Playback Designs Stream-X

[brad225]

Has anyone used the available Stream-X option for the new Dream or Sonora line products. It will take an ethernet signal from Tidal or Qobuz directly and is
Roon ready?

In March or shortly after Playback Designs is offering the StreamIF for use with their products. It is the next line of interface after the USB-X-III and will accept Ethernet for Tidal or Quobuz and is Roon ready. It will also still accept Ethernet connection for your existing NAS files. The ethernet connection is limited to 192kHz / DSD1x.
The USB connection from a music server will be up to 384kHz / DSD4x.
Both will be sent to the Playback Designs equipment via Fiber on their Plink feature.

I am planing to purchase the Stream-IF with it becomes available. Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[redscouser]

Having recently purchased the XIII will PBD be doing a Part exchange for the new Stream-IF.....
Also, when could one expect software upgrade for higher DSD sample rates via network connection...

 

[CKKeung]

 

[brad225]

Upgraded the MPS-5 with new clock/software and the new Stream-IF. This was a worthwhile upgrade though it took a bit of time to get the proper configuration in the Stream-IF and the MPS-5. There are instructions in the New MPS-5 manual that can be found on the PBD web site. That is a detail that might be helpful to include in the Stream-IF manual.
I think I drove Andreas a bit mad during the setup. He assumed I knew about the upgraded manual download and we went in circles until he mentioned it. Oh well it worked out but it was a bit stressful. The end result was much the same as other upgrades as you move up with equipment tweaks. A bit quieter and more detailed image clearer placement of instruments and vocals. It was well worth the investment for me without question.

I then tried the free trial of Roon instead of JRiver and that proved to be a further improvement in the same areas that the MPS-5 upgrades. I wanted to try upscaling with Roon and HQplayer but my HP laptop only had the Intel i3 with not much power so out that went.

I have it temporarily replaced it with Small Green Computer SonicTransporter i5 and Ultrarendu to send a USB signal to the Stream-IF. I should have the i5 replacement the i9 HQplayer embedded with Roon in a couple of weeks. With the i5 I can do DSDx2 but not DSDx4 properly. It plays DSDx4 but the sound stage seems to collapses into a much smaller area. It may be one of the filters but I decided I would wait for the ST i9 before I start playing with the filters in depth.
The SonicTransporter, even without upsampling sounds vastly better than the laptop. Very happy with the replacement of the HP.
I then added Qobuz to the mix and between Roon and Qobuz it is a pleasure to find rebook and hires music I have never heard before. It is also pleasure to have so much information after using JRiver for 5 years. Try the free trial of both if you haven't already.