I have a simple Wiim Mini with a Schiit Modi 3 and it's plugged into a 1983 Harman Kardon integrated amp. I'm very happy with it.

@rfoliente1

3 ай бұрын

Good for you! I have an old Mac Mini and $100 AQ Dragonfly DAC plugged into a 1978 Technics integrated amp and I'm very happy with it.

This was much needed. Thank you so much for this in depth, comprehensive and insightful comparison. That you take the time to consider the difference between a lesser streamer (but with great features) paired with a high end DAC vs a higher quality front end implementation so helps us see some real case scenarios at play. Appreciate you and your channel 🙏

Thank you very much for your time and effort.

I'm a sucker for a good "dad joke". Thanks man. Got a good chuckle out of that one. On a more serious note: I bought the Bluesound Node about 2 years ago. I'm 60 years old. I kept looking through the box it came in for some written instructions but there weren't any. There was a small brochure with images that Bluesound seemed to think was sufficient for the purchaser. I mean, yeah. I got the thing hooked up and am using for streaming, but I have the distinct impression that I'm only using the device at a fraction of its capabilities. It seems like that Volumio - in addition to looking pretty freaking amazing - at least took the trouble to add some written instructions for boomers like me.

I stream Tidal on my Wiim Mini ($89) from a Geshelli J2 DAC.

Thanks for the review. Majority of the streamers with DAC (including blue sound) can also be used as a digital preamplifier. Hifiberry, Allo and others have drivers that allow volumio or Ropiee to use hardware volume, which in Roon shown as device volume. This volume setting can be used remotely without IR through cell phone. Apparently Peacan pi does not support this feature and the only way to control the volume is either through volume knob ( no remote) or through software volume ( DSP volume in Roon) which degrades the sound quality (drops bits).

@OrchardAudio

7 ай бұрын

Your statement is not correct. Even when using hw volume you are "dropping bits" because the volume control is still done digitally on the devices you refer to. In some case roons dsp volume control is better than the HW one on the devices you speak of. There is a very good white paper on this by Dr.Carl-Werner Oehlrich Search for "The Final Truth about DSP Volume Control in Roon and XMOS" In summary, I would use Roon's DSP volume control because it's basically the best there is when it comes to digital volume control. The "Hw volume" setting is still digital attenuation.

You've gone all tubes, how does it compare to the solid state gear you used to use on your Maggies.

At much lower price Wiim pro linked to r 2 r dac will blow bluesound node out of the water in my experience.

Does the Primo have an EQ in the software. I like tweaking the EQ on my WiiM, but need to upgrade.

HAHAHAHA! nice one

Thank you for the honest review....now i know not to buy an OrchardPecan

@MODAC

9 ай бұрын

Really? It sounds amazing.

@amb3cog

9 ай бұрын

Huh? Why? It would definitely make my short list, if I were shopping for one of these.

Sotm sms-200 neo beats them all

@amb3cog

9 ай бұрын

It should. It cost a lot more. And is the TOTL unit. Besides that’s not even a streaming dac. Just a streamer. So you’re basically comparing apples to rib eyes. Or two 4 door cars to a Ferrari.

@BoredSilly666

9 ай бұрын

@@amb3cog Bluesound Node £549 - Bluesound Node X £699- Volumio Primo £557- Orchard Pecan Pi+ £516 SoTM sms200 neo £476 So i dont know where you are shopping but Thanks for the Patronising Answer Anyway