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Currently, I have a Cyrus Stream X2 and pretty well it works too! But......
The Moon Neo Mind 2 comes up in reviews just lately, is it likely to give me any improvement, or is it just a more expensive bit shifter?
Does the renderer influence the sound, or does it just feed the DAC?
Anyone have a view before I go for a trot round the dealers?
Clive197
31-08-2019, 13:58
I moved from a Cyrus Stream X2 to a Auralic Aries G1 which does have a much improved SQ. More to the point, the Lightning App to control the streamer is very much in a different league over the Cyrus effort.
Thanks Clive, that's useful to know. I'll take a look.
Agreed, Cyrus should be ashamed of themselves with that clumsy app. Fortunately there are many others available that work well.
I have a Simaudio Moon 180 MiND (https://simaudio.com/en/guides/180-mind/?v=445d337b5cd5) that I am very pleased with. You can get them on ebay for around £450. It might be a cheaper way of trying the Simaudio MiND sound. The 180 MiND is the best sounding streaming system I've had in my system. It just edges connecting my Melco directly to my DAC. I like the fact that it doesn't have it's own DAC stage. It means that I've been able to keep it through a few DAC upgrades. It's currently connected to the Bryston BDA-1.
From experience,
All Network Players are not all equal..
They DO make a difference...
loonytunes
01-09-2019, 17:52
I moved from a Cyrus Stream X2 to a Auralic Aries G1 which does have a much improved SQ. More to the point, the Lightning App to control the streamer is very much in a different league over the Cyrus effort.
...and the Bluesound app is better still !
Yes the renderer can make a significant difference in my experience. For example - I'm really putting my money where my mouth is - because after previously owning a Marantz NA7004 then selling it on some time back, I recall just how incredible it was as a transport - so much so I bought another (on its way from eBay) to confirm this and compare against all the other streamers I own.
Major drawback however is the software controlling the NA7004 was rubbish in comparison to newer gear - but the transport was "that" good IIRC I'm willing to make a compromise here (there are ways around this limitation).
I will see if I was right in due course...
Been doing a fair bit of looking and reading on this but just discovered no support for Android. :( Is this correct?
The MiND software (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simaudio.mind.android&hl=en) I use with my 180 works fine on Android.
A network player/'net streamer can certainly have an effect on the SQ, IME, even when used as a 'transport' (a la Moon Mind). The MiND app is quite good and getting better. the Bluesound app is the best of all, IMO&E. Moon products would offer a higher SQ as a generalisation, but at a much higher cost. To be honest, a Bluesound Node 2i, with all its functionality and quality, is extremely difficult to beat.
loonytunes
02-09-2019, 13:27
A network player/'net streamer can certainly have an effect on the SQ, IME, even when used as a 'transport' (a la Moon Mind). The MiND app is quite good and getting better. the Bluesound app is the best of all, IMO&E. Moon products would offer a higher SQ as a generalisation, but at a much higher cost. To be honest, a Bluesound Node 2i, with all its functionality and quality, is extremely difficult to beat.
I second that! the Node 2i has the best UI and excellent functionality! No USB out might put some off however for USB DAC aficionados - but that's about it! You can also use it as a preamp, and if you like program a physical remote control for it (the BS has an IR sensor). Tidal MQA complete unfolding - Spotify - Qobuz etc etc.
As a transport! Well I'm going to compare it with the NA7004 when it arrives (the NA7004 IIRC was the very best transport I have ever heard despite the crap software application that comes with it). If the Node 2i stands up well against the NA7004 (ignoring functionality - concentrating only on renderer bit quality) - then I would not hesitate in getting the Node 2i.
I had a NA7004 before I got the Moon 180 MiND, and agree it's a good transport. Have you tried using it as a DLNA endpoint? I'm pretty sure I used to use it with BubbleUPnP (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp) with good results.
loonytunes
02-09-2019, 18:34
I had a NA7004 before I got the Moon 180 MiND, and agree it's a good transport. Have you tried using it as a DLNA endpoint? I'm pretty sure I used to use it with BubbleUPnP (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp) with good results.
Yes I believe I did use BubbleUPnP at the time. I also thought the Internet Radio Stations sounding excellent too (again, out to an external DAC).
My favourite combo at the time was the NA7004 connected to an old Arcam Black Box 1 (TDA1541A). That DAC is so fussy of source and the NA7004 let it sound better than ever before by far. I'm looking to recreate that experience - and see if the Node 2i can do it too.
The Moon 180 MIND of course will thrash the Marantz for usability - but in the case of this old Marantz - I'm in it for the top notch audio quality.
loonytunes
03-09-2019, 07:01
I've just found out from ROON support that I could use a Sonore UPnP bridge between ROON software and the NA7004 thus giving the NA7004 a very good UI to work from.
The Sonore emulates a Squeezebox Touch which ROON fully supports.
Trying to make up for the crap software on the Marantz, despite the Marantz's engineering prowess.
So I can use BubbleUPnP and ROON as my alternative UI.
The Moon 180 MIND of course will thrash the Marantz for usability - but in the case of this old Marantz - I'm in it for the top notch audio quality.
To my ears, the Moon 180 MiND was sonically superior to the NA7004.
I used both as sources connecting into a DAC. Initially a Peachtree DAC-IT, then M2Tech Young, and finally Bryston BDA-1. Could it be that what you like about the Marantz is it's DAC stage?
Roon supports a biggie...
no no better way to enjoy your music library imo.
Up to now I've tended to go via a DIY approach for a network player as I've found it gives me the flexibility to improve things, use different software and so forth. But of course a dedicated network player is much simpler.
If I were to go for a dedicated network player the Volumio Primo would be a prime candidate.
loonytunes
03-09-2019, 18:03
To my ears, the Moon 180 MiND was sonically superior to the NA7004.
I used both as sources connecting into a DAC. Initially a Peachtree DAC-IT, then M2Tech Young, and finally Bryston BDA-1. Could it be that what you like about the Marantz is it's DAC stage?
I will be revisiting the DAC stage on the Marantz - but no - I am SURE it was using the Marantz as a transport which impressed me the most. So much so I am bringing this unit back for another flogging despite the dated, clunky and useless UI.
I will get around that running Tidal via BubbleUPnP.
loonytunes
03-09-2019, 18:13
Up to now I've tended to go via a DIY approach for a network player as I've found it gives me the flexibility to improve things, use different software and so forth. But of course a dedicated network player is much simpler.
If I were to go for a dedicated network player the Volumio Primo would be a prime candidate.
Yes I agree with that - and I have the ability to do this too. The Marantz though would be a very useful yardstick to go up against as a measure to how well I have put together a home build solution. I may well competently put together a Volumio Primo or Raspberry Pi iteration - but if the performance is not there when put side by side with the Marantz rendering quality - that would give me a useful feel of whether the DIY route is working out or not.
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