Streamer League Table
The German magazine "Audio" has rated some of the streamers out there, so in case it's of interest, here are some of the scores:
Linn Klimax DS/1............148
Linn Akurate DS/1...........140
Linn Majik DS...............130
Cyrus Stream XP + PSX-R.....125
Yamaha NPS 2000.............110
Linn Sneaky.................110
Cyrus Stream XP.............110
Logitech Transporter........110
MF M1 Clic..................105
Denon DNP-720 A.............100
Nad C-446...................100
Marantz NA7004..............100
Rotel RDG 1520..............100
Sonos Bundle................100
Logi. Squeezebox 3...........95
Logi. S'box Touch............95
Logi. S'box Duet.............95
Sonos Zone Player............95
The way the scoring works, is that a 5 point difference gives a noticeable step up in performance.
Don't understand how a Sonos Bundle is better than a Sonos ZonePlayer?
Mmmm, no doubt this table was devised by men dressed in lederhosens, and sucking on Bratwursts and drinking vinegary wine.
It's only good news if you're a Linn fan, perhaps...
...or maybe ze Chermanz kno vot zare toking abowt. 
The performance of the Touch is pretty much universally recognised by anyone who's heard them (myself included) as being "a noticeable step up in performance" from the SB3. It's almost as well reported that that the Receiver in the Duet package is a little poorer than the SB3. So on the basis that they've all been scored equal, it would appear to be complete cobblers!
What was the source material? Presumably standard def to allow a fair comparison of those players that can't handle hi def?
The performance of the Touch is pretty much universally recognised by anyone who's heard them (myself included) as being "a noticeable step up in performance" from the SB3. It's almost as well reported that that the Receiver in the Duet package is a little poorer than the SB3. So on the basis that they've all been scored equal, it would appear to be complete cobblers!
What was the source material? Presumably standard def to allow a fair comparison of those players that can't handle hi def?
I'm afraid I can't answer your question, as I only saw the league table (and don't read German).
Mmmm, no doubt this table was devised by men dressed in lederhosens, and sucking on Bratwursts and drinking vinegary wine.
It's only good news if you're a Linn fan, perhaps...
...or maybe ze Chermanz kno vot zare toking abowt.
Or maybe they don't. When you consider the Linn Akurate retails around the 4k + mark and the Majik is about 2.5k. Then look at the Rotel (700-800 approx) or the Marantz is about 700, it's hardly surprising the cheaper models lag behind.
I'd like to know how they came to this conclusion. In all fairness, WHFI do rate products within different price catagories, and give reasons why they rated it etc etc.
Interesting tests in that magazine, as I discovered a few weeks back when struck down with the flu.
Can't remember much, but think the Supernait was one of the top ten best amplifiers, while the people's favourite, the Onkyo, didn't do so well. Creek, I remember, also rated well. You can see the results on their website, by the way.
PP, Audio rates against other amps irrespective of price, but also puts them into categories - outstanding, excellent etc.which includes a VFM rating. The Supernait mentioned rated highly against other amps costing as a minimum twice the price, so I'd think they were impartial. They also do technical tests, I think.
Interesting tests in that magazine, as I discovered a few weeks back when struck down with the flu.
Can't remember much, but think the Supernait was one of the top ten best amplifiers, while the people's favourite, the Onkyo, didn't do so well. Creek, I remember, also rated well. You can see the results on their website, by the way.
PP, Audio rates against other amps irrespective of price, but also puts them into categories - outstanding, excellent etc.which includes a VFM rating. The Supernait mentioned rated highly against other amps costing as a minimum twice the price, so I'd think they were impartial. They also do technical tests, I think.
Perhaps, but I'm not privvy to this mag and looking at the tables Cno has shown there's little doubt that vastly more expensive streamers will rate higher than budget offerings. Perhaps they should've broken it down into different price catagories, and shown how they came to this conclusion.
They do, when they test most items. Have a look at the website, and you'll see they are thorough. Also written in German, but if you use Chrome it isn't a problem.
Or maybe they don't. When you consider the Linn Akurate retails around the 4k + mark and the Majik is about 2.5k. Then look at the Rotel (700-800 approx) or the Marantz is about 700, it's hardly surprising the cheaper models lag behind.
I'd like to know how they came to this conclusion. In all fairness, WHFI do rate products within different price catagories, and give reasons why they rated it etc etc.
I suppose, by holding them all to the same standard, it allows you to see any "bright stars" that are good value, or vica versa....that is if you believe the findings.
TBF. You need to have heard the Linn DSs to know if their verdict is reasonable.
Or maybe they don't. When you consider the Linn Akurate retails around the 4k + mark and the Majik is about 2.5k. Then look at the Rotel (700-800 approx) or the Marantz is about 700, it's hardly surprising the cheaper models lag behind.
I'd like to know how they came to this conclusion. In all fairness, WHFI do rate products within different price catagories, and give reasons why they rated it etc etc.
I suppose, by holding them all to the same standard, it allows you to see any "bright stars" that are good value, or vica versa....that is if you believe the findings. TBF. You need to have heard the Linn DSs to know if their verdict is reasonable.
Your listings doesn't really show "bright stars". It goes from the most expensive at the top down to the cheapest at the bottom. It doesn't highlight any product that really excels for its price.
Your listings doesn't really show "bright stars". It goes from the most expensive at the top down to the cheapest at the bottom. It doesn't highlight any product that really excels for its price.
The original table showed the prices, so you can pick the cheapest at each level (and see the expensive ones as well)....but you have to do the work.
One that stands out is the Yamaha, at its current price.
PP, this isn't cno's list, it came from the magazine. Also, there is a standout streamer there, one which gains 110 pts but retails at half the price of the others in the 110 pt bracket.
Curses, beat me to it 
PP, this isn't cno's list, it came from the magazine. Also, there is a standout streamer there, one which gains 110 pts but retails at half the price of the others in the 110 pt bracket.
Can you guess what it is yet?
(PS ... It was actually £629 in a recent 10% off offer from a well known merchant)
I wonder what would happen if you took a 95 point transport e.g. the Squeezebox Touch and pushed it through a 140 point DAC? Would you end up with something equivalent to the higher end streamers and at a much lower price?
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Mmmm, no doubt this table was devised by men dressed in lederhosens, and sucking on Bratwursts and drinking vinegary wine.
It's only good news if you're a Linn fan, perhaps...
Leema Pulse MKII-S; Naim CD5i MKII; Denon TU-260L MKII; MA RS6 speakers; Pro-ject Xpression 1; loads of different cables...
Formerly known as plastic penguin