Building better systems; If you want to make your system sound better, the place to start is, literally, the start.
To illustrate how this works, let’s look the new NuPrime network transport – the NuPrime Stream 9X.
The ‘9X is the upgraded version of the original Stream 9 (2021-2025). Many things have changed since then; through our exposure to the Lumin range we’ve gained a far better depth of understanding around what makes a better network transport or player and just how good streamed music can sound. We’ve also learned how best to optimise systems around these components.
At the same time the quality of streaming services – Tidal Max, Spotify, Qobuz and Bandcamp have all dramatically improved.
So it’s the perfect time to listen to the new model from NuPrime with fresh ears and perspectives.
First let’s explain exactly what the Stream 9X is; while NuPrime describe it as a ‘streaming station‘ we prefer the term used by Lumin to describe their range of functionally similar components – ‘network transport‘.
The NuPrime Stream 9X transport is a pure digital component – it accepts digital information in the form of streamed data and connects directly to either a digitally enabled amplifier or DAC.
You’ll get the best results from the premium streaming services and/or optimised storage in your network.
This might sound complex but it’s really simple – the Stream 9X is a source component in the same way a turntable or CD player is. But rather than using a physical disc, it runs on data.
And just like a turntable of CD player, there’s plenty of scope to build better and produce superior sound quality.
What can sometimes be difficult to grasp is how a component such at the Stream 9X can improve sound quality. There’s an assumption that the digital domain is immune to many of the issues that analogue faces. In practice this isn’t the case. And with digital there can be a whole new set of challenges to face.
A case in point is one of the key improvements made between the original Stream 9 and the new ‘9X.
When Tidal upgraded the resolution of their streaming service, many existing components were not able to deliver this because of firmware and software limitations. This prompted NuPrime to reconsider how they designed not just the Stream 9 but all of their network related range.
So the new Stream 9X can now take full advantage of higher resolution streaming. You only have to hear the first few seconds of a song or album playing at 96KHz/24 bit to understand how great and improvement over the CD standard of 44.1/16 – this is our new normal.
The Stream 9x is intended as a first foray into quality streaming – it is intentionally user friendly, including both Wifi network and Bluetooth as wireless options, yet has many key design features in common with Lumin’s no compromise approach. So it’s not unfair to make direct comparisons.
This is no different from comparing the 3 different levels of Network Transport within the larger Lumin range – there’s always a model that will be most appropriate for any given system and we’re here to navigate these choice for you.
As background reading that covers the functions and benefits of a better Network Transport we suggest you read our article on the Lumin U2. To find out more about the best of the Lumin transports – the U2x read through the reviews on the Lumin site. .
Let’s get back to the NuPrime Stream 9X; because your baseline for streaming is likely to just be sound via your phone, computer or CD player, the perceived improvement the 9X will make for you will be just as great as that which reviewers experience when comparing the high end models with their own references.
There are some really important similarities and differences between the NuPrime and Lumin models;
A key feature in common is that both have improved internal processing to provide greater resampling flexibility – upsampling and downsampling to every supported format up to hit your DAC’s sweetspot. This ability also featured in NuPrime’s CD transports and makes a real difference to sound quality. And as a further worthwhile feature, the ‘9X has optical and coax digital inputs to allow the connection of an existing CD players and other digital components which will improve their performance.
The importance of power supply in any audio components can’t be understated. One of the key differences between the Lumin U2 Mini and U2 is the move from an SMPS (switched mode) in the Mini to a linear (transformer) unit in the better U2. So it’s impressive that the NuPrime also features a high precision linear supply.
As we have already alluded, the connection options between NuPrime and Lumin are quite different. While ethernet offers the best performance and reliability and both include this, the NuPrime also features WiFi and bluetooth – the latter being greatly improved with both 24-bit music quality and a signal extender to over 30 meters. For my own office system I’ve been running via WiFi
Lumin offers USB in and out, but NuPrime have opted for the new IIS connection which makes sense given it’s featured on many of their DACs. Both also have Coax, Optical and AES EBU.
Specification wise they are directly comparable – the NuPrime delivering PCM up to 768KHz/32Bit and DSD up to DSD256 via the IIS/DSD HDMI output and the Lumin going a little further on USB with Native DSD512 support PCM 44.1-768kHz, 16–32-bit stereo.
Another point of contrast is the operating software. This is a key strength for Lumin and is developed and continually improved in-house. NuPrime can’t compete directly with this and wisely have opted for a much simpler solution for set up; The ‘Go Control’ app replaces NuPrime’s previous ‘Omnia’ app and interfaces with the streaming services own apps for replay. This is very much a work in progress but the key point is that it enables full high resolution streaming and that’s the critical advantage over the previous generation.
One nice touch is that the Stream 9X does include a very well made metal bodied remote control that allows switching of the sampling rate conversion, various inputs and volume control.
Let’s listen.
The immediate improvement made by higher-than-CD resolution is so obvious with the new Stream 9x that this alone will sell it. The sound is lively and engaging from the outset and certainly this improves in the first week of listening as the unit warms to it’s task.
In my little office system with the NuPrime IDA-9 and Sonus faber Lumina II speakers the Stream 9 provided a compelling lift in sound quality that’s had me well distracted when I should be working – we’ve gone from background sound to something a whole lot more immersive. From Kneecap’s politically infused Fenian album, A.A. William’s album previews, a bit of weirdness with Angine de Poitrine and a crushing Sonic Mayhem remix on Bandcamp the Stream 9x has kicked the system up several gears. Small shelf mounted speakers that were quite polite now fill the room.
The precision and detail gained when listening via the Stream 9X when compared with lower cost solutions is compelling; it simply makes your system sound much more involving and this will make you seek out more music. Since Tidal Max first turned up, there’s been exponential growth in new music that’s available in the higher standards to the point where it’s now almost the default. The original Stream 9 worked well in the context of what was available at the time but the new Stream 9X delivers in a far more convincing fashion.
This also highlights the difference between high resolution source material and the SRC – Sampling Rate Conversion feature. The effect of SRC is much more subtle. Still worthwhile in that it ‘evens out’ the difference between lower and higher rates by optimising all for the consumption of your DAC but it’s not a silver bullet for ordinary sounding productions.
As a parallel to the analogue world, the difference the Stream 9X makes is akin to that of moving from an entry level moving magnet cartridge to a seriously good moving coil such as a Dynavector. Like a really good cartridge, you’ll experience a much more involving and lifelike performance which is why we invest in our systems.
But unlike analogue records, the quantifiable differences in digital are much more obvious; From MP3 to CD quality to High Resolution are big jumps, doubling or quadrupling the amount of data feeding through and this is where the Stream 9X really shows it’s worth;
While the SRC feature won’t make up for data and detail that simply isn’t where with MP3s or lower rate files, the upsampling does greatly reduce the effects of various digital attracts and distortions so the sound becomes consistent in ‘feel’ with high resolution – in some ways you don’t miss what you don’t hear.
But put the Stream 9X on a diet of 96kHz/24bit material or better and it absolutely shines – and with this better data, the extra few percent gained by optimising the output to your DAC becomes worthwhile.
Could the Stream 9X be better? Well yes it could; we’ve already mentioned the better Lumin models we carry but these do cost more, considerably so, if we go up the range. But we don’t want to loose sight of just how impressive the Stream 9X will sound to the first time listener when moving from a budget streaming solution. It really does a lot and with the advent of Tidal Max and similar options, this sound we get today is vastly better than in 2021 when the original Stream 9 was introduced.
And like any component there are always improvements to be made via accessories such as better power and signal cables and isolation devices. But more importantly, with components such as the Stream 9X there is the scope for both software upgrades to lift both operation and sound quality plus the inevitability of even higher resolution source material – in this regard the apparent over specification and inclusion of DSD is a great example of future proofing.
The Stream 9X is the obvious choice for many NuPrime (and even NuForce) owners. But it’s not limited in it’s compatibility. As an example, the new Rega Brio MK7 has a coaxial digital input just begging for an component such as the Stream 9X – and there’s nothing in the Rega range to fill this particular gap. And it’s fair to say, the NuPrime Stream 9X does for streaming what the Rega Planar 3 does for records. Simply put, if you have a DAC or your amplifier has digital inputs, the NuPrime Stream 9X might be just the component for you, even if you didn’t know it yet!
- NuPrime Stream 9x – black or silver finish NZ$2800 including GST and delivery.