A network music streamer is one of the best ways to add hi-quality digital music from all your favorite music streaming services to your hi-fi system. Whether you're partial to your older vintage stereo receiver or integrated amplifier or you have a great set of powered speakers or even a more modern AV receiver that just lacks network connectivity, these relatively compact and inexpensive devices have all kinds of connectivity options to easily retrofit your gear. Many network music streamers also have high-powered amplification built in, in case you're starting from scratch and want to just build a digital audio system from scratch.
A network music streamer lets you stream hi-res audio tracks (and lesser formats) from services like Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music Unlimited, and Apple Music, where higher-bitrate tracks are prioritized. Network music streamers make use of premium audio technology, including precision-tuned DAC (digital-to-analog converter) systems, to ensure you’ll get the best sound possible from your favorite online tracks.
With a multitude of options out there, we thought we’d make your hi-fi playback all the easier by handpicking some of the best network music streamers you can get, some of which we've tested ourselves.
Best network music streamer overall
Wiim Ultra
- Gorgeous design
- Excellent sound quality
- Tons of inputs and outputs
- Integrated headphone jack
- Remote included
- Fun and useful touchscreen
- Supported by a great mobile app
- No Apple AirPlay
- No computer audio connection
- HDMI audio needs improvement
Network music streamers have come a long way since the plain black boxes you could only get, once upon a time. They've also come a long way in terms of features and value for the price, and the Wiim Ultra, which came out mid-2024, ticks both of those boxes and more, so much so that we awarded it 4.5/5 stars and an Editor's Choice award.
First of all, it's gorgeous, with its beautiful color touchscreen and sleek aluminum casing (available in Space Gray and Silver finishes). The touchscreen is, by our reviewer's account, more about beautifully displaying album artwork and track details, but it does offer some great functionality, if you prefer controlling things at the unit itself and not through the slightly more functional Wiim app. With a swipe and a tap you can do things like control playback, EQ settings and presets, as well as input selection. Sadly, though, you can't browse for music or search from the screen's UI. Future software updates may changes this, though.
Connectivity-wise, the Wiim Ultra has loads, including two analog RCA inputs (one phono for adding a turntable), HDMI ARC, optical, and a USB-A. Outputs include RCA analog, optical and coaxial digital, and a output for a subwoofer.
The excellent Wiim app controls the whole system, which supports Google Cast, Alexa Cast, Tidal Connect, and Spotify Connect music streaming services. There is one big caveat, though, that may or may not be a deal breaker – the Wiim Ultra (or any Wiim streaming device) has no native support for Apple AirPlay or Apple Music. It also doesn't support YouTube Music either.
Even still, for a steal the Wiim Ultra is much more than a network music streamer. While it's not amplified like it's also-stellar siblings the $300 Wiim Amp and $379 Wiim Amp Pro, the Ultra's ideal user is someone wanting to add excellent-sounding and modern digital audio features to a two-channel hi-fi system like an integrated amplifier. The Wiim Ultra can also deliver Sonos-like multi-room configurations by adding other Wiim devices, and it can be connected to your TV, turntables, CD players, and more. I'll say it again — It's $329.
Best budget-friendly network music streamer
Wiim Pro
- Highly affordable
- 24-bit/192kHz lossless audio
- Excellent app design
- AirPlay/Chromecast/Bluetooth
- Strong streaming service support
- Lots of connections
- No Apple Music/YouTube Music access in the app
It's no fluke that another Wiim device is our favorite budget pick as well, as the relative newcomer to the streaming network players continues to release highly competitive products. Our own Simon Cohen is a certified digital music aficionado, and a hard nut to crack when it comes to getting him to cop to the virtues of analog formats like vinyl (we have yet to). But he's about the most knowledgable person we know in this area, so you can trust his review of the formidable $149 Wiim Pro.
A direct competitor to Sonos' popular Port (it's kind of a carbon copy, really), the Wiim Pro is a bare-bones black box that isn't much to look at, design-wise. But don't let that fool you. Like the Sonos Port, the Wiim Pro is stacked with connection options, physical and wireless, including RCA line in and out (for connecting external sources like turntables and CD players that can then be streamed out through the system), coax, SPDIF optical in/out, LAN, Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Bluetooth, Chromecast, and more.
With its excellent companion app, the Wiim Pro delivers easy access to a ton of streaming services, including Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music, Pandora, Deezer, SoundCloud, TuneIn radio, and the list goes on. As far as support for hi-res and lossless music formats, the Wiim Pro is, yep, a pro, with support for lossless ALAC, APE, FLAC, and WAV files up to 24-bit/192kHz, as well as lossy MP3, AAC, WMA, and OGG.
Additionally, and like Sonos, by simply adding additional Wiim Pro devices, or other Wiim hardware like its smaller, less expensive sibling the Wiim Mini, you can easily expand your network throughout your house.
Best premium network music streamer
Cambridge Audio CXN100
- Terrific sound quality
- Intuitive and user-friendly controls
- Supports numerous top formats and streaming platforms
- Pricey
- Outperformed by a few other streamers
Cambridge Audio is no stranger to the world of premium audio devices, and the incredible CXN100 Network Audio Player is further proof that the brand shows no signs of stopping. This sleek Lunar Grey box is sized to fit alongside most AV components and has an upgraded ESS DAC for enhanced sound quality and minimized distortion. This sounds nice on paper, but the reality is even better: Crisp-clear audio with a massive soundstage. And as for hi-res streams, this bad boy supports playback at up to 32-bit/768kHz.
Whether you plan on streaming tunes via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (albeit, only SBC and AAC support), USB, or through a compatible NAS device, the CXN100 accepts all the above connections and has 64GB of storage to work with, too. Output-wise, the CXN100 can be connected to your choice of amplification via balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA analog or S/PDIF coaxial and TOSLINK optical.
The interactive LCD makes the CXN100 easy to keep tabs on what tracks, albums, or playlists you’re listening to, and the player has access to music streaming services like Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, and Qobuz, along with MQA, Chromecast, AirPlay, and Roon compatibility.
At $1,100, it’s one of the more expensive network music streamers on our list, but it’s hard to deny the performance and versatility that the Cambridge Audio CXN100 brings to the table.
Best compact audiophile network music streamer
Bluesound Node Nano
- Elegant design
- Detailed and clear sound
- Fast and responsive app
- Useful touch controls
- Excellent support for hi-res audio
- AirPlay and two-way Bluetooth
- No Google Cast
- No universal search
- No native support for Apple Music
One of the latest network music streamers from Canadian company Bluesound, ther affordable Node Nano is a high-performance music streamer that brings wireless, hi-res audio to existing hi-fi systems or powered speakers. And it does it while looking and sounding great, too.
At its core is its excellent ESS SABRE ES9039Q2M DAC. In our review of the Nano, Simon Cohen connected it through a great pair of Klipsch The Sevens powered speakers and experienced crisp, detailed playback. Its support for up to 24-bit/192kHz audio ensures you’ll get exceptional sound quality from pretty much any output source you play it through.
Seamless streaming is a key highlight with the Nano, with built-in AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect for direct music playback. It’s also Roon Ready. While Google Cast isn’t supported, with the use of the BluOS app, you get additional support for more services, such as Tidal, Amazon Music, Spotify, Deezer, and Qobuz. Sadly, Apple Music and YouTube Music are not supported.
Connectivity on the Node Nano is robust, with stereo RCA outputs and both optical and coaxial digital outputs, making it easy to integrate into various audio setups. A USB port allows local music libraries to be shared across Bluesound devices, and two-way aptX Adaptive Bluetooth[/internal-link ensures high-quality streaming both to and from the unit, including [internal-link post_id="1044183" sponsored="false" taxonomy="false"]wireless headphone compatibility.
The compact design features a touch-sensitive front panel for quick access to volume, playback, and two customizable presets. The Nano lacks analog inputs, though, so you can’t connect sources like turntables and CD Players, making it more of a choice for more modern streaming setups.
Compared to Sonos, which caps audio resolution at 24-bit/48kHz, the Node Nano handles up to 24-bit/192kHz, preserving the full fidelity of high-resolution recordings. If you’re on the hunt for an affordable yet powerful way to bring digital networked music to your audio system with wireless streaming, the Node Nano is a solid choice.
Best for Sonos users and beyond
Sonos Port
- Works seamlessly with Sonos speakers
- One of the best apps around
- Analog and digital input options
- Sound could be more expressive
- Expensive
If you've already gotten yourself immersed in the Sonos ecosystem with several Sonos speakers scattered about your home but you still have an additional "dumb" sound system that sounds awesome but is cut off from the Sonos hive, then adding a Sonos Port is an excellent way to bring everything together.
Not only will the Port allow you to access all the same streaming services (including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, and more) that you would through the rest of your Sonos speakers on your non-Sonos system, but you can also connect external analog sources such as turntables and CD players to it via RCA for sending out through the system, too. Additionally, the Sonos Port supports Apple AirPlay 2 for sending music directly to it form your iOS devices.
And everything is controlled with Sonos' industry-leading app — there's a universal search feature that will search across all of your signed-in services, and Spotify, Tidal, and Amazon Music users have the option to use those respective apps to control them, should they prefer.
Excellent for headphone listeners
Bluesound Node (N132)
- Up to 24-bit/192kHz hi-res support
- Sends and receives aptX Adaptive Bluetooth
- THX AAA headphone amp
- Minimalist design
- Good price
- No Chromecast support
- Not as advanced as other streamers
Not every network music streamer costs thousands of dollars, and the Bluesound Node (version N132) is proof. Coming in at under $600, the NODE is small enough to fit on just about any shelf or entertainment center.
But did you notice the headphone jack on the front of the device? This NODE's output is supported by a THX AAA (Achromatic Audio Amplifier) headphone amp developed by THX, the folks who set audiovisual reproduction standards for the movie industry, home entertainment, gaming and beyond. THX AAA in the NODE means that for those of us who enjoy hi-res listening through, say, a set of high-quality planar magnetic headphones or other premium over-ears, the sound will be excellent and with low distortion.
Additionally, the Bluesound NODE's two-way aptX Adaptive support means that listening over Bluetooth will sound great, too. Not only will you be able to stream hi-res audio tracks to the streamer from your phone or tablet but you’ll also be able to beam hi-fi tracks from the NODE to a pair of Bluetooth headphones that support the codec. Beyond its Bluetooth pros, you’ll also be able to stream via AirPlay 2 and from services like Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz, and Pandora, along with built-in support for internet radio stations like TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and SiriusXM.
Flip this puppy around to reveal a massive array of ports, including an HDMI eARC input, analog RCA, digital optical, USB-A, and an Ethernet connection for hardwiring the NODE to your router.
As far as sound quality is concerned, this version of the NODE runs an ES9039Q2M ESS Sabre DAC so that you can expect breathtaking highs, mids, and lows with 24-bit/192kHz playback support and Dolby Digital multichannel audio. That’s on top of an ARM Cortex-A53 quad-core processor for top-shelf network performance.
We also recommend checking out our review of the Bluesound Node Nano.
