A music streamer gives any amplifier, receiver, or pair of powered speakers lossless streaming, AirPlay or Chromecast, and multi-room playback, with better sound than Bluetooth. These six cover every budget, from a box that costs less than a dinner out to a premium hub for a serious system.
The best music streamer for most people is the WiiM Pro Plus (~$249): AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and every major service, with clear, detailed sound and the best app at any price.
The WiiM Ultra (~$349) adds HDMI ARC, a phono stage, and a touchscreen. Bluesound's Node Nano (~$429) and Node (~$749) suit BluOS fans, and for a premium system, get the Bluesound Node Icon (~$1,099) or, if you want Chromecast, the Cambridge Audio CXN100 (~$1,099).
A music streamer is a small box that plays Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, internet radio, and your own music files through the hi-fi you already own. It connects to your home Wi-Fi or Ethernet, you control it from your phone, and it plugs into a spare input on your amplifier or stereo receiver, or straight into powered speakers.
Compared with Bluetooth, a streamer sounds better and works better. It plays lossless and hi-res files at full quality instead of compressing them, the music doesn't stop when your phone takes a call or walks out of range, and you can group several streamers into a multi-room system. If you've read our guide to streaming audio quality, a streamer is how you actually hear the difference. Our picks lean on What Hi-Fi?'s hands-on reviews.
| Streamer | AirPlay 2 | Chromecast | Extra inputs | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WiiM Pro Plus | Yes | Yes | Analog, optical | Best value | ~$249 |
| WiiM Ultra | No | Yes | HDMI ARC, phono, analog, optical, USB | Most features, TV and turntable | ~$349 |
| Bluesound Node Nano | Yes | No | None | Bluesound multi-room on a budget | ~$429 |
| Bluesound Node | Yes | No | HDMI eARC, analog/optical | TV and hi-fi in one, with AirPlay | ~$749 |
| Cambridge Audio CXN100 | Yes | Yes | Optical, coaxial, USB | Detailed sound, Chromecast, digital inputs | ~$1,099 |
| Bluesound Node Icon | Yes | No | HDMI eARC, analog, optical, USB | Premium sound and build | ~$1,099 |
The easiest, cheapest way to add serious streaming to an older stereo, and a What Hi-Fi? Award winner. It supports nearly every way of getting music to it: AirPlay 2 for iPhones, Chromecast for Android, and the Spotify, Tidal, and Qobuz Connect apps. WiiM's own app is the best part, with quick setup and a clean layout that pulls in your services and the music stored on your network.
What Hi-Fi? found the sound clear, detailed, and organized, with a characterful midrange that makes voices shine. The line and optical inputs let you plug in a CD player or TV and send it to other WiiM devices around the house.
Worth knowing: the case is plasticky, and pricier streamers sound a little more muscular and richly textured. You'll need an amplifier, receiver, or powered speakers to plug it into.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.A step up in sound and a huge step up in connections. The HDMI ARC input lets your TV's sound play through your hi-fi, the built-in phono stage takes a turntable directly, and there's a headphone jack and a subwoofer output. That makes it the hub of a whole system: TV, record player, and streaming in one box. The responsive touchscreen shows what's playing and lets you jump to favorite stations without your phone.
What Hi-Fi? found it crisper, clearer, and more solid-sounding than the Pro Plus, with a lively, agile presentation.
Worth knowing: it doesn't support AirPlay, which is a drawback if you mostly use Apple Music on an iPhone. If you need AirPlay, the Bluesound Node below does a similar TV-and-hi-fi job for about twice the price.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.The most affordable way into Bluesound's BluOS, one of the most stable and complete multi-room platforms, which also runs Bluesound's wireless speakers. What Hi-Fi? found its sound smooth, solid, and nicely balanced, and it uses the same ESS Sabre DAC as the bigger Node. The touch panel on top handles volume, skipping, and presets, so you don't always need your phone.
Worth knowing: What Hi-Fi? preferred the cheaper WiiM Pro Plus, which sounds more dynamic and adds Chromecast. The Nano has no Chromecast, HDMI, or headphone output. Choose it if you want BluOS or plan to add Bluesound speakers around the house.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.Bluesound's mainstream streamer, and the step up from the Nano if you want one box for music and TV sound. Its HDMI eARC input plays your TV through your hi-fi, there's a combined analog and optical input for a CD player or other source, and you get a headphone jack and a subwoofer output. What Hi-Fi? rated it four stars, and it shares the Nano's DAC, with the same smooth, balanced sound.
Worth knowing: like all Bluesound streamers, it doesn't support Chromecast. The WiiM Ultra offers similar connections for about half the price but has no AirPlay, and the Node Icon below sounds noticeably better.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.A five-star What Hi-Fi? pick, which found its sound clear, precise, and wonderfully spacious, wider and more open than the Cambridge streamer it replaces. It supports every main way to stream, including both AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, and Cambridge's StreamMagic app is tidy and easy to use. Digital inputs let you run a TV, CD transport, or computer through its high-quality DACs, and balanced XLR outputs suit high-end amplifiers. A remote and a color display are included.
Worth knowing: there's no HDMI input or headphone jack. What Hi-Fi? found it a touch less warm than its predecessor, and in a head-to-head preferred the Bluesound Node Icon at the same price. Choose the CXN100 if you want Chromecast or digital inputs.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.Bluesound's flagship and its best-sounding streamer yet, and What Hi-Fi?'s award winner in its price class. What Hi-Fi? called it lively, deft, and composed, with clear detail and a sense of spark that earlier Bluesound models lacked. The metal and glass case has a screen and touch controls, and the connections cover everything: HDMI eARC for your TV, balanced XLR outputs for high-end amps, a subwoofer output, and two headphone jacks.
It runs BluOS, one of the most stable and complete streaming platforms, and supports Roon. You can add Dirac Live room correction later with a paid license and microphone.
Worth knowing: it costs about three times as much as the WiiM Ultra, and like all Bluesound streamers it doesn't support Chromecast. The glass top picks up fingerprints.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.