There may be similar products available from SMSL, Topping and other manufacturers but are not easy to find. The only device tested by ASR is an earlier version of the SOtM SMS 200. Most of the designs appear to incorporate a SBC, in some cases a RaspberryPi Compute Module. There is no USB output and the cost is excessive. Reviewers have reported excellent sound quality when using both devices, but note the cost of either is high. Lindemann : Limetree Bridge and Limetree Network. Also reviewers have noted an improvement in sound quality due to additional filtering and cooler operation.
Reviewers have noted the similarity of the design, influenced by John Westlake, to the Stream Box S2 Ultra.
An earlier version of the SMS200 has been reviewed on ASR (Many thanks for the hard work, Amir)
MUSIC STREAM PLAYER FOR GEAR S2 UPGRADE
SOtM : the basic design is the SMS 200 Neo, with a range of “improved” options and upgrade plug-in modules available. Retailers have suggested a web browser can be used to control the Mini. The problem is the app only runs under iOS. Only the Stream Box S2 Ultra has a USB output.Īuralic: Aries Mini: no longer available from Auralic but can still be found. Pro-Ject: Head Box S2 Digital Stream Box S2 Stream Box S2 Ultra.
MUSIC STREAM PLAYER FOR GEAR S2 SOFTWARE
From the information available, the devices have the Volumio software embedded and controlled through a web browser running on another device.
There is not a wide selection of network streamers available that have a USB input and a USB output to connect to a USB DAC available at reasonable cost, where software, and the hardware required to control the streamer, further restricts choice.Ī very incomplete survey suggests the following are some of the options currently available, It gives the purchaser confidence that the manufacturer has a policy of continuous development. Agreed, and for the avoidance of doubt, the performance of a DAC depends on much more than the DAC chip itself but it helps if mainstream manufacturers incorporate new and improved products in their designs, such as ESS ES9038Q2M or PRO. For example, Audiolab have used the ESS ES9018K2M chip in its latest range of audio products. From the specifications of most network players, the actual DAC chips often have lower specifications, or are an earlier release by the chip manufacturer, compared to stand-alone DACs. This is important, as changing or upgrading the DAC is less expensive than changing a network player. Many of the DACs listed on ASR have USB inputs and may be designed with direct connection to a computer as part of the brief.įew network streamers are available to replace a computer that have a USB input for a hard disk drive, as the music source, and a USB output to the DAC. A laptop, tablet or smartphone provide options to control audio standard devices such as network players, network streamers, network bridges and other devices.
The reasons for providing an “air gap” in an audio system between a computer and a DAC are many, particularly the noise on either the USB or Ethernet outputs.
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