My 2019 Update Thread - My final system I think.

[Jimbo]

I imagine the worst thing would be being without NOS music!

[Ali Tait]

Good news mate!

[Gazjam]

Aww crap…
Thats the Holo Red going back to Elise Audio, failed unit.

Think I’ll look elsewhere now for a streaming solution, something where I don’t need to “do computer” just to listen to music.
Been there done that, time to get something now that just works like an appliance.

All the associated gubbins can get in the way of enjoying the tunes, and nowadays that’s not where I’m at anymore.

Hey Ho… to be continued.

[CageyH]

Not good news.

Eversolo T8?

[Macca]

Vinyl and CD. Worked fine for years when we didn't know any different.

£1K on a streamer is a thousand charity shop CDs or 250 CDs that you might actually want to listen to. Stick em in and press play.

No firmware updates, no ethernet LAN configuration handshake crap. No playlists, just put an album on sit down and enjoy it.

[Gazjam]

Copy that.

Getting back into enjoying CDs again has been terrific, also helps I can hook up a USB drive to the transport for when I’m feeling lazy.

Cant beat the buzz of a crate dig for CDs, good day out that.

Vinyl stands alone,
An experience all on its own I enjoy.
Well… will again when I get my arm rewired and MC cart fitted. (Soon!)
Wall full of vinyl being unplayed, disgraceful!

Vinyl and CD. Worked fine for years when we didn't know any different.

£1K on a streamer is a thousand charity shop CDs or 250 CDs that you might actually want to listen to. Stick em in and press play.

No firmware updates, no ethernet LAN configuration handshake crap. No playlists, just put an album on sit down and enjoy it.

[Gazjam]

Not good news.

Eversolo T8?

Not so much Kevin no, but hey, is what it is.

Options have changed recently since I’ve been doing some rummaging around at the latest ‘n greatest out there?

Was thinking Mac/Audirvana after hearing how good it could sound but after the Holo Red failed (it’s Rasberry Pi based) decided to look at other less computery options.

Looked at Streamers specifically,
the Hifi Rose RS130 caught my eye, but there’s several red flags I picked up from reading their user forums, and it’s nearly 5K which unless it’s perfect is too much to pay.
Has to do what I need it to do, and I don’t want to have to get my Lab Coat on to troubleshoot it.

It just has to work,
Eversolo T8 gets close to the Rose sound wise apparently (Dacs probably got more of an impact anyway imo) and the Software/Ui seems bulletproof.

Onboard SSD storage is a big win for me, can run it as a Server as well.
Onboard hires AppleMusic works really well too, unlike the Hifi Rose.

Still swotting up on it, but so far it’s the front runner.
Consistently well reviewed and the design/specs are solid.

Good forum buzz about it, which is never a bad thing too.

[Macca]

If you must then there's zillions of people using the Wiim streamer with no problems and it's pretty cheap.

Also with the high sales volume less chance of them ending up unsupported as the playback software moves on as it inevitably does.

Given how streamers work (they're all just stripped-down computers) I can't see there being any significant differences to sound quality despite what the reviews might say. I mean they have to say something don't they?

[Gazjam]

Yeah,
still mulling things over Martin.

[Macca]

Yeah,
still mulling things over Martin.

My method is to mull it over for say, six months or so, and then make an impulse purchase totally unrelated to the mulling