Dreaming of Streaming: Is £2,000 and Above the Golden Number in the World of Streamers?

Matt at our Cardiff store takes a closer look at the world of streaming, focusing on the £2,000 and above price bracket—often considered the higher echelon of streaming. For those eyeing a significant upgrade to the source end of their Hi-Fi systems, Matt has chosen three standout streamers that shine in this category. Let’s join him on this month’s journey to see what he’s discovered.

Where Streaming Fits Into My System

Over the past three years, my Hi-Fi system has evolved dramatically, as many of you may have noticed in my blogs. I’ve made various upgrades and additions, covering both vinyl and CD playback. Yet, one key source remains conspicuously absent: streaming.

So why haven’t I added a streamer to my setup? After all, for many, streaming is the cornerstone of a modern Hi-Fi system. As we often say, the source comes first—it’s the voice of the system, setting the tone for everything downstream.

Streaming offers unparalleled access to music, far removed from the days of flipping through records at my local shop, Spillers in Cardiff, debating whether an album was a one-track wonder or a masterpiece. Today, with platforms like Qobuz, discovering new music is effortless, and that’s a compelling reason to embrace streaming.

Auralic Vega S1 Streaming DAC

Why Focus on the £2,000 Bracket?

As we know, the quality of the source should match the rest of your Hi-Fi system. The £2,000 bracket marks the point where streamers begin to deliver exceptional build quality and components, including DACs and power supplies. Many models also allow for upgrades with external power supplies, much like turntables or CD players.

The Contenders

To explore this world, I’ve chosen three streamers that sit confidently in this range:

• Cyrus Stream XR

• Auralic Vega S1 Streaming DAC

• Naim ND5 XS 2

Cyrus Stream XR

cyrus stream xr

With my system already built around the latest Cyrus Classic range, the Stream XR is a natural choice for synergy. Featuring Cyrus’s second-generation QXR DAC, based on the ESS9038Q2M chipset, it offers stunning performance. Its internal power supply is another standout, delivering clean, stable power for uncompromised sound quality. The BluOS interface, developed in partnership with Bluesound, is intuitive and seamless to use.

AURALiC Vega S1

auralic s1 streamer

Next is the AURALiC Vega S1 Streaming DAC. AURALiC has long intrigued me, and the Vega S1 more than lives up to its reputation. Introduced with the Tesla G3 streaming platform, it delivers exceptional processing power and flexibility. The Lightning DS app is highly user-friendly, and the build quality is outstanding. The Vega S1 also features three DAC filters, allowing you to fine-tune the sound to your preference. It’s a dream for those who love to tweak and experiment.

Naim ND5 XS 2

Naim is a name that requires no introduction, with years of experience in streaming technology. The ND5 XS 2 features a Burr-Brown DAC, offering a rich, detailed sound. Its proprietary streaming app is both reliable and intuitive, making it a joy to use. The ND5 XS 2 brings warmth and detail, making it a classic choice for discerning listeners.

The Listening Test

Now, the real fun begins! To put these streamers to the test, I used a range of music across genres:

• Rush: Counterparts (1993) – Leave That Thing Alone

• John Mayer: Continuum (2006) – Belief

• Rory Gallagher: Top Priority (1979) – Bad Penny

• Red Dragon Cartel: Patina (2008) – Chasing Ghosts

• Big Wreck: Pages (2023) – In Fair Light

• Soundgarden: King Animal (2012) – Taree

Cyrus Stream XR

The Stream XR’s synergy with my Cyrus Classic amplifier was immediately evident. Its QXR DAC revealed intricate details, like the texture in Rory Gallagher’s guitar tone and the gravel in his voice. The BluOS interface made browsing Qobuz effortless.

Auralic Vega S1

The Vega S1’s sound was expansive, revealing layers in Big Wreck’s In Fair Light that I hadn’t noticed before. The DAC filters added flexibility, letting me tailor the sound to suit the track.

Naim ND5 XS 2

The ND5 XS 2 delivered a spacious soundstage and a beautifully warm tone. Tracks like Taree by Soundgarden highlighted its ability to balance detail with musicality, showcasing both the power and nuance of the recording.

The Verdict

All three streamers are excellent, capable of decoding HD formats up to 32-bit and offering fantastic connectivity. However, the Cyrus and Auralic models allow for external power supply upgrades, which elevate their performance but push them beyond the £2,000 budget.

In Conclusion

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer in Hi-Fi. Each of these streamers delivers exceptional performance, and the best choice depends on your system and preferences. Why not visit your local Audio T store and have a listen for yourself?

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.

Matt - Audio T Cardiff

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

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Naim can be found at the following Audio T stores

• BRIGHTON

• BRISTOL

• CARDIFF

• CHELTENHAM

• MANCHESTER

• PORTSMOUTH

• READING

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

AURALiC can be found at the following Audio T stores

• SOUTHAMPTON

Cyrus can be found at the following Audio T stores

• CARDIFF

• MANCHESTER

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWINDON

• ONLINE STORE

• BRIGHTON

• PORTSMOUTH

• CHELTENHAM

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*All prices, credit terms and interest rates quoted are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. E&OE

Riffs and Revolutions: A Very Different Kind of Vinyl Listening Event!

As many of you know, Matt from Audio T Cardiff is a keen musician. Recently he hosted a vinyl event in Pontypridd, one of our home counties, alongside the fantastic team at A Strings guitar shop and with sponsorship from Rega. The event took place on Saturday, 28th September. If you were lucky enough to attend, you’ll know what a fantastic day it was—but if you missed out, here’s an account of what went down."

Over the years, our branches have traditionally hosted in-store events that have been highly successful, giving us the chance to showcase and demonstrate our featured brands at their best. These events have always been a real pleasure. But how do we reach a wider, more diverse, and perhaps younger audience, you may ask?

Personally, I wholeheartedly believe that music fans and musicians alike deserve access to a great-sounding hi-fi. Am I right? Of course, I am! Everyone should have a hi-fi that truly engages them—making you smile, even shed a tear, but most importantly, gets your feet tapping. Some of us even know that special piece of music that inspires us to pick up a guitar and master that riff or solo. (Thank you, Eddie Van Halen.)

As many of you know, I’ve previously organised Audio T Cardiff vinyl events outside the store at MEC Coffee, which were fantastic. This time, though, I thought it was time for something a little different.

Time for a little time travel! No, it doesn't involve a DeLorean.

When I talk about time travel, I’m really talking about this event. As most of you know, before my days with Audio T, I worked at a local guitar shop in Cardiff for 17 years. Being a guitarist, I started thinking about organising an event that combines my three biggest passions: music, hi-fi, and, of course, guitars. Musicians are often overlooked when it comes to hi-fi, which got me wondering—how can we bridge the gap between musicians and audiophiles?

Reflecting on my childhood, I feel lucky to have experienced music in such quality, thanks to my dad’s studio days. Everyone deserves access to great hi-fi, and I wanted to show that you don’t need to spend over £10,000 to enjoy a high-quality system, especially for vinyl playback—my favourite way to listen. How could I best demonstrate this? That’s when it hit me—I should reach out to my favourite guitar shop, A Strings.

In the hi-fi world, everyone knows everyone, and I’ve known the guys at A Strings, Andrew and Adam, for years as both friends and a customer (keeping my guitar addiction alive). I asked if they’d like to co-host an event with us in their store, and they were thrilled to say yes. We set the date, and both the A Strings team and I couldn’t have been more excited!

How about a little history about A Strings?

A Strings was founded in Cardiff back in 2006 by Andrew Morgan, originally specialising in guitar strings and accessories. Stocking over 1,000 varieties of strings—ranging from the popular to the obscure—they quickly built a loyal customer base, with many of their original customers still returning to this day. Over time, they expanded to stock a range of leading guitar brands, including Fender, Gretsch, and Gibson.

Fast-forward to the present, and A Strings is now located at 66 Broadway, Treforest, Pontypridd, where they’ve been for the past 15 years. In fact, they celebrated their 15th anniversary at this location on the day of the event.

An interesting fact about A Strings: they have supplied strings and gear to legendary musicians such as Brian May of Queen, Eric Clapton, the Manic Street Preachers, Motörhead, Killing Joke, and Mark Knopfler, to name just a few.

Reaching out to the turntable kings – Rega, that is.

With a good idea of the system I wanted to bring to the event—mainly Rega equipment—I reached out to our fantastic Rega representative, Rob Noble, about promoting the event on their website as well as ours and A Strings’. I also enquired about the possibility of a turntable giveaway, and Rega went above and beyond by generously donating a Rega Planar 1 Eco deck for the event’s prize draw.

Rega Planar 2 with nd3 cartridge

Rega’s God of amplification.

With everything in full swing—the advertising sorted and nearly everything ready to rock—I received an email from Rega’s amplification guru, Mr Terry Bateman, which was a real honour. Terry and I discussed how unique this event was compared to typical hi-fi events and how it bridges the gap between audiophiles and musicians. We also talked about amp design, especially the renowned Rega Brio, which Terry designed and voiced much like a guitar amplifier. It’s known for that rich analogue class AB warmth, reminiscent of solid-state guitar amps.

Terry shared his experiences before joining Rega, when he worked as an amp repairman for guitar amplification, focusing on brands like Fender, Marshall, and Vox. Like me, Terry has roots in the guitar industry and has even worked with notable musicians, including Robin Trower (if you haven’t heard Bridge of Sighs, give it a listen), The Hamsters, and many others. After our chat about amps, music, and classic rock, Terry said he would come along to the event. It’s a true privilege to have someone of his stature attending—as I said at the start, an amp legend!

What equipment did I bring to the event, I hear you ask?

Starting with the sources:

• Rega Planar 2 turntable fitted with the all-new Rega ND3 moving magnet cartridge.

• Advance Paris WTX StreamTube network streamer.

On the amplification front:

• We have the Rega Brio & the Rega Elex MK4.

On the speaker front:

• Dynaudio Emit 10’s in black.

Cabling: Black Rhodium Intro speaker cables and interconnects.

Hi-Fi rack and stands:

• Solidsteel SS6 speaker stands.

• Solidsteel S3 rack.

On the vinyl cleaning side of things:

• The Degritter MK2.

And now the fun really begins.

With the system set up and ready to go in what I can only call ‘guitar heaven,’ we were all set to rock. I spoke with many people about their records, collections, and equipment, and we even did several A-B tests, playing records before and after they’d been cleaned. One rare gem was Andrew’s original pressing of Queen II, and we played March of the Black Queen. Hearing the difference post-cleaning was incredible—the improvement was, as they say, night and day.

We also put the Rega system through its paces; to say it sounded fantastic doesn’t quite do it justice. The system truly demonstrated that you can build a great hi-fi setup without breaking the bank. The event itself had an amazing atmosphere, with rock tracks from every genre filling the space. Chatting with new faces about hi-fi, music, and guitars (my three favourite subjects), spending the afternoon with Andrew and the fantastic team at A Strings, meeting their customers, and having Terry from Rega there made for an absolute joy—a perfect afternoon of rock & roll and hi-fi.

And we have a winner!

A week had passed since the fantastic event at A Strings, and it was time to announce the lucky winner of a Rega turntable! I headed back to A Strings to reveal the winner on Fear’s Friday update. Yes, I did this live, and it went well—it was an honour to be part of their regular Friday video. So, who’s the winner? Drum roll, please... congratulations to Kris Morris!

Kris came by our store to collect his brilliant new Rega Planar 1 Eco deck. While he was here, I took him through a few amplification and speaker options to help him get set up and ready to enjoy his new system.

Are there more events like this on the way, you ask?

The short answer is a big, resounding yes! The event had such a fantastic vibe that it’s definitely worth doing again. In fact, I’ve spoken with Andrew and the team, and they’re keen to host another event with us at Audio T in the near future—so watch this space!

Thank you

A huge thank you once again to Andrew, Adam, and the team at A Strings for co-hosting the event with us, and to Terry and his lovely wife for attending—it was a real honour to have them there. Most importantly, a big thank you to everyone who came to the event; it was a genuine pleasure to meet you all, and I hope to see you again soon!

Thank you all for taking the time to read my blog.

Matt - Audio T Cardiff

Matt and the A String Team

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Rega can be found at the following Audio T stores

• BRIGHTON

• BRISTOL

• CARDIFF

• CHELTENHAM

• MANCHESTER

• PORTSMOUTH

• READING

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

• ONLINE STORE