Please help me choose the right and best streamer

[Formerly YB-2]

Let me see if I have this right............
To start with an Auralic Mini, one needs an Apple device (iPad, iPhone, whatever) that runs the iOS operation system. Then, if one wants to add Roon into the mix, one must add some sort of computer (laptop, either PC or Mac) to support Roon. When Roon is added the Apple device can still run everything, but Roon resides on the computer.
Correct?

[robfine]

If you want simple, find yourself a Squeezebox Touch with an LPS and connect to DAC of your choice with a WW Platinum Starlight USB. Do the USB firmware upgrade to the SBT (takes 5 minutes if you are computer illiterate). Put iPeng app on iPhone or iPad. That’s it. I ran that for several years to a headphone amp and Audeze LCD-XC and it sounded very nice.

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

The iPad would be silly if only a remote. As it stands, the Auralic Mini with linear power supply and a smaller PC laptop looks like the way to go for me. Will probably spring for Roon and learn it as I go. Still a couple of months out on all this and the Auralic Mini is out-of-stock at the moment in any event.

Craig - did you miss Michael? Rough seas?

The Mini won’t be back in stock, it’s been discontinued. I don’t know why they continue to list it. I confirmed this with the Auralic rep at RMAF last weekend because I’d been thinking of adding another. Your next best bet for a lower cost player in current production might be a Sonore MicroRendu: https://www.sonore.us/microRendu.html

[Formerly YB-2]

Tony - that's not what I want to read. Hopefully, Auralic will replace with a newer model with a bit newer DAC chip(s). And a corresponding price increase, I'm sure. I'll check out the MicroRendu. Thanks.

My goal is a DAC that I can plug a USB cable from a 2TB HD into and listen to FLAC files. Want DSD & MQA would a nice adder. Software that can be run from an iPad Mini would also be nice, but can live with having to use a laptop PC.

[nicoff]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

....
My goal is a DAC that I can plug a USB cable from a 2TB HD into and listen to FLAC files. Want DSD & MQA would a nice adder. Software that can be run from an iPad Mini would also be nice, but can live with having to use a laptop PC.

Have you looked at the Sony HAP-Z1ES? You can connect a USB drive to it, plays flac files and DSD files, works with Spotify and internet radio (TuneIn), and can be controlled remotely from a phone or tablet using free apps. Also It does not need a computer. Note: It does NOT do MQA or Tidal.

[Formerly YB-2]

Yeah......... the road seems to lead back to the HAP-Z1ES in many instances. But, think it has some particular/peculiar requirements to run from an HD.

I really don't want much..............
- USB 2.0/3.0 input so will operate with my HD as the FLAC file source.
- PCM, DSD & MQA capable.
- XLR/single-ended analog out so can be connected to my preamp. Can live with only XLR out.
- WiFi/ethernet for streaming.
- Software that can run from either iPad and/or laptop PC. Definitely prefer iPad.
- Roon capable.
As my grand-daughter says............ easy-peasy.

The Lumin D2 seems to do it all.

[orosie]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

Yeah......... the road seems to lead back to the HAP-Z1ES in many instances. But, think it has some particular/peculiar requirements to run from an HD.

I really don't want much..............
- USB 2.0/3.0 input so will operate with my HD as the FLAC file source.
- PCM, DSD & MQA capable.
- XLR/single-ended analog out so can be connected to my preamp. Can live with only XLR out.
- WiFi/ethernet for streaming.
- Software that can run from either iPad and/or laptop PC. Definitely prefer iPad.
- Roon capable.
As my grand-daughter says............ easy-peasy.

That is quite the laundry list for a streaming DAC. Separates can def get you all that. What is your budget again?

[Formerly YB-2]

Budget? Well............ with the Auralic Mini & linear power supply it was $1100 with an iPad Mini. With that now a dream, am guessing my budget will have to be ~3x that. With.. the MSRP on Bryston gear having gone up by 17% on 10/1 due to tariffs, am wondering what the trade/tariff war with China might have on my budget. Aurender is Korean and Mytek is USA/Poland, but the majority of the rest are China.

[orosie]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

Budget? Well............ with the Auralic Mini & linear power supply it was $1100 with an iPad Mini. With that now a dream, am guessing my budget will have to be ~3x that. With.. the MSRP on Bryston gear having gone up by 17% on 10/1 due to tariffs, am wondering what the trade/tariff war with China might have on my budget. Aurender is Korean and Mytek is USA/Poland, but the majority of the rest are China.

Ya...just curious how much you want to spend. I ask because the combination of my Auralic Aries G2 and Vega G2 (and Leo GX)...is not cheap...but I have yet to hear anything better from a digital source...period. The Aries and Vega would set you back around 9k....but man oh man....it is worth it. I would highly recommend the Leo GX external clock as well...but that is an additional 7k.

[Formerly YB-2]

Nice system............. but I want a 1-box solution and am willing to wait. My system is too large as it is.