Best Music Streamers

Product Strengths

• The iFi ZEN Stream offers a 'tremendously flexible specification' for a network streaming transport, supporting various streaming methods including UPnP, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Roon Endpoint, NAA, and AirPlay
• Offers great functionality and fine sound in a small package at a low price, offering an excellent price-to-performance ratio, making it accessible for a wider audience
• Designed to work with any DAC with a USB or S/PDIF connection, expanding its compatibility and usefulness
• Setup is generally considered easy, particularly for Roon users, making it user-friendly
• Solid build quality with metal construction indicates durability

Product Considerations

• The software experience might have 'minor stability and set up niggles,' sometimes requiring restarts or exhibiting finicky behavior
• The front panel design, particularly the large 'STREAM' logo and LED indicators, may not appeal to all users
• The included owner's manual may be inadequate for those who may want to access specific features of the device
• Some user's found Airplay implementation issues

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• vs AURALiC Altair G2: The AURALiC sounded more subtly delineated, but the improvement in no way reflected the price difference, showing what fine value the iFi is
• vs Raspberry Pi: Far easier to set up, more user-friendly, and sonically indistinguishable
• vs SOtM SMS200 Neo: The Stream makes the SOtM look decidedly limited in terms of functionality
• vs Bluesound Node: The Bluesound Node offers the addition of a solidly designed and road-tested, closed operating system, analog outputs, and Bluetooth inputs
• vs Pi2Design Pi2AES: A slight advantage to the Zen Stream

Takeaway: The iFi ZEN Stream is a versatile and affordable device for streaming music from various sources to a DAC. It is easy to set up and offers great sound quality, making it a worthwhile addition to any hifi system.

Product Strengths

• Excellent and responsive touchscreen display, and user-friendly interface that is intuitive and easy to navigate
• Versatile as an all-in-one device, functioning as a streamer, DAC, pre-amp, and media storage server with a competitive price point
• High build quality, featuring a solid aluminum alloy chassis
• Supports a wide variety of streaming services, including Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, and more
• Rock solid as a streamer, especially when going into a separate DAC

Product Considerations

• Customer support from Eversolo may be limited, with some reviewers noting slow or nonexistent responses to inquiries
• Internal DAC, while good, is not on par with higher-end—more expensive DACs
• Lack of a traditional I/R remote could be a drawback for some users
• Some unusual control procedures are noted, such as the inability to power on the unit from the mobile app

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• The DMP-A6 sounds just as good as the Lumin U2 Mini as a streamer
• The A6 beats the Bluesound Node when used only as a streamer
• The A6 has similar features, a similar control/display, and a similar size and shape
• The Lumin U2 has more "shine", dynamics, solidity and is a touch more refined than the A6
• The Eversolo is favored over the iFi Neo Stream, especially as a streaming DAC
• Eversolo proves it can play with Cambridge Audio CXN (V2) in many ways

Takeaway: The Eversolo DMP-A6 is a versatile and user-friendly streamer that delivers great value, and it provides a great streaming experience with its screen. It is a great entry point into high-resolution digital audio and can serve as the center of a modern hifi system.

Product Strengths

• Excellent build quality with a luxurious aluminum body and sleek design
• Serves as a high-quality preamp, streamer, and DAC all in one device
• The DAC utilizes flagship AKM chips with 'Velvet Sound' technology, providing a warmer, richer, and more natural sound compared to the DMP-A6
• User-friendly interface with a responsive touchscreen and a well-designed control app
• Versatile connectivity options, including multiple digital and analog inputs/outputs, and support for various streaming services

Product Considerations

• The preamp section's performance is not on par with the digital streaming and DAC sections
• DSP functions are limited up to 192k sampling rate
• Spotify Connect has a lag in song switching at times
• The HDMI output is dedicated to I2S output, omitting the multichannel output capability of the DMP-A6
• Playlists cannot span music libraries; it is not possible to mix music from an internal SSD with tracks from TIDAL

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs DMP-A6: The DMP-A8 has better resolution, refinement, separation, and bass, sounding more 'analogue', while the A6 sounds brighter, lighter, and drier
• Vs HiFi Rose RS250a: The DMP-A8 sounds better if richness, warmth, and a big soundstage are valued, while the RS250a is preferred if analytical detail and an open top end are most important
• Vs Lumin U2 Mini: As a streamer only, the A8 is about the same as a Lumin U2 Mini but not quite up to the level of a Lumin U2 or HiFi Rose RS130
• Vs Geshelli Labs J2S AK4499 DAC: The sound was noticeably improved
• Vs RME ADI2 Pro: The DMP-A8 was preferable, as it sounded less flat and more three-dimensional in comparison

Takeaway: The DMP-A8 is a well-built and versatile streaming DAC that offers a rich and natural sound, along with a user-friendly interface and plenty of features. It is a great choice for audiophiles looking for an all-in-one solution to elevate their music listening experience.

Product Strengths

• Fantastic sound quality and usability for the price
• Easy to set up and use
• Includes the OptiBox, which improves sound quality via optical Ethernet connection
• Streams hi-res files and DSD without converting to PCM first
• Has a custom DAC that sounds phenomenal

Product Considerations

• There can be occasional lag when switching songs
• No hardware remote is supplied
• The screen is on the smaller side and may be difficult to see at a distance
• The NEO Stream is not an all-in-one media hub, as it doesn't have any other inputs aside from network and USB storage, and it doesn't work as a DAC for other sources
• No Bluetooth capability

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Compared to the Bluesound Node, the iFi NEO Stream has a larger, more organic sound and a wider soundstage
• Compared to the Cambridge Audio CXN V2, the Cambridge has S/PDIF inputs (coaxial and optical) like the NEO, but includes a Type-B USB input for its DAC, and also has balanced XLR stereo outputs, but lacks the iFi's more advanced networking connectivity

Takeaway: The iFi NEO Stream is an impressive streaming DAC. It offers great sound quality, multiple features and makes enjoying high-quality streamed audio easy.

Product Strengths

• Impressively small, with a sleek, modern design
• The BluOS app is easy to use, fast, responsive, and offers decent customization
• It supports a wide range of streaming services, including Tidal, Amazon Music, Spotify, Deezer, and Qobuz
• It is Roon Ready and supports AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect, plus Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive codec
• It delivers a pristine audio experience with clear and detailed sound and creates a wide and well-defined soundstage

Product Considerations

• It omits some features found in the larger Node, such as HDMI ARC connection, optical input, and a headphone socket
• It does not have native support for Apple Music or Google Cast
• It lacks a universal search function within the BluOS app
• The Bluetooth pairing is always available, so anyone within Bluetooth range can connect to it
• The Nano can sound slightly small-scale

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Compared to Raspberry Pi, the Nano has better ease of use, automatically indexes USB-stored music, and finds other BluOS devices
• Compared to WiiM Pro Plus, Node Nano is smoother, has a slightly wider and better-defined soundstage, and cleaner highs
• Compared to Sonos Port, they are very close, but Node Nano avoids the Port's slightly crunchy delivery
• Compared to the middle-of-the-range Node, the Node has an uptick in clarity, definition and detail across the frequency range
• Compared to WiiM Ultra, they are indistinguishable in sound quality

Takeaway: The Node Nano is a compact and easy-to-use music streamer with high-resolution audio support, making it a great option for anyone looking to upgrade their existing systems. Its excellent integration, streaming support, and the potential for multiroom audio make it a worthwhile investment.

Product Strengths

• Increased resolution, finer detail, greater tonal saturation, and dimensionality result in richer, fuller music reproduction
• Dramatically improves the sound of any DAC hooked up to that AES output
• Makes digital music sound much more human, rich, analog, and real
• A streamer, a reclocker, and an upscaler all in one

Product Considerations

• The AES and S/PDIF outputs are the only ones where the scaling (upsampling) occurs, without which performance is likely on par with cheaper streamers
• Only for Roon users
• It uses an off-the-shelf NUC inside with an i3 processor, which some might find underwhelming for the price
• The author experienced issues when using a large NAS library, with the Roon core restarting
• The review unit was made before S/PDIF was implemented with the scaling

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• The AURALiC AIRES G1.1 could not match the purity of sound produced by this system with the Grimm Audio MU1 in it
• Lumin U1 Mini: The Grimm Audio MU1 provides a much better flow to the music, sounding smoother, bigger, wider, and more organic
• Bluesound NODE: The sound from the Grimm Audio MU1 is so much smoother, more analog sounding, and more correct sounding
• Innuos Statement Streamer: When you look at these pieces then the Grimm Audio doesn't look so ridiculously priced, especially when users and owners are claiming the Grimm Audio can—and in some cases does—best the rest

Takeaway: The Grimm Audio MU1 is a music player designed to simplify streaming and serving needs while bringing beauty to music. The MU1 improves the sound of almost any capable DAC, and may add more to digital streaming than just a DAC can.

Product Strengths

• Superb sonic performance for an affordable streaming front end
• Excellent feature set, including support for various streaming services like Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer, and Spotify Connect, as well as AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Bluetooth 5.0
• The StreamMagic app is considered decent and stable, providing a user-friendly interface for controlling the device
• Full metal chassis and faceplate indicate quality construction

Product Considerations

• Prosaic look
• Lacks a headphone socket
• Physical controls on the unit are basic
• Network is not gigabit (1000 base-T) capable

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• The MXN10 is the better device to listen to, compared to Bluesound Node
• The MXN10 combines the strengths of Audiolab, adding a dose of dynamic expression and rhythmic coherence that they cannot match

Takeaway: The Cambridge Audio MXN10 is a great way to add high-quality streaming to an audio system with excellent sound and user-friendly software, making it a worthwhile addition for any music lover. The MXN10 will complement the vast majority of systems into which it is introduced.

Product Strengths

• Clean, precise, and articulate sound with ample detail
• Expansive and open soundstage
• StreamMagic control app is stable, logical, user-friendly, and easy to navigate
• Features AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Bluetooth, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Qobuz, Deezer, and internet radio

Product Considerations

• Loses a touch of its predecessor's sonic solidity and warmth
• Does not include HDMI ARC
• Bluetooth is only compatible with SBC and AAC codecs
• Can be provoked by careless system-matching with bright, treble-centric equipment
• Volume is not controlled through the StreamMagic app

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• CXN100 has improved clarity, precision, and spaciousness, but is missing some of the CXN (V2)'s sonic solidity and warmth, compared to the Cambridge Audio CXN (V2)
• CXN100 trades off detail functionality to offer a user experience that is polished and genuinely pleasurable, and is able to take less than stellar recordings and avoid sounding strident or aggressive a little better than the EverSolo DMP-A6
• CXN100 has better low end and a slightly greater perception of space, compared to the Cambridge Audio MXN10
• CXN100 has a more natural quality to vocals with better realism and less fatigue, compared to the Bluesound Node

Takeaway: The CXN100 is a user-friendly and feature-rich music streamer that provides clear and detailed sound. It is an excellent choice for those seeking to add modern streaming capabilities to a classic hifi system.

Product Strengths

• Easy streaming setup
• BluOS streaming platform is stable, responsive, and organized, which allows one to access local and networked libraries
• The internal DAC allows one to run the NODE directly into a preamp, integrated amplifier, or pair of powered/active loudspeakers as a source
• Has digital and analog outputs, a USB, Optical, and COAX out, as well as a SUBWOOFER OUT

Product Considerations

• BluOS control app isn't as user-friendly as some competitors, taking time to master
• There's no supplied remote
• Tone controls remain oddly limited in variable range
• Some reviewers recommend connecting via ethernet cable for a stable connection
• The BlueOS apps have issues, and the player intermittently will not be detected in iphone, ipad and windows desktop app

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• The Cambridge Audio MXN10 offers superior dynamic transparency and rhythmic insight, but the Bluesound Node is still an appealing affordable box

Takeaway: The Node is a great way to add streaming to an existing system and delivers high-quality audio with versatile connectivity. It offers a comprehensive set of features to turn an audio system into a modern music-streaming system.

Product Strengths

• Very musical with good bass and rhythm, it sounds sweet and immersive
• Delivers wonderful sound with high-res tracks from Amazon Music HD and Qobuz
• Offers great value for money, delivering in pretty much every important area at its price point

Product Considerations

• The DTS Play-Fi app can be frustrating to work with, and is not intuitive
• Lacks gapless playback which means it will not play any album from a music library without unwanted pauses
• Using the DTS Play-Fi app is a chore
• Performance is affected by data rate and transmission conditions through the phone and its wi-fi link—a source of both complexity and variability

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs Bluesound Node 2i: The Audiolab 6000N Play proves the more insightful and involving listen with greater clarity, openness and a down-the-middle tonal balance, though the Node 2i knits music strands together more tightly and has more warmth

Takeaway: The Audiolab 6000N Play is a great affordable way to add streaming to any hifi system without losing sound quality. It has a neutral look and is a competent sounding streamer for the money.

Product Strengths

• Refined digital sound that is transparent and resolves fine details, offering a clear and expansive sound image
• New processing system with resampling flexibility, allowing upscaling or downscaling between 44.1kHz and 384kHz/DSD256
• User-friendly Lumin app for iOS that supports playback from network attached storage, Tidal, Qobuz, and Internet Radio
• Versatile connectivity with a comprehensive array of digital outputs

Product Considerations

• Ethernet connection only, foregoing internal Wi-Fi conversion
• Sound quality is highly dependent on the quality and matching of the DAC used
• Transparency reveals the quality of upstream components
• Felt/cloth feet might cause the unit to slip more easily than its predecessor
• May reveal flaws in poorly made recordings due to its high resolution

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• U2 Mini offers more resolution and air on the stage compared to the Lumin U1 Mini, represents a completely new generation of digital transports with obvious musicality
• Lumin U2 Mini had more resolution, a more clearly defined and expansive sound image, and a riper sound to each musical element, compared to Totaldac's internal streamer
• Competes closely in performance with the AURALiC Aries G2.1, especially concerning the amount of information and extension of the stage depth

Takeaway: The Lumin U2 Mini is a versatile streamer that delivers high-quality audio and is easy to integrate into existing audio systems. It offers great sound, a user-friendly app, and supports various streaming services, making it a worthy upgrade.

Product Strengths

• Excellent build quality
• Simple setup
• Supports AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, DLNA, and Roon
• Delivers outstanding audio performance with support for up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution
• Offers both digital and analog outputs

Product Considerations

• No dedicated app or physical remote control, relying on third-party apps for control
• Uneven streaming service support
• No hi-res Bluetooth codecs
• Single RCA analog output
• Limited USB input is used only for power

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs Sonos Port: CS1 has an edge with an optical output, which the Port lacks
• Vs WiiM Pro: CS1 lacks the ability to pipe an external source into the system, something the WiiM Pro can do
• Vs Bluesound Node: Unlike the Bluesound Node, the CS1 does not allow users to upload their own music files
• Vs Bluesound Node: NAD CS-1 is a full endpoint when the Bluesound Node isn't—thus it works better with Roon

Takeaway: The NAD CS1 is a well-built, compact, and simple way to add streaming to a sound system that might be lacking it. It's a great option for those wanting to explore streaming without a big investment.

Product Strengths

• The Auralic Aries S1 offers high-quality streaming at a relatively affordable price point, making it a great choice for those who value sound quality
• The design is exquisite, neat, and half-width, featuring a classy display and is beautifully made
• It functions as a network bridge, seamlessly integrating with Auralic's Lightning DS platform, offering reliable hardware and app support
• The Aries S1 is equipped with the powerful Tesla G3 streaming platform, offering improved processing and memory capabilities
• It offers versatile connectivity with standard digital inputs/outputs, including AES and supports various streaming services

Product Considerations

• The Lightning DS app is only available for Apple iOS, which may deter Android users
• It does not have built-in WiFi, relying solely on Ethernet connection
• Roon certification may not be immediately available
• The S1 is not a DAC, preamp, nor does it have a headphone output
• The optional PSU S1 power supply is an additional cost

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• The Auralic Aries S1 is good enough for the Chord Dave, unlike the Cambridge Audio MXN10
• The combination of the S1 with the PSU S1 comes very close to the Aries One, and possibly surpasses it

Takeaway: The Auralic Aries S1 is a well-engineered streaming processor that provides high-quality streaming for audiophiles already invested in a good DAC. It is easy to use, has a stylish design, and integrates seamlessly with various streaming services.

Product Strengths

• Excellent build quality, with a chassis machined from a solid block of aluminum, giving it a premium feel and minimizing vibrations and noise
• Features a large (14.9-inch), high-definition touchscreen LCD that is visually striking and user-friendly for accessing various functions
• Delivers a big and energetic sound with clarity, good tonality, solid bass, and a sense of musical scale and occasion
• Has a visually satisfying and easy-to-use app that works well, giving access to settings, Qobuz, Internet radio, podcasts, and more
• Offers a multitude of digital inputs and outputs, including I2S, providing flexibility for connecting to different devices and future upgrades

Product Considerations

• The remote is made of cheap plastic
• The touchscreen attracts fingerprints
• The sound might be too lively—energetic for some listeners' taste
• Some users might find the initial learning process a little steep due to the numerous features
• There is a bug that changes the time on the clock to an hour earlier than it really is

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• As a streamer, the HiFi Rose RS150B surpassed the Lumin U1, which had been the reviewer's reference

Takeaway: The HiFi Rose RS150B is a versatile and well-built streaming DAC that offers excellent sound quality and a range of features, making it a great value for those seeking a modern hifi experience. The large touchscreen and user-friendly app add to the enjoyment of using this device.

Product Strengths

• Combines a streamer with a CD ripper, allowing users to burn and store CDs, creating a server
• Has a built in DAC
• Allows streaming using Tidal, Qobuz, and to some extent Spotify
• Is a more refined product than the Bluesound as it allows one to use it as a ROON core
• Very user-friendly operating system

Product Considerations

• Felt a little bit grainier than the Lumen, because the system was so revealing
• Over time it can start to sound dark once other sources are auditioned
• When using the Zen Mini as a ROON core and endpoint, the app can get sluggish
• Requires Ethernet
• There was an ever so slight digital edge to the sound

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs. Bluesound Node 2i: There is more air, detail, and soundstage expansion

Takeaway: The ZENmini MKIII combines streaming and CD ripping in one device, that has a user-friendly interface, with the option to use it as a Roon Core. It is a good option for someone looking to make a digital music source for their home.

Product Strengths

• Exceptional build quality with machined aluminium chassis
• Sounds controlled, rich, and quiet without being dull
• Built-in UPS protection and a sophisticated linear power supply
• The Aurender app works particularly well, especially on the iPad, for library management and playback
• Versatile storage options
• Offers only USB audio out

Product Considerations

• The Android app is a bit basic
• The 3-inch amoled display is not a full-color type with artwork

Takeaway: The Aurender N150 is a well-built, high-performing music server/streamer that delivers exceptional sound quality. With its user-friendly app and versatile features, the N150 is a great choice for audiophiles seeking a premium streaming experience.