www.hifi-advice.com - Best Streaming Audio Solution

Introduction

As mentioned in the header, there are various streaming audio solutions to choose from. From very affordable yet very versatile ones like the Sqeezebox and Sonos variants to highend ones like Linn's DS components, Meridian Sooloos and more recently, PS Audio's PWD.

PS Audio PWD

The PWD was my reference for streaming audio playback until the Klimax DS entered my system. The PWD is the most dynamic, most lively and most neutral sounding streaming audio solution I have heard thus far. It has magnificent bass solidity and tunefulness and the best soundstaging and focus I've ever heard from a non-cd player in my system. Actually, the PWD reminds me a lot of the Wadia 861 I had some years ago. It has more or less the same plusses and minus. The minus being that the PWD can be dry and a bit dark, It doesn't have the best treble resolution and decay and it has to be carefully tweaked in order to sound its best. You can read the extensive PWD review here.

Linn Klimax DS

The Klimax DS is considered by many to be the best in streaming audio. And indeed I have to concur. The Klimax DS, at last, performs on par with what I consider the best in CD replay which is currently the Levinson 390S. Don't get me wrong, the DS doesn't sound the same as the Levinson, but it manages to sound like pure music, emotional, free and room-filling. There's no electronic or digital signature to its sound at all. The PS Audio PWD also sounds utterly un-electronic and certainly doesn't sound like typical computer sound, but it has a persistent lack of resolution in the treble, a certain brittleness and dryness, as well as a lack of extreme treble air that I can't get ironed out, no matter what I try. This makes it sound a little unemotional at times. So, if the PWD makes clear that there is music in hard disk based audio replay, the Klimax DS is the proof that you can equal the best cd players out there, even when judged not only on technical aspects but also emotionally. But I need to stress that streaming doesn't guarantee good results. Equalling or even bettering a 500 euro cd player is entirely possible with even modest streamers. But equalling the best in cd replay can be an expensive excercise. The Levinson was around 10.000 euro. The Linn Klimax DS costs even more. For me, the threshold lies somewhere at 2500-4000 euro, as evidenced by the Ayre QB9 and PS Audio PWD. As always, this is a relative matter, and the outcome is dependent on personal taste, system synergy and lastly, also the budget.

If you want conventional computer based audio and want to stay away from streaming, there is also an article on the Best Computer Based Audio solutions and an article for Best Integrated streaming solutions

The best Streaming Playback Solutions:

1. The absolute best, cost no object:

Retail price approx 15000 euro

Linn Klimax DS on soft rubber feet, on a Finite Elemente Spider rack
Full sounding powercord with deep, solid bass. I found some Lapps to work well.
Lively interlinks such as Cardas Hexlink Golden 5C. Quadlink 5C also sounds allright. Just don't use the supplied Linn Silver interlinks as they are fine for detail but don't have the best soundstage width and depth nor the best dynamic expressiveness. Also, my usual preferred Transparent Ultra XL didn't work well - apparently the Linn's output transformers didn't like the added circuitry inside the cables.
Tower PC as server running Kinsky Desktop or PS Audio's eLyric server program or use a NAS instead.
Connection via wired ethernet cat 5 (I found that cat 6 doesn't work, even though the very same cat 6 cable works fine into any other streamer) (Also, be aware that there are audible differences indeed).

1. The second best (at realistic price):

Retail price approx 4300 euro including network bridge

PS Audio PWD (integrated controller/renderer/DAC) on soft rubber feet.
Warm and smooth powercable and interlinks for the PWD. Echole Obsession = more accurate and refined, Furutech Alpha 3 = smoother and more engaging, Harmonic Technology Pro ACII also works well but is very mellow. Transparent Ultra works well as an interlink but the PWD can use even more mellow sounding interlinks.
HiFi Tuning Gen2 gold or Gen3 silver fuses instead of stock PWD fuses (gold = smoother, silver = more open).
Macbook Pro as server running PS Audio's eLyric server program or Synology NAS.
Connection via wired ethernet cat5 or cat6 (your choice of cable brand, but be aware that there are audible differences indeed).

2. Best if cost is a slight restraint:

Retail price 1950 euro

Naim UnitiQute, either by itself or into a highend dac, this little streamer performs splendidly. It doesn't have the ultra resolution or refinement of the Klimax DS, but it always sounds highly engaging. What's more: even though it isn't technically a match for the PWD, it can be more forgiving of bad recordings and has smoother, more open and airy treble.
Warm and full sounding powercord

3. Best cost-saving solution:

Retail price starting at 300 euro

Squeezebox
NAS or a computer running Slimserver
A good external DAC
Belden RG59 coaxial digital connection