aries mini without tidal price usa vs europe

ARIES MINI WITHOUT TIDAL PRICE USA VS EUROPE UPGRADE
ARIES MINI WITHOUT TIDAL PRICE USA VS EUROPE MODS

The soundstage from the Zen Stream had the same height and width as the modded CCA, but it included that 3rd dimension. It didn’t occur to me that the streamer was the bottleneck here.

ARIES MINI WITHOUT TIDAL PRICE USA VS EUROPE UPGRADE

I knew my soundstage was only 2D, and I had hypothesized that I would have to upgrade the DAC, preamp, or speakers to achieve that third dimension.

ARIES MINI WITHOUT TIDAL PRICE USA VS EUROPE MODS

(Maybe this can be explained by the fact that I was using Ifi mods for the CCA.) In my system, the difference in sound quality between the streamers came down to soundstage and imagining only. Compared to my modded CCA, the new Ifi Zen Stream had the same resolution and the same tone. My findings were different than those of Audio Excellence Canada, but my reference streamer and downstream gear were also different/more affordable. For that reason, I’ve been hesitant until now to drop money on any entry level streamers-specifically by Bluesound, SOtM, Sonore, Cambridge, Volumio, or Allo. And because the Allo Digione Signature used a universal board with a reclocking HAT attached, I figured it was likely on par with my CCA + Ifi reclocker. Based on reviews by Darko, it looked like the Allo Digione Signature Raspberry Pi was the streamer to beat under about $1500-$2000. The Ifi additions to the CCA made a tremendous improvement to my system sound quality, and I wasn’t sure what monetary investment would be required to improve further upon the sound quality.

The iPurifier itself connects directly to the DAC, so no additional coax is needed. My reference streamer was a Chromecast Audio (CCA) puck with an AQ Forrest optical cable into an Ifi Spdif iPurifier, with Ifi power supplies on the CCA and iPurifier. After listening, he learned that Ifi used surprisingly high quality parts in the Zen Stream. Recommends for someone in the market for a streamer up to $1500-$2000. Later he says the Ifi will replace streamers at 3-4x it’s price.Īdrian’s review - Agrees with Vilip’s thoughts. Would put the Zen Stream up against some thing 2x-3x the price. Vilip’s review - (starts at ~9 min) Another level. Stock ethernet cable into Bluesound Node, AQ Diamond Coax ($1250) into Hegel H390, AQ Robinhood SC into Sonus Faber Sonetto V.

Conclusion: it will be my new reference streamer.Īudio Excellence Review of the Bluesound Node vs Ifi Zen Stream And based on the glowing review of the Ifi Zen Stream from Audio Excellence Canada vs the BS Node, and based on my past experience with Ifi, I decided to audition the Zen Stream unit. Ifi and SMSL both recently launched stand alone streamers at $400.

Aries mini without tidal price usa vs europe