Streaming – it’s the future of hi-fi! Sure we love our more traditional sources, but there’s something about the truly unlimited nature of streaming (and the world of music that it opens up) that we just can’t resist. As with everything else hi-fi related, there are several price points along the way – from the delightfully budget to the decadently pricey. Of course, you get what you pay for. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t an excellent system to suit. So, in the spirit of the source of the future, here are three of the finest streaming systems in our range, one low, one medium and one high.
Let’s start from the bottom…
Cocktail Audio X30 All-In-One – £779
Okay, this is a little bit of a cheat to start with. This unit is more than just a streamer, its… well… everything! It’s a HD music server, a NAS Drive a CD player and an amplifier all in one unit. Oh, and it’s a streamer too. That’s what we’ll be focusing on! So, it’s a great space saver. Just add speakers, and you have an entire hi-fi system at your disposal. But just because it’s multi-faceted (and very much budget) doesn’t mean it’s going to skimp on the sound quality! It features a Burr-Brown HD DAC and isolated power source design which means the sound quality (even the streamed variety) is fantastic.
Linn Sneaky Music DSM – £1750
Coming in at the mid-range we have the lower(ish) end Linn. But hey, it’s still a Linn. The Sneaky DSM is quite different to the Cocktail X30, as it’s a dedicated steamer, albeit with a built in amplifier. The Sneaky can play all popular digital music formats. It has a custom designed up-sampling engine which effectively reduces all noise and distortion, resulting in the best possible reproduction of music files. The interface is customisable, which makes it a very versatile and user-friendly streamer. Best of all, it’s legendary Linn at an affordable price.
But if money is no object, there are other options available…
Naim Super Uniti All-In-One – £3675
Last (but by no means least) we have the glorious SuperUniti The problem with opting for an all-in-one system over a system of separates is the sound quality typically suffers due to the lack of isolation. Although the higher-end systems offer delightful excpetions to that rule. The SuperUniti is the exception to end all exceptions in this instance. Every element of it, from the amplifier through to the Bluetooth AptX is separates quality. It features an integrated wireless UPnP network stream player, USB audio player, iPod and iPhone dock, internet radio, DAB radio, FM radio, ten input digital and analogue pre-amplifier, digital to analogue converter, and stereo 80 Watt power amplifier. It also features Bluetooth connectivity thanks to the latest Bluetooth AptX. It even allows direct streaming from Spotify.
Despite all of this, every element of it sounds magnificent. It pulls together a collection of high-end audio technologies borrowed directly Naim’s high-end products. The power amplifier module comes from the SUPERNAIT integrated amplifier. Its digital audio hardware is drawn from the NDX network player; the World’s first upgradable audiophile streaming source. Its digital to analogue conversion technology, including the innovative data buffering jitter removal process, comes courtesy of the Naim DAC.
The result is a sound that is almost unrivaled – and certainly unrivaled at this price point. Yes, it’s a pricey option. But the amount you get for that… well…. amount is far beyond compare.
So, see anything you like? We’re huge fans of streamers here at Audio Affair, and are on hand to answer your questions, or even set you up with a demo! Why not give us a shout and see which streamer – or streaming system – is right for you.