{"id":118735,"date":"2021-01-19T14:02:33","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T14:02:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techweekmag.com\/?p=118735"},"modified":"2024-02-24T15:31:35","modified_gmt":"2024-02-24T15:31:35","slug":"top-10-streamers-of-2020-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/hi-fi\/top-10-streamers-of-2020-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Streamers of 2020-2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

A modern digital audio path, as a rule, does without disk transport – a streamer serves as the source of the audio stream for the digital-to-analog converter.\u00a0A device that picks up data from cloud music services or a home network server and gently transmits the “digit” to the DAC.\u00a0Progress in this area has made great strides in recent years, making our selection of the best streamers for the 2020-2021 season all the more interesting.<\/p>\n

\"Yamaha<\/p>\n

Yamaha NP-S303<\/h3>\n

Lots of opportunities for relatively little money.\u00a0Yamaha NP-S303 plays almost everything (AIFF, FLAC, DSD, PCM up to 24\/192, has built-in Tidal, Spotify, Deezer, Napster, Pandora clients, AirPlay protocol is not forgotten), it also supports MusicCast technology.\u00a0There was also a place here for a DAC based on Burr-Brown DSD1791, as well as a Bluetooth adapter.\u00a0As for the sound, everything is in order – even if the device does not boast of textured bass, it will provide a very good spatial separation of images.<\/p>\n

Primare NP5 PRISMA<\/h3>\n

The little Primare NP5 PRISMA is the perfect way to extend the functionality of any digital input system to streaming.\u00a0It has AirPlay2, Bluetooth, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect.\u00a0The component is certified Roon Ready, can control other devices of the firm via RS232 and flaunts really brilliant sound quality for its price category.<\/p>\n

\"AudioLab<\/p>\n

AudioLab 6000N<\/h3>\n

The representative of the traditional British school of sound, AudioLab 6000N, can do a lot.\u00a0DTS Play-Fi technology, work through the Ethernet port via UPnP, a whole scattering of outputs, including USB, work with signals up to 24\/192.\u00a0The fashionable ES9018K2M chip is used to output sound to the analog outputs, and the own Play-Fi application allows you to control the system from anywhere in the room.\u00a0Exceptional attention is paid to the power supply system.\u00a0The bottom line?\u00a0Natural sounding, to which (taking into account the price category of the device), it is absolutely impossible to make a single claim.<\/p>\n

cocktailAudio N15D<\/h3>\n

Powerful thing.\u00a0The cocktailAudio N15D is powered by a 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 dual-core processor, supports UPnP, has a Saber ES9018K2M Reference DAC \u201cjust in case\u201d and supports 2.5 \u201ddrives.\u00a0The model also has built-in clients Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Airable, as well as support for Airplay and Google Cast.\u00a0Signals are processed up to the PCM 24\/192 and DSD256 formats;\u00a0the sound is distinguished by good detail and well-developed mid frequencies.<\/p>\n

\"Sonore<\/p>\n

Sonore ultraRendu<\/h3>\n

A proven classic that has been on the charts for quite some time.\u00a0Sonore ultraRendu flaunts “thus” a continuous sound without a shadow of discrete digital plaque, provides excellent timbre accuracy and spatial picture.\u00a0A pure streamer – no frills in the form of internal or external drives, an arsenal of interfaces – receiving data over the network via wired Ethernet, outputting a digital stream to a DAC – only via USB.<\/p>\n

\"Sonore<\/p>\n

Sonore opticalRendu<\/h3>\n

Today it is one of the most modern and elegant streamers.\u00a0The model is able to convert a signal received via fiber optic Ethernet into USB – for subsequent transmission to a digital-to-analog converter.\u00a0Sonore opticalRendu works more efficiently due to the galvanic isolation of the signal through the optical network – ideally, use the proprietary opticalModule (20,000 dollars) with the device with an additional FEMTO clock generator.\u00a0The sound quality is stunning, the sound flaunts a real “diamond” and demonstrates extremely solid musical imagery.\u00a0There is RoonReady certification, work is carried out with signals up to PCM 32\/784 and DSD512.\u00a0There is no power supply included; it is best to use a linear Uptone Audio UltraCap LPS-1.2.<\/p>\n

Cambridge Audio CXN v2<\/h3>\n

On the Cambridge Audio CXN v2, you can simply admire the design of the model is admirable.\u00a0Equally advanced is the stuffing of this streamer – a powerful DSP-processor, support for MPEG-DASH adaptive streaming technology, HLS protocol, Adaptive Time Filtering upsampling module (with which all signals are scaled to 24\/384 parameters).\u00a0Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Chromecast are all in stock.\u00a0The sound reveals luxurious and enchanting notes so highly appreciated by audiophiles.<\/p>\n

\"Auralic<\/p>\n

Auralic Aries G2.1<\/h3>\n

Serious upgrade – in version G2.1 Auralic Aries has got a double case with smart shielding, new anti-vibration mounts, as well as a new version of Lightning D OS. The power supply on USB interfaces has also been significantly increased, which ensures compatibility with a much larger fleet of equipment.\u00a0Otherwise, everything is fine too – double galvanic isolation, dual Femto Clocks and Tesla G2 platform (2 GB RAM, 1 GB cache and 8 GB internal storage, Bit-Perfect Multi-Room).\u00a0Streaming to DSD512, PCM 32\/384.\u00a0The luxurious, plastic, rich sound of the Auralic Aries G2.1 captivates at once – we have a representative of the real High End league.<\/p>\n

Antipodes Audio EX<\/h3>\n

A highly customized streaming computer – machined aluminum chassis, passive cooling, carefully selected and optimized hardware, and a modified “clean” Linux-based operating system.\u00a0Antipodes Audio EX can be used both as a streamer, as a server, and as a network storage (PCM up to 32\/768, DSD512).\u00a0But, the device shows the maximum capabilities exactly as a streamer – when all its processing power is directed to work with a digital stream.\u00a0In this case, the sound goes to a new level and casts doubt on whether the age of pure analogue is so long.\u00a0The crystal clear sound of Antipodes Audio EX makes you believe the impossible.<\/p>\n

\"Aurender<\/p>\n

Aurender W20<\/h3>\n

The Major League is undoubtedly a full-fledged Ultra High End.\u00a0Aurender W20 has full functionality of both streamer and audio server.\u00a0Before us is a precision development in every sense – battery powered LiFe PO4 (revolving mode of operation of lithium-iron-phosphate batteries), ADPLL (All Digital Phase-Locked Loop) circuit on an FPGA matrix, an OCXO thermostated crystal oscillator, two 6 TB disks and 256 GB SSD cache and own checkpoint based on Aurender Conductor App.\u00a0The sound of the model makes you believe in the impossible – it contains gloss and charm, the notorious “diamond” so beloved by audiophiles.\u00a0And, of course, holography and outstanding detail.<\/p>\n

[ratemypost]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A modern digital audio path, as a rule, does without disk transport – a streamer serves as the source of the audio stream for the digital-to-analog converter.\u00a0A device that picks up data from cloud music services or a home network server and gently transmits the “digit” to the DAC.\u00a0Progress in this area has made great […] More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10404,"featured_media":118736,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[642],"tags":[784],"class_list":{"0":"post-118735","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hi-fi","8":"tag-guide"},"acf":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10404"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118735"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118735\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}