I need a music streamer with no dac?

[audiobomber]

SOtM sMs-200 Neo, $450:

https://sotm-usa.com/collections/sotm-ultra/products/sms-200-neo-network-player

 

Better sound than a microrendu from anything I've read, at a lower price and includes a power supply that you could upgrade down the road. 

[audiobomber]

7 hours ago, TubeLover said:

Not sure where you've been reading, but you may want to try other sources in the future. I don't personally anyone else who has come to that conclusion.

 

Steve Plaskin, Audiostream:

https://www.audiostream.com/content/sotm-sms-200-mini-network-player-and-sotm-mbps-d2s-intelligent-battery-power-supply

 

Hans Beekhuyzen: 

http://thehbproject.com/en/reviews/204/3/SOtM-sMS-200:-the-sound

 

The only review I'm aware of that came to the opposite conclusion was @The Computer Audiophile on this site. If you read his review carefully however, you will note that he compared the sMs-200 with its freebie SMPS to the microrendu with $1000 Sonore power supply. Clearly a stacked deck, both units jump up in performance with a better PSU.

 

 

[audiobomber]

8 hours ago, TubeLover said:

Its a question of who you want to believe. To my knowledge, Hans Beekhuyzen seems to be mostly involved in Roon how-to videos currently (which are very helpful), and Steve Plaskin was an occasional  second chair contributor to Michael LaVorgna at Audiostream. I'll take input from Chris, who has had virtually every significant digital audio network player/streamer/renderer in his system and reviewed them since that category of device appeared. 

 

John Darko has also awared his Knockout Award to both the MicroRendu and the UltraRendu, it was also raved about in a five page Absolute Sound review by Vade Forrester 

 

There are also likely a few hundred members here in the forums with MicroRendu's and UltraRendus who I also suspect would beg to differ. And please understand that I say this meaning absolutely no disparagement whatsoever to SOtM. They make a nice product.

 

You are grossly underestimating the review experience of both Beekhuyzen and Plaskin: 

http://thehbproject.com/en/reviews

https://www.audiostream.com/writer/32421

 

Chris's review did not compare the microrendu and sms-200 with the same power supply. He said so himself in the Comments section below the review:

"Each company sends a product how they want it tested. In this case the battery supply for the sotm and the signature for the mR."

The Sonore Signature PS cost $1399, the mBPS-d2S cost $400. Honestly, what do you think would the result have been if the had compared the sotm with Sonore PS and the microrendu with the sotm bps? 

 

John Darko has never reviewed a single SOtM product. Maybe that will change now that Plaskin is a Darko Audio reviewer. Or maybe not. The Absolute Sound has never reviewed a single SOtM product. Very odd, don't you think?

 

"There are also likely a few hundred members here in the forums with MicroRendu's and UltraRendus who I also suspect would beg to differ."

 

You have no idea how many AS members own either piece. I searched five pages of results for "microrendu sms-200". I only found three members who had directly compared each using the same ancillaries. All favoured the sMs-200:

I've presented two professional reviews three AS members' comments to back up my statement that the sms-200 sounds better than the microrendu. You have presented only your biased and uninformed opinions. 

 

Note: The sms-200 has now been upgraded to Neo status for $510 (power supply included), so even a better deal, and fits the OP's request for a solution "around $500". The $650 microrendu (without power supply) does not match the stated price range.

[audiobomber]

9 hours ago, TubeLover said:

 the issue of the MicroRendu's sound quality, and it's incredible value has been so clearly established over the past couple years that there really isn't even any debate these days. Certainly not in this forum to any meaningful degree.

Where's your evidence? The only "debate" I found was the three members who directly compared both with the same power supplies, and all preferred the sms-200. 

 

You're wrong about the dates in your Lavorgna quote. They had not reviewed SOtM when he said that, nor had anyone else. The sms-200 was shown for the first time at the Munich audio show, May 31, 2017. In June 2016 it was still in the pre-order stage. Once again, you have nothing but your unfounded opinion.

Sonore by Simple Design microRendu

Michael Lavorgna  |  Jun 30, 2016

 

SOtM sMS-200 Mini Network Player and SOtM mBPS-d2s Intelligent Battery Power Supply

Steven Plaskin  |  Mar 22, 2017  |  First Published: Mar 23, 2017

[audiobomber]

49 minutes ago, audiobomber said:

In June 2016 it was still in the pre-order stage. 

That should say  2017.

[audiobomber]

9 hours ago, TubeLover said:

https://www.audiostream.com/content/sotm-sms-1000sq

 

The review of the SOTM unit you are referring to took place nine months later, and would need to be compared to the UltraRendu, which is several steps above the MicroRendu and was released in the same timeframe as the upgraded SOTM device.

Wow, you are seriously confused. The sMs-1000SQ linked in your last post cost $3000, and has not been mentioned previously in this thread. I have consistently referenced the SOtM sMs-200 exclusively, which cost $450 with a 9V power supply, vs. the microrendu, which costs $650 with no PSU. Maybe re-read this entire thread to get yourself back on track.

[audiobomber]

I know @TubeLover has ignored me, but I feel the need to clarify his disingenuous post. Lavorgna tested the $640 microrendu with a $50 iPower and a $1399 Sonore Signature. Nowhere did he say the microrendu was better than the sms1000SQ. He said "With the Sonore microRendu in my system, my music sounds as good, or better, than it ever has. Period." 

 

In other words, the $2039 microrendu option was better value than the $3000 sms-1000SQ. That is significant, but not at all what sore loser TubeLover was attempting to convey. It's ridiculous that he even brought this up in a thread discussing $500 streaming solutions.

 

[audiobomber]

On 1/10/2019 at 10:57 AM, Arken said:

I need a music streamer (think you could also say network player)?

Some members recommend a NUC/Audiolinux streamer vs. more expensive options. I notice no one's mentioned it, probably worth looking into. I don't have any personal experience with that system.