Simple streamer for my setup - Wireless / Tidal / USB for DAC

[joachimbrackx]

Good day dear fellow audio lovers,

 

I am looking for a streamer to complete my setup.

 

I use Tidal as my only source.

I already have a DAC (SMSL Sanskrit 10th MKII - usb/optical/coaxial) that runs straight to my powered speakers (Neumann KH120A).

I want to add a wireless streamer that is compatible with Tidal that will feed the DAC.

 

An important restriction: I do not want to build / install anything myself, so a Raspberry Pi or similar is not my cup of tea.

 

Plug and Play please!
Any ideas?

 

[R1200CL]

Yamaha WXAD-10

Bluesound as a more expensive and good alternative. It seems they’re updating the product now. 

[joachimbrackx]

4 minutes ago, R1200CL said:

Yamaha WXAD-10

Thanks @R1200CL, but from what I can see, the Yamaha WXAD-10 has only analogue outputs, and can thus not be connected to my DAC of choice. 

[R1200CL]

You’re using Roon ? I think not. 
 

Your phone is the controller ?

So you need some sort of WiFi connect ?

(Tidal connect)

 

Even an old Squeezebox Touch does a nice job. 
Or Chromecast Audio
 

Any budget in mind ?

 

I suppose the Rendu’s isn’t an option?

[stefano_mbp]

The just announced IFI Zen Stream

https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-stream/

could be the solution 

[R1200CL]

https://www.hifichoice.com/content/yamaha-np-s303 ?

 

I guess so many other options available. 

[R1200CL]

7 minutes ago, stefano_mbp said:

The just announced IFI Zen Stream

https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-stream/

could be the solution 

Nice 

https://darko.audio/2021/06/ifis-zen-stream-spotify-tidal-connect-roon-for-399/

 

A new budget winner ?

[plissken]

Why no one is mentioning what is the most ubiquitous Tidal Connect end point is beyond me:

 

Raspberry Pi4 running Volumio

[joachimbrackx]

26 minutes ago, plissken said:

Why no one is mentioning what is the most ubiquitous Tidal Connect end point is beyond me:

 

Raspberry Pi4 running Volumio

Thank you @plissken, perhaps that's because I specifically said I don't want one :)

"An important restriction: I do not want to build / install anything myself, so a Raspberry Pi or similar is not my cup of tea."

 

[joachimbrackx]

50 minutes ago, stefano_mbp said:

The just announced IFI Zen Stream

https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-stream/

could be the solution 

Thanks @stefano_mbp! I found this one too yes, but it seems very new, and it is not yet available where I live, it seems. I'll keep an eye out for it for sure. 

[joachimbrackx]

48 minutes ago, R1200CL said:

https://www.hifichoice.com/content/yamaha-np-s303 ?

 

I guess so many other options available. 

Cool, thanks @R1200CL, I'll see if I can find it around here :)

[plissken]

33 minutes ago, joachimbrackx said:

Thank you @plissken, perhaps that's because I specifically said I don't want one :)

"An important restriction: I do not want to build / install anything myself, so a Raspberry Pi or similar is not my cup of tea."

 

 

You don't have to build your own though. You can get them prebuilt.

[davide256]

Not my cup of tea but the consumer market does seem to gravitate to Sonos, something like the Bluesound node 2i

[joachimbrackx]

8 hours ago, plissken said:

 

You don't have to build your own though. You can get them prebuilt.

But you still have to install the software, right? Or are they fully plug and play?
And where can you buy those @plissken?

[R1200CL]

3 hours ago, joachimbrackx said:

And where can you buy those

https://volumio.org/product/volumio-primo/

[R1200CL]

12 hours ago, joachimbrackx said:

Thanks @stefano_mbp! I found this one too yes, but it seems very new, and it is not yet available where I live, it seems. I'll keep an eye out for it for sure. 

In bottom of this website, you can make an enquiry to iFi. 

https://ifi-audio.com/stockists/europe/#bulgaria

Amazon is maybe an option as well. 

 

[plissken]

8 hours ago, joachimbrackx said:

But you still have to install the software, right? Or are they fully plug and play?
And where can you buy those @plissken?

 

As already pointed out direct from Volumio. Audiophonics also sells a pre-built solution.  If you where local I would offer to simply put one together for you. Takes less than 30 minutes from unboxing to using either Etcher or Rufus to write the image to micro-sd.

[AnotherSpin]

11 minutes ago, plissken said:

 

As already pointed out direct from Volumio. Audiophonics also sells a pre-built solution.  If you where local I would offer to simply put one together for you. Takes less than 30 minutes from unboxing to using either Etcher or Rufus to write the image to micro-sd.

 

Are there any simple and straightforward ways to use a mac mini with Volumio directly on the streamer?

[plissken]

1 minute ago, AnotherSpin said:

 

Are there any simple and straightforward ways to use a mac mini with Volumio directly on the streamer?

Volumio is a web based interface. So the ease or lack of is based on their UI.

[AnotherSpin]

4 minutes ago, plissken said:

Volumio is a web based interface. So the ease or lack of is based on their UI.

 

I didn't understand a thing. Where to start?

 

[plissken]

30 minutes ago, AnotherSpin said:

 

I didn't understand a thing. Where to start?

 

 

Sorry. Can you reword or expand on what your ask is? Volumio runs a web server that resides on your local network. I normally go into what ever is running my DHCP services and look for the MAC address to IP binding. MAC address is the burned in 48 bit (base 16 numbering 0-F) of the Volumio box and the corresponding IP address. Then you point your web browser to that IP address. The MAC, with a decent vendor, should be printed on a label on the box.

 

Here is an example from my L3 switch. Your Firewall/Router should have an equivalent Web/Gui version. Let me know if this is what you are asking about.

 

(GSM7352Sv2) #show ip dhcp binding

IP address         Hardware Address     Lease Expiration     Type
-----------        -----------------    -----------------    -----
10.0.40.2          40:a2:db:b7:55:b1    49:21:58             Automatic
10.0.40.3          34:e1:2d:32:19:4b    43:00:03             Automatic
10.0.10.1          e4:c3:2a:e5:c5:26    43:00:03             Automatic

 

[joachimbrackx]

1 hour ago, plissken said:

 

As already pointed out direct from Volumio. Audiophonics also sells a pre-built solution.  If you where local I would offer to simply put one together for you. Takes less than 30 minutes from unboxing to using either Etcher or Rufus to write the image to micro-sd.

That's so sweet! Thank you @plissken, I greatly appreciate the gesture :)

[audiobomber]

19 hours ago, plissken said:

Why no one is mentioning what is the most ubiquitous Tidal Connect end point is beyond me:

 

Raspberry Pi4 running Volumio

I don't think Volumio is the best solution for Tidal. Seems needlessly constrained because they want you to buy into the My Volumio subscription service. 

https://www.audfree.com/tidal/tidal-on-volumio.html

 

With an SOtM sMS-200 for example, all one needs to do is to sign into Tidal in the operating system, no middle man, contortions or middle man required.

[stefano_mbp]

13 minutes ago, audiobomber said:

With an SOtM sMS-200 for example, all one needs to do is to sign into Tidal in the operating system

True!

anyway should you decide to go with Volumio Primo (their “turn key” solution) you could buy Volumio Primo HiFi Edition which integrates the lifetime license for MyVolumio Superstar Lifetime Plan

https://volumio.org/product/volumio-primo/

[Cebolla]

24 minutes ago, audiobomber said:

I don't think Volumio is the best solution for Tidal. Seems needlessly constrained because they want you to buy into the My Volumio subscription service. 

https://www.audfree.com/tidal/tidal-on-volumio.html

 

The buy in doesn't even extend to decoding MQA to the MQA Core signal ('first unfold') - Volumio isn't licensed to use TIDAL Connect's optional built-in MQA decoder.