Best Streamer without a music server (no Roon etc)

[Pro Jules]

The only reason I sent back the Node 2i was that it didn't offer parametric EQ.

 

 I think it's a great product otherwise and it's been revealed that it can play Amazon Music back at the correct sample rates (unlike the ios or Mac apps who default to an up sampled 192 for everything) 

 

I have no files so desire no drive set up so picked the Auralic Aries G1 to stream Qobuz. 

 

It's usb out to the Mutec works great and it's satisfying to see "32 bit" displayed in the app. 

 

I am very happy with its parametric eq. (I copied numbers over from settings I had fine tuned on my Mac) 

 

People supercharge these with modified power supplies - perhaps one day I will try that. I have no grumbles with the stock set up. It's big and weighs an absolute tonn. it's been working like a trooper these last few weeks. You can power it on and off via the app! What's not to like? It also works with Spotify Connect so when friend send me links to music I can play it quickly I don't think it works with Amazon Music yet. (But I recently jumped ship to go bit perfect with Qobuz)

 

Give it a try? 

 

 

[Pro Jules]

Aged 60 and after a nearly 30 year career in recording studios (listening often too loud) I know I need (or like) a high mid lift to restore some hi mid hearing loss. Hence the eq curve you see above. I have always liked bright playback and always used to tweak up the treble to showcase percussion and other trebly music elements. I like it “crispy”! 

 

if you don’t need that, the Node 2i is terrific and 3/4 the price IMHO. (They should get a design award or something)

[Pro Jules]

Well, at 14 x the cost of the Node 2i.....

 

I have been a/b testing a Weiss 501 against the rig in the photographs above. I can swap the speaker leads from them in under 5 seconds - so I am not having to rely on 'memory' (I can retain ADD / 'Goldfish' memory) 

 

I have tried to match the eq settings exactly (the Weiss uses sliders not numerical data entry and it wasn't possible to get the curve exactly the same - so I changed the Auralic to match the Weiss exactly) - However the Weiss seems a 'sharper' (or more precise?) DAC than the Grace M903 so I dialled the highest EQ frequency back a db or so on the Weiss to get a closer match..

 

I have been playing the same songs on each - changing between the same musical passages at 30 seconds intervals..and back again.(the way a/b testing is done in recording studios) 

 

The profound effect of the master clock and re clocking performed on the Auralic G1 / Grace combo - seems pretty much matched by the Weiss's basic sound...  Hmmmm.. This has both caused me to scratch my head a bit....

 

Weiss rig positives:

Being an "all in one" device (opposed to 4 separate devices) 

Having eq slider control (I feel sorry for people trying to eq with typing numerical data) tweaks from the couch are easier.

Revealing high frequencies - surgical? I do like my high frequencies!

Hardware remote control (quicker and more elegant than than having to reach for your phone - yet again)

Low key looks, stealth streaming..(!)

 

Auralic, Mutec, Mutec, Grace Designs rig positives:

Lightning DS app (so far I like this better than the Weiss's UPnP MConnect app)

Does the combo of the silky Grace Designs DAC + Mutec Master clock sound more comfortable? 

Lots of lights to look / a bigger pile of gear..

The jury is out on the album art screen on the Auralic I am not sure if its fun or naff looking.

 

 

 

 

[Pro Jules]

Another plus point for the Weiss... I mostly send Qobuz to my DAC but I like to send TV audio also via TOS optical - in a short time I was able to set up a custom EQ setting for the TV on the Remote. 

 

The Auralic has great parametric EQ on it but it cant be applied to anything but itself..

 

A negative for the Weiss is the lack of Spotify Connect... I dont use Spotify much but friends send me music on it. 

 

 

 

 

[Pro Jules]

So why not use the Auralic with the Weiss! 

And the Mutec stuff too. (Seems rude not to)

 

Talk about a sledgehammer to crack a nut! 

 

This gives:

Lightning DS app

Spotify Connect

Banks of dsp eq presets in the Weiss to apply on different scenarios (speakers, headphones, TV optical, Chromecast Network) 

A physical remote for volume

 

 

[Pro Jules]

I have found a device's coresponding remote control app to be very important. If possible try downloading it and see if you can imagine using it.