Streamers — Métronome LE STREAMER

Le Streamer is a network player from the French company Métronome, which has made digital sources since 1987, introduced in June 2023 as part of the Classica series and designed and built in France. This is a digital-only source without any analogue socket or built-in converter, so its job is to fetch files and streams and pass them on in digital form to a separate converter. Two finishes are offered, silver and black, and Métronome guarantees it for 2 years.

Key specs that matter

The streaming section plays PCM from 44.1 to 384 kHz at 32 bits and native DSD from DSD64 to DSD128. Four digital outputs are fitted. Coaxial S/PDIF and the first AES/EBU output carry PCM up to 384 kHz and DSD128 as DoP, optical Toslink is also provided, and a second AES/EBU link routed through an HDMI connector as I2S passes native DSD up to DSD256. The player joins the home network by a wired 10/100/1000 socket or by Wi-Fi in both bands, and one USB 2.0 port reads music from external storage. MQA rendering covers 44.1 to 384 kHz. The front panel is made to match the other Classica models, and the case depth leaves room for rear cabling on a standard rack shelf. The case measures 450 x 115 x 435 mm, it weighs 12 kg, and power consumption is 15 W.

Engineering and use context

Leaving the conversion stage out means the chassis contains only the network and digital output circuits, so buyers choose the DAC separately and may swap it in future while keeping the same player. Supported services and protocols include DLNA and UPnP, Audirvāna, Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, Qobuz Connect, TIDAL Connect and Deezer, with vTuner for internet radio. File formats cover FLAC, WAV, ALAC, AIFF, MP3, AAC, DSF and DFF, so both PCM libraries and DSD rips play from a USB drive or a network share. The HDMI-based I2S output is the route to use when a matching converter accepts it, since it is the only output that carries DSD256 in native form. Métronome specifies operation between 5 and 35 degrees C and from 5 to 90 percent humidity.

Pairing

Because a separate converter is always needed, the connection used decides which formats arrive intact. A converter with an I2S input over HDMI, for example a Métronome converter with that socket, receives native DSD256, while coaxial or AES/EBU links remain the practical choice for most converters, and optical suits older models without those sockets. A NAS or a Roon server on the home network can supply the library.

Alternatives

The Métronome DSS 2 is the network player of the compact Digital Sharing range, with Roon Ready certification and Qobuz, TIDAL and Spotify Connect support.