4, it's pretty much understated but the quality of the sound and construction is truly wonderful. I wouldn't want to upgrade to their newer and more attractive models because, firstly it isn't a necessary purchase and, now that I have retired, I need to be more frugal with money - cough cough!

It's like we all wouldn't mind driving a Ferrari and dreaming is FREE, anyhow, this is just to stir up conversation about streamers. Do you have one streamer in mind for the near future and what brand would be your personal choice?


Below product review from HiFi News

Matrix Audio MS-1 Network-attached DAC/streamer

When a manufacturer announces a new model, it’s tempting to compare it to what’s come before, looking for where upgrades have been made. And, yes, the MS-1 from China’s Matrix Audio does carry on technology and design features from the company’s earlier network players, including the Element X2...

www.hifinews.com

Those Fink Team Borg speakers look pretty cool!

View: https://youtu.be/clCpW4WqrWY?si=OfbHwJySHsHgQgiY


More YT blah!

View: https://youtu.be/RrxfnN5O0JU?si=TlKDgZTKOv7yhliO

View: https://youtu.be/h-oPnldTHdY?si=eC-WMutY2AvyS32e

Hi, my friend is using some older Matrix streamer and Dac as one unit. He is happy with it. Matrix is well respected brand. To put 11.000£ into streamer is not for me yet. For this money I may have Rega Naia or some Kuzma R turntable which are for me better value. I was 25 years listening mainly LPs and some CD and ...FM tuner😆. But times are changing. I got at home one small Bluesound Node 3.1 for some 450 Eurs. This unit is small very convenient in using, proper app. Analogue output via RCA is nothing special. But connecting Node to my CD/Dac Moon D260 via USB has changed sound a lot. Streamer in Node is very good, it just needs better dac. Today I have heard Moon D280 with streamer inside at a friend. Very, very good sound. But friend has also audiophile grade Switch (2000 eur value) and all digital cabling from Wireworld. I liked a lot what I heard today via his streamer, Accuphase 450 amp and Xavian Giulietta speakers. Truly awsome system. Room was smaller around 20m², with several acoustic panels. BR.

 

[Integralista]

I admit I'm a raving Matrix fanbois!
I just admire how they just outdo everyone in the streamer market, Rose, Eversolo, Blue Note, meh move aside!

I have their old and superseded model the Matrix Mini-i4, it's pretty much understated but the quality of the sound and construction is truly wonderful. I wouldn't want to upgrade to their newer and more attractive models because, firstly it isn't a necessary purchase and, now that I have retired, I need to be more frugal with money - cough cough!

It's like we all wouldn't mind driving a Ferrari and dreaming is FREE, anyhow, this is just to stir up conversation about streamers. Do you have one streamer in mind for the near future and what brand would be your personal choice?


Below product review from HiFi News

Matrix Audio MS-1 Network-attached DAC/streamer

When a manufacturer announces a new model, it’s tempting to compare it to what’s come before, looking for where upgrades have been made. And, yes, the MS-1 from China’s Matrix Audio does carry on technology and design features from the company’s earlier network players, including the Element X2...

www.hifinews.com

Those Fink Team Borg speakers look pretty cool!

View: https://youtu.be/clCpW4WqrWY?si=OfbHwJySHsHgQgiY


More YT blah!

View: https://youtu.be/RrxfnN5O0JU?si=TlKDgZTKOv7yhliO

View: https://youtu.be/h-oPnldTHdY?si=eC-WMutY2AvyS32e

One more remark regarding Matrix system from You Tube video with link above. These are Fink Team Borg Episode 2. These are fantastic speakers, just two way. And they love good tube amps. Owner of Fink Team, Karl Heinz Fink uses them with full Canor pre/ 2x Mono system. This system is also reference system for german site lowbeats.de. BR.

 

[nads]

Oh dear, streaming or streaming. To me two very different things. Using a streaming service or streaming the music on you NAS/other storage device.

Still struggling to find a better UI than the old Squeezebox now Lyron set up.

Blu sound still struggling with but it seems fine if you are wanting to pay for access to a service.

 

[Jasonovich]

Ooopppps I just fell off the sofa...

Anyway, after "all DACs sound the same", surely all streamers do too. After all, they just process 1s and 0s...

🙃

Steady on Entrigo 😜