Best streaming platform with little to no local music?

[photonman]

I had a grin reading your post because you are going through the exact mindset cycle I did too over these last four years with all the $ I spent on PSU's, cables, quest for the perfect DAC (the 2Qute was my favorite), softwares and formats but eventually and submitted to the madness and just went for the compromise of convenience and simplicity.

 

My journey started with a Macbook and CD rips then I went to hi-res downloads then I gave in to Spotify and eventually went to Tidal.  I started out with the QuteHD with a crazy big PSU, then went to a 2Qute with another PSU, and don't forget about the USB widgets and their PSU's and then I figured what about a tube DAC, it was madness.  Now I am happily settled on my Class A amp (which was the only constant in my system) with a recently aquired Altair streamer doing Tidal.  I have one set of interconnects, no local storage and packed away my 300 CD's to the attic and I don't obsess on my USB issues anymore.  I feel so much lighter now   It was a journey, and I know everyone has a different path, but I am totally sold on the streaming setup.  The sound is good enough for me, and honestly, this is the best system I have had so far.  YMMV.

[photonman]

On 5/16/2017 at 10:30 AM, m5sime said:

How do you find the app with Tidal? I have been wondering whether to replace my Rendu with the Aries I think it is streamer into my Brooklyn DAC. 

The Lightening DS app works pretty good with TIdal, I can get to all my music and do searches.  Like any app, it does have its quirks but for the most part, it is pretty refined, the volume control works good and is sensitive and responsive.  Really no complaints other than how the volume is affected by the phone volume but if I just use an iPad then no problem.

 

I have updated to the beta v5 firmware and the Altair can now play MQA upsampled.  Overall, v5 firmware is a nice improvement.