Streamer advice, thoughts please

[johhnn]

Hi And thanks for reading this thread.

I have been using a dune smart D1 streamer for a few years.
I use the hdmi out connected to a screen for the picture, and i use the stereo analogue outs for the audio.
Surprisingly the audio quality is very good.
I have a htpc with an asus stx II soundcard and the dune's analogue outs are not far behind in sound quality, especially considering the stxII is a top end card.
For the audio the dune ases an AKM4429et dac, i can see a ax117 ldo regulator near it and also a few other ics that i can't identify rt19018a, el-eb 62p, jz9 83-13.

If i wanted to upgrade the audio to surround sound and keep the good video quality, with the same arrangement ( hdmi for picture and analogue outs for audio ) which streamer would you recommend.
The zidoo x20 pro at £600 seems good but only has stereo analogues.
Is there anything you have used or heard anything about.

Thanks!

 

[hornetstinger]

Use a high end DAC or av preamp then the sound quality of the source is irrelevant.

Plus you won't be getting surround sound from analogue just stereo

 

[johhnn]

But is there a streamer with 5.1 analogues outs, there used to be a few from dune but can't find any recent ones.
I want to run the analogue outs into 3 stereo power amps to give 6 channels of amplification and 5.1 sound.
If the streamer can do the analogue conversion well, then it saves me having to buy another dac or pre-amp.
Thanks!

 

[hornetstinger]

I bet the multi channel out pre amp on a streamer is pretty crap though