![]() ![]() Nurtured by Boston audio community vets, Songbird is targeted primarily to the gazillions of people who bought nice sound rigs in the pre-internet age: Built tough, classically styled stereo gear still functioning quite well, thank you, though maybe gathering dust because the vinyl, tape, and CD content it was designed for seems like stuff from the dark ages of shopping at Tower Records and Sam Goody. The Songbird also offers near best-in-class ease of use and connectivity. JONATHAN TAKIFFĭon't let its small size and $129 price tag fool you: Andover Audio's Songbird music streamer flies high and sings almost as sweetly as competitors that cost three or four times more. It’s fun doing these types of auditions (I don’t call them TESTS as a test requires absolute results.this is opinions).Hope to do more in the future.Andover Audio Songbird: This budget-priced music streamer is no featherweight Macworld | November 2021 This low-priced audio component compares favorably to the likes of Sonos and Bluesound-at a fraction of the price. It’s fun doing these types of auditions (I don’t call them TESTS as a test requires absolute results.this is opinions).Hope to do more in the future.Thanks for reading! ![]() But if you simply want to get into streaming with out spending lots of money, I don’t think you can beat a Songbird) The Gustard showed up the short comings of an inexpensive streamer. But the SB can only send CD quality though its USB connection, so when hooked to the Gustard X16 DAC, the difference was night and day. Don’t get me wrong, the difference was there, but I’m betting with lesser speakers and amplifier you might not hear ANY difference.The little SB sounded amazing on this system. (Just for fun, I installed an Andover Songbird streamer ($150) in place of the Node2i.With the SB using it’s own internal DAC, the difference between the Node2i with its own internal DAC was not as great as I expected. I thought it might be a sound level issue playing tricks on my, but my trusty sound level meter confirmed the volume was the same. I found it hard to believe it was this dramatic. #6.Node2i using COAX into Gustard X16 DAC and RCA out of DAC into Sound Artist amplifier.I didn’t think #5 could be much improved.I was VERY wrong! As great as #5 sounded, adding a much better DAC blew the imaging and sound stage wide open, and added tighter more defined bass. Just confirms that a dedicated streamer will usually outperform a phone/tablet/PC as a streaming device. #5.Node2i internal DAC through RCA to Sound Artist amplifier.Monster improvement to all above. It doesn’t speak to the inadequacy of the USB connection, but it does show how good the 1Wii Dongle is as a BT transmitter. With this LapTop, not much difference than #3 above. #4.LapTop USB output into Gustard X16 USB input. Would be all you need on a casual system. Very listenable even on these superb loudspeakers. HUGE improvement over the LapTop’s internal BT transmitter. #3.LapTop using 1Wii aptX HD BT dongle to Node2i BT receiver. Most would be satisfied if lisening through simple HiFi Female vocals are recessed in the sound field. Much improved bass response but imaging still lacking. #2.LapTop internal BT to Bluesound Node2i BT receiver.Better than the headphone connection. Muddy bass, collapsed imaging, shrill highs Might be fine for inexpensive earbuds, but the system in use showed up the flaws. #1.LapTop headphone out jack to AUX in on amplifier.Barely listenable. System components.Sound Artist SA200ia amplifier, Bluesound Node2i streamer/DAC Bluetooth Receiver, Gustard X16 DAC, KEF LS50 Meta speakers, HP Laptop with Realtek HDA (High Def Audio) sound card, 1Wii aptX HD dongle BlueTooth adapter.Quobuz as the source Last night I had some time and the inclination to audition various methods of listening to streaming music on my system. ![]()
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