Best music streamers 2022

Product of the year

Best music streamer under £750

Bluesound Node (2021)

Bluesound Node (2021)

Read the full review here

Bluesound reasserts its authority in the budget music streamer market

Best buys

Best music streamer £750-£1000

Cambridge Audio CXN (V2)

Cambridge Audio CXN (V2)

Read the full review here

This remains the best music streamer around at this price

Best music streamer £1000-£1500

Arcam ST60

Arcam ST60

Read the full review here

Arcam’s first-ever dedicated music streamer sets a new benchmark

Best music streamer over £1500

Naim ND5 XS 2

Naim ND5 XS 2

Read the full review here

This network streamer remains a sterling piece of hi-fi kit

What Hi-Fi?
What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test

5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Hifiman
    It’s a shame there isn’t a category for products under GBP100. The WiiM Mini (plus existing external DAC) has given me so much music pleasure in the last few months. It’s software is now a rival for anything on the market, and in some ways is unmatched when it comes to the likes of hi-res bit-perfect casting from Amazon Music. Go on WHF, give it a spin.
    Reply
  • cbrown7
    To my mind lower a cost brackets should exist in some other categories. I don't class a handset costing £429 as an 'entry-level Android phone'. I'm pretty sure there are some cheaper devices that would also cut the mustard.
    Reply
  • jverher
    Hi All,

    Now on the risk of getting absolutely obliterated here, I have a crucial question.
    I have a, for me, high revealing rotel amp which has an usb input for the high bit rate music formats.

    Now yes, I can hook up my pc to it.
    However I really wonder why no streamers have an usb output.

    I mean it would make sense no?
    You don't want to break the bank on a streamer, you already have a killer dac.

    And as for I'm aware s/pdif has a limlited bandwith which would not support the highest bitrate protocols.
    So what's the use of a streamer who is supporting all high-end streaming formats if you can't actually can get it out of it.

    As said, don't shoot me because I don't know something.
    It's a legit question.

    Thx in advance...

    Kr,
    Jverher
    Reply
  • Hifiman
    jverher said:
    Hi All,

    Now on the risk of getting absolutely obliterated here, I have a crucial question.
    I have a, for me, high revealing rotel amp which has an usb input for the high bit rate music formats.

    Now yes, I can hook up my pc to it.
    However I really wonder why no streamers have an usb output.

    I mean it would make sense no?
    You don't want to break the bank on a streamer, you already have a killer dac.

    And as for I'm aware s/pdif has a limlited bandwith which would not support the highest bitrate protocols.
    So what's the use of a streamer who is supporting all high-end streaming formats if you can't actually can get it out of it.

    As said, don't shoot me because I don't know something.
    It's a legit question.

    Thx in advance...

    Kr,
    Jverher
    …which is where the WiiM Mini (and presumably the WiiM Pro) I mention above comes in, both being around GBP100. Yes, they do not have USB but if you are streaming from any hi-res provider then the maximum bitrate is 24/192 which SPDIF can usually handle, and definitely is the case with the WiiM.
    Reply
  • Stanny1
    The new WiiM Ultra is due out next month at $329. It has an LCD screen! Should be interesting to see test results and comparisons to the $1000+ streamers with displays. I am seeing price drops on the Bluesound Node already. I'm sure we will see more "market adjustments".
    Reply