RE: "....but I have a $1000 to 1500 budget for improving my transport ".......

Regarding a network streamer/transport, I'm concerned that because I don't have a wired network it would necessarily compromise the sound. I might want to use some kind of server instead, either set it up myself with a Pi or purchase something like an Aurender (used). A full-featured music server is basically like having someone do all the tweaking for me and sell it in a ready-to-use package, which is appealing at this point.

Here's why I say I'm concerned the network will compromise the sound. The Zen Stream can function a bit like a primitive server in that you can attach a USB drive and control the ZS from its web UI. So I've gotten to compare the same tracks #1 played off the attached disk #2 streamed via JRiver to the ZS. And it's no contest... it sounds way better playing from the attached drive.

I've done a lot of stuff to enhance the ZS hoping to get good sound as a streamer. I bought a WiFi-to-ethernet converter and I use that to bring the network to the ZS, and turned off the WiFi in the ZS. As I've mentioned previously I'm using it with a pretty good LPS and I put my best power cord on the LPS. (It's a custom cord from this guy in the N.J. Audio Society.) I also put it on damped squash balls to vibration-isolate it.

It got better after the tweaks but I just like how it sounds off the attached drive so much better.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - iPurifier3 or Intona USB isolator or Uptone Regen - mike1127 23:18:58 04/06/24 (23)

RE: iPurifier3 or Intona USB isolator or Uptone Regen - Mercman 23:15:59 04/14/24 (0)

RE: iPurifier3 or Intona USB isolator or Uptone Regen - Mike B. 08:54:22 04/09/24 (0)

If you must decrapify or isolate I'd go with Intona - AbeCollins 07:46:37 04/08/24 (2)

RE: If you must decrapify or isolate I'd go with Intona - Archimago 14:08:35 04/12/24 (1)

Good articles - thanks! [nt] - AbeCollins 13:24:56 04/15/24 (0)

RE: iPurifier3 or Intona USB isolator or Uptone Regen - mike1127 18:39:25 04/07/24 (12)

Better exists for a price - E-Stat 09:42:12 04/09/24 (6)

Didn't you once say... - raingerz 13:58:23 04/09/24 (5)

That might have been me - AbeCollins 16:19:21 04/10/24 (0)

Must be someone else - E-Stat 14:30:36 04/09/24 (2)

Sorry to put you on the spot - raingerz 14:38:53 04/09/24 (1)

No worries - E-Stat 14:46:29 04/09/24 (0)

When I say streaming from a hard drive - raingerz 14:05:04 04/09/24 (0)

"....but I have a $1000 to 1500 budget for improving my transport "....... - Cut-Throat 14:29:54 04/08/24 (4)

RE: "....but I have a $1000 to 1500 budget for improving my transport "....... - mike1127 05:42:33 04/09/24 (3)

"I'm concerned that because I don't have a wired network" - Cut-Throat 09:42:36 04/09/24 (2)

RE: "I'm concerned that because I don't have a wired network" - mike1127 17:33:58 04/09/24 (1)

For a guy that is asking for help, you seem to know everything...........nt - Cut-Throat 17:38:16 04/10/24 (0)

Better still... - creativepart 10:40:55 04/07/24 (0)

RE: iPurifier3 or Intona USB isolator or Uptone Regen - Mel 06:27:12 04/07/24 (3)

RE: iPurifier3 or Intona USB isolator or Uptone Regen - mike1127 18:45:16 04/07/24 (2)

RE: iPurifier3 or Intona USB isolator or Uptone Regen - Mel 08:08:12 04/08/24 (1)

RE: iPurifier3 or Intona USB isolator or Uptone Regen - mike1127 18:21:58 04/08/24 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: "....but I have a $1000 to 1500 budget for improving my transport "....... - mike1127 05:42:33 04/09/24 (3)

"I'm concerned that because I don't have a wired network" - Cut-Throat 09:42:36 04/09/24 (2)

RE: "I'm concerned that because I don't have a wired network" - mike1127 17:33:58 04/09/24 (1)

For a guy that is asking for help, you seem to know everything...........nt - Cut-Throat 17:38:16 04/10/24 (0)

RE: "....but I have a $1000 to 1500 budget for improving my transport ".......

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