Music Streamers and Music formats

[JkSpinner]

I recently found my OPPO 105 media centre App was no longer working, so time to find a new streaming solution.  I primarily use my OPPO for streaming FLAC files (or WAV) from a USB SSD drive, one album at a time just like a CD.  I sometimes get out the CD collection.  I have been reading up on streamers and PC Music libraries, have loaded JRiver on my laptop, gave it a short go, but I think I like the simplicity of a streaming device.  
I have read about the DACs in the OPPO and in my MICHI X5, and am a little confused about all this, 24bit/192 up to 32bit/768khz, and not sure what it all means.  I am pretty sure I have copied all my CD’s as per the original, which I think is 16 bit, so a little confused here.  I simply want to replicate the CD sound, better if that is possible.  I also stream my MP3 library which is often different to the FLAC library, and Spotify and Sonos.

i think I have a pretty good DAC in my Oppo, although the the two channel one does not seem to be working, the 2nd 7 channel DAC is exactly the same so I assume does the same job when just using two channels.  I also have maybe even a better DAC in the Michi X5.  
i have been looking at the Node, Cambridge Audio MXN10 and CXN100 (I like the idea of the screen.). Many of the cheaper ones do not have a USB input, but open to options here.

I am looking for advice on

1. set up - how should I set this up

2. Streamer - which one and why

2. what the 32/768 actually means

I have played around with the Dacs in the Oppo and Michi before.  I found the Oppo to be clearer, more defined, but I found the Michi to be louder and warmer, more mellow and relaxed, if that makes sense.

thanks, and I apologise for the dumb questions..

PS - I like simple

 

 

 

[juggernaut1]

If your looking for a new network streamer/player, Addicted to Audio has the Cambridge Audio CXN V2 on sale for $999 if you dont mind the older model to the CXN100.

 

I thought it was a bargain so I just bought one earlier in the week but haven't received it as yet.  

 

 

Edited March 27, 2024 by juggernaut1

[JkSpinner]

23 hours ago, juggernaut1 said:

If your looking for a new network streamer/player, Addicted to Audio has the Cambridge Audio CXN V2 on sale for $999 if you dont mind the older model to the CXN100.

 

I thought it was a bargain so I just bought one earlier in the week but haven't received it as yet.  
 

hi Juggernaught, I probably only need the CXN V2 or the MXN10, as I have a good Sabre ESS DAC in the Oppo, and a good AKM DAC in the Michi, but if the CXN 100 is any good, I might clean up my system a little and get rid of the Oppo, I mostly use the Oppo for playing FLAC files from my USB SSD drive, very rarely play CD’s these days.  And this will still give me the choice of Dacs.  I could also play from my NAS to see if there is much difference.  Shame it is not black though, I have moved away from silver

 

 

 

[JkSpinner]

hi Juggernaught, i did see that, I probably only need the CXN V2 or the MXN10, as I have a good Sabre ESS DAC in the Oppo, and a good AKM DAC in the Michi, but if the CXN 100 is any good, I might clean up my system a little and get rid of the Oppo, I mostly use the Oppo for playing FLAC files from my USB SSD drive, very rarely play CD’s these days.  And this will still give me the choice of Dacs.  I could also play from my NAS to see if there is much difference.  Shame it is not black though, I have moved away from silver
I did a fair amount of reading on the bit rate, etc, not sure if it really makes any difference to listening to FLAC or WAV Files, so not sure it really matters

[Irek]

Wiim pro can play music from PC HDD, smartphone and tablet. You can set it to bit perfect .  

[juggernaut1]

4 hours ago, JkSpinner said:

 

For what its worth, i got a sense from the What HiFi review of the CXN100 that lost its Cambridge Audio sonic character with the move to the ESS chip from the older chip in the CXN V2 - see "Cons" in the below CXN 100 review link.

 

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/cambridge-audio-cxn100-review

 

My Yamaha RX A6A has a ESS 9026Pro chip for the ground layer speakers, so I thought I could experiment depending on whether I use digital or analogue cabling with either the chip in the CXN100 (using analogue interconnects) or the chip in the A6A (using digital interconnects).    

 

The discounted price of the CXN V2 to nearly the prices of the MXN10 made it an easy decision for me. Agreed it would look much better in black that the silver/grey. 

 

 

Edited March 29, 2024 by juggernaut1