Guys
I’m looking to pair a Chord TT 2 with a decent very low noise streamer with no DAC required. Im being pushed towards raspberry pi but I’m a little out of my depth.
Need it small and ideally 5v input. Also Roon ready
Any thoughts / suggestions?
Thanks.
Hi Adam there is enough information here in the forums and elsewhere to get you going on a Pi based streamer and with a very low level of technical skills required.
It is worth looking at some of the forum posts and reading up a little, but either USB or Toslink would work well I imagine (could not tell if that is a SPDIF on the back as well).
Have a look at a post like this to start (but there are plenty)
I I use HiFiBerry gear (low cost and decent quality) https://roonlabs.com/partners/hifiberry
Allo is another respected brand https://roonlabs.com/partners/allo
I imagine anything else is 3 or 4 times the price and the effort is very low
Other than that look at the partners page here https://roonlabs.com/partners
Regards
Mike
Cheers Mike
Very helpful. I’ll go from here.
Have fun, there is plenty to learn
Mike
Mike
What’s the best number to reach you on ? I’ve been a naughty boy and spent a lot of money today. !!
Ok Adam tell us what you you have bought 
Mike
Chord Hugo TT 2.
Now need a stream box…
You going down the Pi route or found anything else yet?
@Rugby What did you say you were using the other day, just trying to give Adam some decent and easy to put together options?
Mike
Cheers !! Bit clueless.
I can get a stream.box ultra for £450 ( demo cabinet) but rather have something at little bit less expensive ideally. But obviously don’t want to sacrifice. I suspect the TT 2 won’t be forgiving.
I am out for a couple of hours so we can get some options that fit within your technical limits a bit later as we work out what they are
Mike
Ok. I’m looking at the streambox 2 ultra. Can get this a little cheaper through the dealer. Darko likes it but not sure. Cheers
In the past couple of months, I have tried out a Streambox Ultra, an Allo USBridge Signature, and an Allo DigiOne streamer. I used both Allo devices with a Shanti Linear power supply. I tried them all with the built in DAC on a Rotel Integrated Amp. Of the three, the Streambox Ultra sounded significantly better with my Rotel Amp. The Streambox was sonically an excellent match with my setup.
Unfortunately, I had issues with the Streambox Ultra pairing with the DAC in my amplifier so Roon did work consistently with my set up, so I returned it. In my opinion, the Streambox was a superior piece of equipment. First of all, it sounds great with the supplied switch mode power supply. In addition to sounding better, the Streambox is built much more solidly than the PI based devices. The Streambox case is built very solid and has rubber pads on the bottom so it does not slide around. The USB outlets on the Streambox are much solid than anything on the Allo devices. The Streambox also has a standby switch on the front of the unit.
I would have been very satisfied sticking with the Streambox if it had worked with my current amplifier.
Alan
Very much appreciated. This is my take and I think I’m gonna go for this.
I can get this a bit cheaper from the dealer but has to be matched correctly and we shall see. Much appreciated for the heads up.
Adam
I wrote the Darko review. I still have the S2 Stream Ultra, it’s very good. If space is an issue it’s delightfully small too, supposedly not needing an external power supply (I haven’t tried as its an uncommon 18V).
I also have an Allo DigiOne Sig and USBridge Sig, together with a Shanti. I reviewed the latter, with Shanti it’s very similar to the Stream Ultra. Just bigger, two boxes etc. But you save a bit. I haven’t compared the Allo DigiOne to the Stream Ultra.
Or there’s an RPI4 with decent power supply - go for the iFi 5V supply and you’re looking at £100 all in. It’s surprisingly good, albeit I think the Hugo TT will merit more (I haven’t heard it).
And if there’s room on your crdit card still there’s always the dCS Network Bridge. Delightful! Or the standalone Moon Mind 2 device - the same platform as installed in the Moon 390 I looked at. Again very good.
Hope this helps
Phil
Hi Phil
Nice to meet you virtually. Its a bit of a minefield with all the raspberry pi and other kit out there… Need to be an engineer !
Can I ask - have you compared the Ultra to the S2 standard? I appreciate the S2 standard isnt Roon certified but keen to get thoughts. Trying to get best bang for the buck. Thanks
Adam that should make an excellent option for you and I have certainly read good things about it.
I guess if it is not a good match then you can return it.
It should certainly give you a high end streamer/Dac combination
You can always play around with Pi’s later when you are not champing at the bit to get going.
While they sound complicated, the real issue is the paralysis of choice
Regards
Mike
Yes. Seems so. .still keen to see though what the S2 standard is like.
Don’t want.to get sucked into the noise floor conversation and differences in audio that my 50 year old ears can’t hear…just trying to get an honest comparison
Adam wants a Roon Ready Wireless endpoint with a price point under 400. I’m not sure he stated that directly.
Ideally without sacrificing quality. Thanks
But Adam you feel that this meets your criteria now?
So will you be happily testing this soon?
Mike