Quad Platina Stream

Quad Platina Stream Network Streamer at Vinyl Sound Buffalo NY

The Quad Platina Stream is a high-performance network streamer built around an ESS ES9038Pro 32-bit DAC and a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor, combining QUAD's heritage of musical integrity with a fully modern streaming platform. Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, and AirPlay 2 are all supported natively, alongside local playback from USB drives and network shares via UPnP. Whether connected over Gigabit Ethernet or dual-band Wi-Fi, the Platina Stream delivers bit-perfect, high-resolution audio playback from a single, purpose-built component. Available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, NY.

ES9038Pro DAC and Signal Path

At the core of the Platina Stream is an ESS ES9038Pro eight-channel DAC driven by dual precision master clocks — one for the 44.1kHz sample rate family and one for the 48kHz family — delivering vanishingly low jitter, class-leading linearity, and support for PCM up to 768kHz and native DSD512. THD measures below 0.0005% at 1kHz across both the RCA and balanced XLR outputs, with a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 108dB A-weighted. Upsampling of lower-resolution PCM streams to 352.8kHz or 384kHz is available as an auto or switchable option. The ES9038Pro implementation in the Platina Stream is matched to that of the Platina Integrated, allowing both components to operate in precision-matched performance when used together.

Streaming Platform and Connectivity

The Platina Stream supports Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Base-T) and dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac across both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands for fast, reliable, uninterrupted network performance. Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, and AirPlay 2 are all natively supported, allowing any of these services to stream directly to the Platina Stream from any compatible device on the network. The Platina Stream is also Roon Ready — certified as a Roon endpoint for bit-perfect, high-resolution multi-room or reference system playback with no additional configuration required. UPnP network server support and USB 2.0 local storage playback extend access to personal music libraries alongside cloud services.

Quad Platina App

The dedicated QUAD Platina Stream app for iOS and Android provides a unified library view of network shares, USB drives, and streaming services through a single interface. A fast background indexer catalogues content by song title, performer, composer, label, year, and genre, returning results in real time. Playlist creation and management, queue control, multi-disc box-set organisation, and one-gesture permanent saving of on-the-fly playlists are all built in. Qobuz Studio/Sublime+ and Tidal Masters tiers are natively highlighted with format icons, confirming the resolution of each track at a glance. The app mirrors the disciplined aesthetic of the hardware with refined typography, logical hierarchy, and fluid gesture control.

Display, Controls, and Build

A 4.3-inch 800 × 480 pixel full-colour IPS display provides full menu navigation, multi-language support, and real-time playback information. Users can choose between artwork-centred, data-rich, and VU-meter display modes, or dim the screen entirely for late-night listening. A single machined-aluminium front-panel encoder and discreet function keys provide precise, menu-driven parameter control. The included system remote mirrors the Platina design language and extends command across all components in the Platina series. The rigid metal chassis features side-mounted heat sinks, anti-resonance feet, an anodised fascia, and gold-plated output connectors throughout. Available in Black or Silver finish.

Key Features

• ESS ES9038Pro 32-bit DAC with dual precision master clocks, THD below 0.0005%, and SNR greater than 108dB (A-weighted)
• PCM up to 768kHz and native DSD512 — FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, MQA, DSF, DFF/DSDIFF, DoP, MP3, AAC
• Upsampling to 352.8kHz or 384kHz — auto or switchable
• Roon Ready — certified endpoint for bit-perfect high-resolution multi-room playback with no configuration required
• Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, and AirPlay 2 — all natively supported
• Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Base-T) and dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz / 5GHz)
• QUAD Platina Stream app for iOS and Android — unified library, real-time search, playlist management, format tier indicators
• Balanced XLR and RCA stereo analogue outputs plus optical and coaxial digital outputs for full system flexibility
• USB 2.0 local storage input and PC USB Type-B for direct computer connection
• Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor at 1.8GHz per core for fast library indexing and stable playback
• 4.3-inch 800 × 480 full-colour IPS display with artwork, data-rich, and VU-meter view modes
• 12V trigger in and out for system automation
• Available in Black or Silver finish

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Quad Platina Stream?

The Quad Platina Stream is a network streamer built around an ES9038Pro 32-bit DAC and a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor at 1.8GHz per core. It supports PCM up to 768kHz and native DSD512, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay 2, UPnP, and Roon Ready playback via Gigabit Ethernet or dual-band Wi-Fi. Balanced XLR and RCA analogue outputs are provided alongside optical and coaxial digital outputs. Available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, NY.

What streaming services does the Platina Stream support?

The Platina Stream natively supports Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, and AirPlay 2, allowing any of these services to stream directly to the device from a phone, tablet, or computer on the same network. It is also Roon Ready, appearing as a certified endpoint in Roon for bit-perfect, high-resolution multi-room or reference system playback with no additional configuration. Local playback from USB drives and UPnP network servers is also supported.

What is Roon Ready and how does the Platina Stream support it?

Roon Ready means that the Platina Stream has Roon's streaming technology built directly into its firmware, allowing it to appear as a certified audio endpoint in the Roon application over Ethernet or Wi-Fi. No additional hardware or configuration is required. Roon Ready devices stream bit-perfect, high-resolution audio directly from the Roon Core, with full metadata, DSP, and multi-room management available through the Roon interface.

What audio formats and sample rates does the Platina Stream support?

The Platina Stream supports FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, and MQA in PCM format at sample rates from 44.1kHz up to 768kHz. Native DSD playback is supported in DSF and DFF/DSDIFF file formats, as well as DoP, at DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, and DSD512. Compressed formats MP3 and AAC are also supported. Upsampling of lower-resolution PCM content to 352.8kHz or 384kHz is available as an auto or manually switchable option.

What outputs does the Platina Stream provide?

The Platina Stream provides balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA stereo analogue outputs, both with a 120 ohm output impedance, THD below 0.0005%, and SNR greater than 108dB. Digital outputs include one optical SPDIF and one coaxial SPDIF. A 12V trigger output enables automated system control. This combination allows the Platina Stream to integrate as a pure digital source, a high-fidelity analogue source, or both simultaneously in any audiophile system.

How does the Quad Platina Stream app work?

The QUAD Platina Stream app for iOS and Android provides a unified library view combining network shares, USB drives, and streaming services in a single interface. A fast background indexer catalogues content by title, performer, composer, label, year, and genre with real-time search results. Playlist creation, queue management, and permanent saving of on-the-fly playlists are all built in. Qobuz Studio/Sublime+ and Tidal Masters tiers are highlighted with native format icons confirming resolution at a glance.

Where can I buy the Quad Platina Stream in the USA?

The Quad Platina Stream is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorized dealer in Buffalo, NY. Browse the full network player collection at Vinyl Sound or contact our team for a system demonstration and listening appointment.