Anetwork music streameris one of the best way of life to bestow hi - lineament digital euphony from all your favoritemusic cyclosis servicesto your hi - fi organization . Whether you ’re partial to your older vintagestereo receiver or integrate amplifieror you have a great exercise set ofpowered speakersor even a more modern AV receiver that just lacks meshing connectivity , these relatively thickset and inexpensive twist have all variety of connectivity options to easily retrofit your train . Many internet music pennant also have luxuriously - powered amplification build up in , in case you ’re starting from moolah and desire to just build up a digital audio organization from scribble .
A mesh medicine streamer lets you stream hi - res audio tracks ( and lesser formats ) from services likeTidal , Qobuz , Amazon Music Unlimited , andApple Music , where higher - bitrate tracks are prioritized . web music streamers make use of premium audio engineering , include precision - tuned DAC ( digital - to - analog convertor ) systems , to ensure you ’ll get the in effect sound possible from your favourite online tracks .
With a mass of options out there , we think we ’d make your hi - fi playback all the well-heeled by handpicking some of the best internet medicine streamers you could get , some of which we ’ve tested ourselves .
Best network music streamer overall
Wiim Ultra
First of all , it ’s gorgeous , with its beautiful color touchscreen and sleek Al casing ( usable in Space Gray and Silver finish ) . The touch screen is , by our reviewer ’s account , more about beautifully display album artwork and track detail , but it does provide some great functionality , if you prefer controlling thing at the whole itself and not through the slightly more functional Wiim app . With a swipe and a tap you’re able to do things like control playback , EQ options and presets , as well as comment selection . Sadly , though , you ca n’t shop for medicine or lookup from the cover ’s UI . Future software updates may changes this , though .
Connectivity - wise , the Wiim Ultra has loads , including two analog RCA input signal ( one phono foradding a lazy Susan ) , HDMI ARC , optical , and a USB - A. Outputs include RCA analogue , optical and coaxial digital , and a outputfor a subwoofer .
The fantabulous Wiim app control the whole system of rules , which supports Google Cast , Alexa Cast , Tidal Connect , and Spotify Connectmusic cyclosis serve . There is one big caveat , though , that may or may not be a deal breaker – the Wiim Ultra ( or any Wiim streaming gadget ) hasno aboriginal musical accompaniment for Apple AirPlayor Apple Music . It also does n’t support YouTube Music either .
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Even still , for a steal the Wiim Ultra is much more than a electronic internet music streamer . While it ’s not amplify like it ’s also - stellar sib the$300 Wiim Ampand$379 Wiim Amp Pro , the Ultra ’s idealistic user is someone wanting to add fantabulous - sounding and modernistic digital audio features to a two - channel hi - fi system like anintegrated amplifier . The Wiim Ultra can also give up Sonos - like multi - elbow room configuration by adding other Wiim devices , and it can be connected to your TV , turntables , CD players , and more . I ’ll say it again — It ’s $ 329 .
Best budget-friendly network music streamer
Wiim Pro
It ’s no fluke that another Wiim equipment is our preferred budget pick as well , as the relative newcomer to the streaming connection role player remain to relinquish highly militant products . Our ownSimon Cohenis a attest digital medicine aficionado , and a hard nut to crack when it come to mother him to thieve to the virtues of analog formats like vinyl radical ( we have yet to ) . But he ’s about the most knowledgable mortal we know in this area , so you could trust hisreview of the unnerving $ 149 Wiim Pro .
A verbatim competitor to Sonos ' pop Port ( it ’s kind of a atomic number 6 copy , really ) , the Wiim Pro is a au naturel - bone black box that is n’t much to appear at , pattern - wise . But do n’t let that fool away you . Like the Sonos Port , the Wiim Pro is stacked with connection options , forcible and tuner , include RCA line in and out ( for connecting external sources like turntables and CD players that can then be stream out through the organisation ) , coax , SPDIF optical in / out , LAN , Wi - Fi , AirPlay , Bluetooth , Chromecast , and more .
With its excellent companion app , the Wiim Pro deliver easy admission to a ton of cyclosis services , including Spotify , Tidal , Qobuz , Amazon Music , Pandora , Deezer , SoundCloud , TuneIn radio , and the list goes on . As far as financial backing for Aloha State - res and lossless medicine formats , the Wiim Pro is , yep , a professional , with funding for lossless ALAC , APE , FLAC , and WAV files up to 24 - bit/192kHz , as well as lossy MP3 , AAC , WMA , and OGG .
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
to boot , and like Sonos , by simply adding extra Wiim Pro devices , or other Wiim hardware like its smaller , less expensive sibling theWiim Mini , you could easily expand your electronic web throughout your house .
Best premium network music streamer
Cambridge Audio CXN100
Cambridge Audio is no stranger to the world ofpremium audio gadget , and the incredible CXN100 web Audio Player is further proof that the brand show no mark of stopping . This sleek Lunar Grey loge is sized to fit alongside most AV components and has an elevate ESS DAC for enhanced sound quality and minimized distortion . This sounds gracious on paper , but the realness is even good : crispy - clear audio with a monolithic soundstage . And as for hi - res streams , this speculative boy supports playback at up to 32 - bit/768kHz .
Whether you be after on cyclosis tunes via Wi - Fi , Bluetooth ( albeit , only SBC and AAC livelihood ) , USB , or through a compatible NAS gadget , the CXN100 accepts all the above connections and has 64 GB of reposition to work with , too . Output - wise , the CXN100 can be connect to your choice of amplification via balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA analogue or S / PDIF coaxal and TOSLINK optical .
The interactional LCD makes the CXN100 light to keep yellow journalism on what track , albums , or playlists you ’re heed to , and the player has access to music streaming services like Spotify , Tidal , Deezer , and Qobuz , along with MQA , Chromecast , AirPlay , and Roon compatibility .
At $ 1,100 , it ’s one of the more expensive internet euphony streamers on our lean , but it ’s concentrated to deny the performance and versatility that the Cambridge Audio CXN100 brings to the mesa .
Best compact audiophile network music streamer
Bluesound Node Nano
One of the in style web medicine waft from Canadian company Bluesound , ther affordable Node Nano is a high - operation euphony streamer that brings wireless , hi - res audioto existing hi - fi systems or powered speaker unit . And it does it while looking and sounding bang-up , too .
At its core is its excellent ESS SABRE ES9039Q2 M DAC . In our review of the Nano , Simon Cohen connected it through a great brace ofKlipsch The Sevenspowered speakers and have crisp , detailed playback . Its accompaniment for up to 24 - bit/192kHz sound ascertain you ’ll get particular sound tone from pretty much any outturn source you playact it through .
unseamed streaming is a primal highlight with the Nano , with built - in AirPlay 2 , Spotify Connect , and Tidal Connect for unmediated medicine playback . It ’s also Roon Ready . While Google Cast is n’t supported , with the use of the BluOS app , you get additional funding for more servicing , such asTidal , Amazon Music , Spotify , Deezer , andQobuz . deplorably , Apple Music and YouTube Music are not supported .
The compendious pattern sport a pinch - sensitive front panel for immediate admission to bulk , playback , and two customizable presets . The Nano lacks parallel stimulus , though , so you ca n’t connect sources like turntables and CD Players , making it more of a selection for more modernistic streaming setups .
Compared to Sonos , which cap audio firmness of purpose at 24 - bit/48kHz , the Node Nano handles up to 24 - bit/192kHz , preserve the full fidelity of mellow - resolution recordings . If you ’re on the Holman Hunt for an affordable yet powerful way to bring digital networked music to your audio system with wireless streaming , the Node Nano is a hearty pick .
Best for Sonos users and beyond
Sonos Port
If you ’ve already gotten yourself immerse in the Sonos ecosystem with severalSonos speakersscattered about your home but you still have an additional " dumb " sound system that vocalize awesome but is tailor off from the Sonos beehive , then add a Sonos Port is an excellent way to play everything together .
Not only will the Port leave you to access all the same streaming overhaul ( including Spotify , Apple Music , Tidal , Qobuz , and more ) that you would through the rest of your Sonos speaker on your non - Sonos system , but you may also get in touch external analog sourcessuch as turntablesand CD players to it via RCA for sending out through the organisation , too . to boot , the Sonos Port abide Apple AirPlay 2 for broadcast music directly to it shape your iOS equipment .
And everything is controlled with Sonos ' industry - leading app — there ’s a oecumenical lookup feature article that will research across all of your signal - in service , and Spotify , Tidal , and Amazon Music users have the option to use those various apps to control them , should they prefer .
Excellent for headphone listeners
Bluesound Node (N132)
Not every web medicine banner costs thousands of dollar , and the Bluesound Node ( edition N132 ) is proof . Coming in at under $ 600 , the NODE is small enough to fit on just about any ledge or entertainment center .
But did you mark the earphone manual laborer on the front of the twist ? This NODE ’s output is supported by aTHX AAA(Achromatic Audio Amplifier ) earpiece amp developed by THX , the common people who place audiovisual replication standards for the moving-picture show manufacture , nursing home entertainment , play and beyond . THX AAA in the NODE think of that for those of us who savor hi - Re listening through , say , a stage set of gamey - quality planar magnetic headphone or other premium over - ears , the strait will be excellent and with humiliated distortion .
to boot , the Bluesound NODE ’s two - wayaptX Adaptive supportmeans that listening over Bluetooth will vocalise great , too . Not only will you be able to stream hi - res audio cart track to the banner from your phone or tablet but you ’ll also be capable to beam howdy - fi track from the NODE to a duet of Bluetooth headphones that support the codec . Beyond its Bluetooth pro , you ’ll also be able to swarm via AirPlay 2 and from services like Spotify Connect , Tidal Connect , Qobuz , and Pandora , along with built - in support for cyberspace tuner stations like TuneIn , iHeartRadio , and SiriusXM .
flip out this pup around to let on a massive raiment of ports , including an HDMI eARC stimulus , analog RCA , digital visual , USB - A , and an Ethernet link for hardwiring the NODE to your router .
As far as sound character is concerned , this edition of the NODE runs an ES9039Q2 M ESS Sabre DAC so that you may expect breathless high , mids , and lows with 24 - bit/192kHz playback accompaniment and Dolby Digital multichannel sound . That ’s on top of an ARM Cortex - A53 quad - core C.P.U. for top - shelf connection execution .
We also commend checking out our review of theBluesound Node Nano .
