Streamer to kill the big boys for under $250

[Geardaddy]

Mike:
I just discovered this thread and feel a bit lost by some of the carping on this thread. This sounds do-able, but I’d like to check in first:

I have a LampizatOr Euforia (DSD only) DAC. I will be streaming from a Mac Mini 1.4GHz - not fast enough for DSD 128, fine for DSD64. Sound is acceptable to me for now. If more processing is needed, I will cross that bridge later.

Allow me to reiterate what I believe you’ve suggested:

I will need a computer to run HQPlayer as a server; I’ll be starting with the Mac Mini mentioned or my wife’s HP with i7 processor.
a copy of HQPlayer (have it loaded on Mac Mini)

Purchase:
Intel Thin Canyon NUC (~$145);
Crucial 4GB single DDR RAM chip;
a 16GB flash drive to load Audiolinux OR
Purchase a stick from you with audiolinux optimized (more or less) for this NUC
(I'm pretty sure I left the rails here)

What I can do:
Purchase copy of Roon to use with a tablet/phone/?
Linear power supply 12-24volts with 25 watts output to replace SMPS.

Am I close? Are you still offering the RAM stuck and USB sticks? Still $75? How would I obtain this stick?

Given you own the Lampi DSD dac, you are the perfect candidate for this paradigm. I am still in the process of getting things cobbled together, but I trust it will be great. My Mac Mini is long in the tooth and I need to get a beefier Mac among other things...

 

[Blizzard]

Given you own the Lampi DSD dac, you are the perfect candidate for this paradigm. I am still in the process of getting things cobbled together, but I trust it will be great. My Mac Mini is long in the tooth and I need to get a beefier Mac among other things...

I sold this to another GG owner already. Actually I think at least half who bought it were Lampi owners.

 

[Geardaddy]

I sold this to another GG owner already. Actually I think at least half who bought it were Lampi owners.

Germanboxers and I know each other from pre-lampizator days. If you noticed, he asked about my kids....

 

[Blizzard]

Germanboxers and I know each other from pre-lampizator days. If you noticed, he asked about my kids....

Yeah I seen that. But it's a different guy who has a GG I was talking about. He doesn't post on here, he just reads.

 

[Geardaddy]

Yeah I seen that. But it's a different guy who has a GG I was talking about. He doesn't post on here, he just reads.

So a third GG user. Who?

 

[Blizzard]

So a third GG user. Who?

I'm not going to mention his name because he contacted me via PM, and doesn't post on here.

 

[Geardaddy]

Well, there are not many of us in NA....

 

[wisnon]

So a third GG user. Who?

LoL

I bought it long before you guys, (Blizz actually owes me as I salvaged one or 2 buyers for him using back channels) but have not set anything up yet. Life got in the way and audio is a BIG back seat at the moment….plus I am waiting for the patched version as PC and Mac pisz me off in Audio. Time to give Linux a run.

That makes 4 GGs then...

 

[Blizzard]

LoL

I bought it long before you guys, (Blizz actually owes me as I salvaged one or 2 buyers for him using back channels) but have not set anything up yet. Life got in the way and audio is a BIG back seat at the moment….plus I am waiting for the patched version as PC and Mac pisz me off in Audio. Time to give Linux a run.

That makes 4 GGs then...

I'm still waiting for the patch too. Well this guy is selling his GG. Actually I think it sold. I owe you big.

 

[chopchopbin]

Just received the HDplex power supply yesterday.
Present setup: CAPS 4 server(in a different room) with HQplayer and Roon integration. Router supply data to FMC via a one foot CAT 7 cable. Fiber optic cable from FMC to second FMC in music room and connecting to the NAA with a one-foot CAT 7 cable. The HDPlex supplys power to both the FMC and NAA. Wywires USB cable from NAA (with 2 Audioquest Jitterbugs on the NAA) connected to an Uptone Regen. The Regen is connected to an IFI purifier 2 which is connected to a second Uptone Regen with Gemini cable. The second Regen outputs the Wywires USB to the Lampizator Big 7 with Emission Labs 300B tubes.
The new items I have acquired were the NAA, FMC, CAT 7 cable, HDplex power supply and Mike's software.
So how does it sound? I've posted earlier in this thread that it let me see/hear clearer into the back of the soundstage. While waiting for the HDPlex supply, I did not like sound with the FMC, so I did not use it. With the HDplex and FMC in the system, the middle and the front of the soundstage is much more defined. Musicians are perceived more in their own individual space with air surrounding it. I hate to use the phrase ' it is more 3D' but its true. In my system, I have not heard so much soundstage/soundspace information with digital before. It is still not as good as my analog rig, but the gap is closer. So for an total investment of less than $1000, I am quite pleased with the gain in performance comparing to my CAPS 4.
By the way, the NAA sounds better with 4 Stillpoints underneath it. :b
Still waiting for the Linux DSD256.

 

[Blizzard]

Just received the HDplex power supply yesterday.
Present setup: CAPS 4 server(in a different room) with HQplayer and Roon integration. Router supply data to FMC via a one foot CAT 7 cable. Fiber optic cable from FMC to second FMC in music room and connecting to the NAA with a one-foot CAT 7 cable. The HDPlex supplys power to both the FMC and NAA. Wywires USB cable from NAA (with 2 Audioquest Jitterbugs on the NAA) connected to an Uptone Regen. The Regen is connected to an IFI purifier 2 which is connected to a second Uptone Regen with Gemini cable. The second Regen outputs the Wywires USB to the Lampizator Big 7 with Emission Labs 300B tubes.
The new items I have acquired were the NAA, FMC, CAT 7 cable, HDplex power supply and Mike's software.
So how does it sound? I've posted earlier in this thread that it let me see/hear clearer into the back of the soundstage. While waiting for the HDPlex supply, I did not like sound with the FMC, so I did not use it. With the HDplex and FMC in the system, the middle and the front of the soundstage is much more defined. Musicians are perceived more in their own individual space with air surrounding it. I hate to use the phrase ' it is more 3D' but its true. In my system, I have not heard so much soundstage/soundspace information with digital before. It is still not as good as my analog rig, but the gap is closer. So for an total investment of less than $1000, I am quite pleased with the gain in performance comparing to my CAPS 4.
By the way, the NAA sounds better with 4 Stillpoints underneath it. :b
Still waiting for the Linux DSD256.

Awesome results! And you are still only upsampling to DoP DSD 128! Wait till you can do Native 256. Way better sounding. All I can do it wait for this patch for the DSD on the Lampi/Amanero. I heard they are working on it, and that's it. Hopefully soon.

I agree that clean power is a must with the FMC.

 

[chopchopbin]

Can't wait!
Roon, Tidal music and HQ player is awesome. My wife said that I am the poster boy for couch potato!

 

[Blizzard]

Can't wait!
Roon, Tidal music and HQ player is awesome. My wife said that I am the poster boy for couch potato!

Ha ha right on I agree. Did you ever try the airplay? If so what do you think of the sound?

 

[chopchopbin]

Haven't tried it yet. Do you have to turn off Roon to start airplay? Thanks

 

[Blizzard]

Haven't tried it yet. Do you have to turn off Roon to start airplay? Thanks

all you have to do is close HQplayer on the server and it will automatically take over. Once HQplayer is started again, it will take over. Completely seamless, no clicks, pops or anything. Try comparing Tidal streamed via the iPad/iphone app over airplay vs Tidal/Roon/HQplayer. Won't sound as good, but you will be shocked it's streaming over airplay. To my ears in my system it sounds better than Tidal/Roon without HQplayer, connected server direct by far.

 

[Geardaddy]

LoL

I bought it long before you guys, (Blizz actually owes me as I salvaged one or 2 buyers for him using back channels) but have not set anything up yet. Life got in the way and audio is a BIG back seat at the moment….plus I am waiting for the patched version as PC and Mac pisz me off in Audio. Time to give Linux a run.

That makes 4 GGs then...

Bought what exactly? Why would you do that when Lucas can simply build you a Komputer? Why slum it? Furthermore, you and Blizzman are not exactly buddies, and I am surprised you would become a patron.

I did not know you were part of the Golden goose club. Congrats

 

[Blizzard]

Bought what exactly? Why would you do that when Lucas can simply build you a Komputer? Why slum it? Furthermore, you and Blizzman are not exactly buddies, and I am surprised you would become a patron.

I did not know you were part of the Golden goose club. Congrats

Norman and I are tight. Just a bit of playful banter on occasion In the audio world everyone is friends, we all have common goals.

 

[Geardaddy]

Norman and I are tight. Just a bit of playful banter on occasion In the audio world everyone is friends, we all have common goals.

Awww.... I am glad you guys kissed and made up.....

 

[lateboomer]

I finally have set up HQplayer/NAA running with fiber optic converters as such:

i5 laptop (under balanced power), music files from ext HD > acoustic revive lan isolator RLI-1 > 5 m Cat6 lan cable > gigabit router with LPS > 1m cat6 cable > fiber optic fmc with 5m optical cable to another fmc, all under LPS > NAA with LPS > dac

The setting up is very easy to do and really idiot proof. The mistake I made was connect directly between laptop and NAA without a router, which I fixed after asked Mike for help.

The sound is very good indeed, better than my bdp-2 music server which runs upgraded audio card with Regen connected HD and everything are under very good LPS and regenerative power. I think the performance increases at least 20% more due to better mid range which gives fuller density and more palpable sense. The music presentation is more effortless and more airy and very good imaging.First time I could never imaging digital source playback can be so quiet and analog like. Even though the dac I use is bda-2 which only capable of 24/192, but the improvement is still noticeable.

Currently I am using TeamViewer suggested by Mike to remote control the i5 laptop as my Samsung Galaxy tab 7.0 tablet pc uses old processor which can not run Roon remote and my another laptop is only Windows 7. The i5 laptop is running Windows 10 Home edition which doesn't have remote desktop service.

I intend to get another Superstream streamer in the future to use in another room and I won't even want to spend time to configure my idle Raspberry pi board as NAA, because Superstream streamer is too easy to set up and gives very good sound.

Thank you Mike for the recommendation and the guidance.

 

[Blizzard]

I finally have set up HQplayer/NAA running with fiber optic converters as such:

i5 laptop (under balanced power), music files from ext HD > acoustic revive lan isolator RLI-1 > 5 m Cat6 lan cable > gigabit router with LPS > 1m cat6 cable > fiber optic fmc with 5m optical cable to another fmc, all under LPS > NAA with LPS > dac

The setting up is very easy to do and really idiot proof. The mistake I made was connect directly between laptop and NAA without a router, which I fixed after asked Mike for help.

The sound is very good indeed, better than my bdp-2 music server which runs upgraded audio card with Regen connected HD and everything are under very good LPS and regenerative power. I think the performance increases at least 20% more due to better mid range which gives fuller density and more palpable sense. The music presentation is more effortless and more airy and very good imaging.First time I could never imaging digital source playback can be so quiet and analog like. Even though the dac I use is bda-2 which only capable of 24/192, but the improvement is still noticeable.

Currently I am using TeamViewer suggested by Mike to remote control the i5 laptop as my Samsung Galaxy tab 7.0 tablet pc uses old processor which can not run Roon remote and my another laptop is only Windows 7. The i5 laptop is running Windows 10 Home edition which doesn't have remote desktop service.

I intend to get another Superstream streamer in the future to use in another room and I won't even want to spend time to configure my idle Raspberry pi board as NAA, because Superstream streamer is too easy to set up and gives very good sound.

Thank you Mike for the recommendation and the guidance.

Awesome Lateboomer! I'm glad you got it all up and running! Just wait till you hear quad DSD from the new DAC! I'm glad we have confirmation that it beats the $3000 Bryston BDP-2. And this is with the matching Bryston DAC specifically designed to be paired with the BDP-2. You're also only using it up to 24/192 PCM! Where this system really shines is the DSD resampling! If your DAC could handle it, this streamer can do DSD 1024!

Glad to be of assistance. If you need any more help with anything you know where to find me