Auralic Mini Streamer

[selby]

Anyone know much about Auralic? I was thinking about a Bluesound Node2 but this looks impressive:

http://www.audioemotion.co.uk/auralic-a ... 5371-p.asp

[terrybooth]

Pi with Volumio and a wireless usb adapter = less than a third of the price of that.

[Fretless]

Expensive, but you do get Quad-rate DSD support and a bunch of extra storage options.

Interesting if you don't want an extra DAC or to set up a NAS in your home.

Costs more than Sonos, but you get more. Doubt that the SQ is better than a Pi 2B / Hifiberry DAC pro.

[terrybooth]

OK. It has a few different features but, despite the claim to stream all the formats, the output is limited (by the Burr Brown Dac) to 24/192. So, unless you are sold on Streaming services like Qobuz (and even if you are) you could probably build one of these yourself based on a Board computer (if you don't like the Pi there are others) for a lot less than you'll pay for this.

[selby]

I ideally wanted to avoid an external DAC, only because I'd live a Hegel HD12 but can't afford one.

Most of my listening is now done via Tidal or HD downloads to my NAS drive. Looking for the best I can get for sub £500

[Fretless]

We checked this a while ago and a Pi with Max2Play OS will give you Tidal support. combining a Pi 2B with a Hifiberry DAC+ PRO will certainly be an excellent source - for under 100 pounds.

The Auralic, like Sonos, is an idiot-proof plug & play system.

[selby]

Have you compared the HiFiBerry to the Durio Sound DAC? I am tempted to go this route (the geek in me) but equally I just want the best I can get for sub £500 so it's not just a case of going cheap because you can.

[Fretless]

Walterwhite has a Durio and Terry has just got one of the new Pro-standard Hifiberry's.

I went the route of investing in a single good DAC and running different sources through it.

Keep looking, I'm curious as to where you end up.

[selby]

I see the Durio lot have a new product on the way called Lyrebird, not sure on cost but have enquired.

[Fretless]

Lyrebird. Looking good, huge PSU.

You get one of those and tell the rest of us how it sounds !