TOPIC:

Anyone ever tried a external network streamer/player as input to SHD?
SHD has NEO pi as streamer inside. Maybe a Sotm, Auralic or other network player could sound even better?

Why do you think an external device would sound better ? If the internal streamer device can get the bits to the SHD main board without any corruption (which it can), then it will sound exactly the same as an external device. 

The only reason to use an external streamer is if you prefer the interface/ecosystem of that device over Volumio.
 

I am currently playing music with a lumin U1 mini. One reason is that I want to use the lumin app. (I used it before with bubbleupnpserver as proxy to the SHD Studio, but the app always is loosing the bubbleupnpserver and requires a restart). Also I wanted to know if this would result in a better sound quality.

I did not do much comparison yet. But when switching back to the SHD streamer I could not hear a difference. In my case the speakers are doing the DA conversion, so it might be different in other situations.

If the lumin app worked better with the bubbleupnpserver I would sell the lumin again and continue to use the internal streamer of the SHD Studio.

Tw99 wrote:

+1

In my case, I use a Lumin U1 because I love the Lumin App and hate Volumio. It isn't that Volumio is bad, or crashes, or anything like that. In fact, I run a raspberry pi / Volumio system downstairs in my work room. It's just that the Lumin App does everything (updates, playback, search, Qobuz integration, Spotify integration, playlists, firmware updates, etc.) so much better. At the end of the day, I don't want to tap, tap, tap, tap, tap,....to get to Bach. Volumio seems to be designed by someone who loves intricate soutions to simple problems.

Until you've experienced a complete software and hardware solution to streaming music (i.e., lumin, aurender), you really haven't experienced the true delight of modern music streaming. Everything else is a cheap substitute.

I don't use the Volumio app either. I don't like the looks and functionality of the app. Instead I use Bubbleupnp app on Android. I really like the Tidal integration. But I'll have a look at the Lumin app. 

I used Bubbleup Android for about a year prior to switching to Lumin. Bubbleup is definitely better than Volumio.

Unfortunately, it used to be that the Lumin App could be run in any openhome environment. That is no longer the case. You can see your device, but if it is not a Lumin Device, it won't function correctly.    

Using BubbleUPnP on Android was another idea that I would like to test. I am using it on my phone and it is really great, especially as it offers the possibility to stream music from bandcamp to a upnp renderer. The reason why I am not using it on my tablet is that I have an iPad. I do not like the Apple ecosystem very much, but the tablet hardware is the best, I think. Especially how long they offer iOS updates. The way too short support time is the reason why I did not buy an android tablet yet. And a good Android tablet is not cheaper than an iPad.

Have been trying all kinds of solutions for streaming. Some Volumio (and Linux) tweaks/optimisations made a clear difference. Streaming via Roon also is an improvement (it bypasses Volumio for most part). The big step up in sound quality came from an RPI 4 connected via USB (running optimised piCorePlayer/LMS/Squeezelite, also with Roon Bridge installed). For me it's clear: RPI via USB sounds much better than the internal NEO2 streamer, regardless of the Volumio source, as much as I regret saying that. When comparing the two, it seems the internal streamer plays slightly out of phase, especially noticeable with low notes. Read an article on ASR the other day from a person mentioning exactly the same (will share it, if I can find it again). So yes, despite my positive response to being Roon Ready, I made the switch to an external streamer this week.

Stouthart wrote:

When comparing the two, it seems the internal streamer plays slightly out of phase, especially noticeable with low notes. Read an article on ASR the other day from a person mentioning exactly the same (will share it, if I can find it again). So yes, despite my positive response to being Roon Ready, I made the switch to an external streamer this week.

What are you suggesting might be out of phase with what there? 

Roon via Volumio/Lan vs Roon via RPI 4/USB sounds really different. The same applies to LMS Lan vs USB. I could try to describe it myself but I found some of the related posts on ASR. Btw this guy is using an SHD, mine is the SHD Studio:

www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.p.../page-23#post-644035

www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.p.../page-24#post-646531

www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.p.../page-31#post-665659

Could be software related (Volumio uses pretty old Linux distro), could be hardware. But I sense/hear exactly the same (and I only read those posts AFTER I noticed the differences).

Conversely, I don't notice any difference whatsoever between LMS playing via Volumio (either using the UPnP plugin on LMS, or the Squeezelite plugin on Volumio), or via SPDIF or USB.  

Stouthart wrote:

Roon via Volumio/Lan vs Roon via RPI 4/USB sounds really different. The same applies to LMS Lan vs USB. I could try to describe it myself but I found some of the related posts on ASR. Btw this guy is using an SHD, mine is the SHD Studio:

www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.p.../page-23#post-644035

www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.p.../page-24#post-646531

www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.p.../page-31#post-665659

Could be software related (Volumio uses pretty old Linux distro), could be hardware. But I sense/hear exactly the same (and I only read those posts AFTER I noticed the differences).

Going by the last post you linked to there, wasn't the issue initially referred to related to a fault that was subsequenty fixed? Roon compatibility is also potentially better now too.

Significant issues with phase differences between left and right channels could be tested for by playing test content and measurinig the results with REW's RTA, for both the internal streamer and an external one. I'd be surprised if there really were a difference but I'd be testing if I were in your shoes.

For the record I've never tried an external streamer connected to my SHD. I have a RPI4 I suppose I could but I've got other audio related thing I'm more interested to spend any 'play' time on right now. The idea of something like a Bluesound Node to give me access to the BluOs control UI has some appeal over Volumio but ulitmately I really can't justify the cost when Volumio works. It will be iteresting to see if Volumio 3 does come to the SHD series soon and if this improves things actually.

Experimented with the BlueNode, both the old and new one. Also tried an RPI 4 with Allo DigiOne HAT (SPDIF). I did not really notice an improved in sound quality when using a streamer connected to SPDIF compared to internal streamer/Volumio. In my experience, USB makes a noticeable difference (both LMS and Roon).

Regarding BluOs: really prefer it above anything else. If they could just release a box with only AES and/or USB out, without an internal dac...

Btw already tried Volumio 3 (on RPI). To me v2 and v3 sound the same, even though some say otherwise. 

Stouthart wrote:

Btw already tried Volumio 3 (on RPI). To me v2 and v3 sound the same, even though some say otherwise. 

For what it's worth my comment about the comparison was purely in relation to what they're like to use. I was expecting zero differece in audio performance, as I would to be honest with any external streamer.

If all your doing is streaming from Tidal, Spotify, Qubuz etc. then a Chromecast Audio connected to optical in and powered from the USB A port. Job done!