ArtSound Smart Stream 2
Specifications and features
ArtSound Smart Stream 2, compact network player and preamplifier
Connecting an old amplifier to Spotify, Qobuz or radio from around the world fits here into a box measuring twelve centimetres across. The Smart Stream 2 slots between your sources and your stereo system: it receives audio from a TV, a turntable or a CD player, adds streaming and multiroom, then sends it all to an amplifier or active speakers. The second generation adopts the WiiM Home app and gains an HDMI ARC input.
A 12 cm box that controls your stereo system
Measuring 40 × 120 × 130 mm and weighing 200 grams, the Smart Stream 2 fits on a TV cabinet shelf or behind an amplifier without taking up space. The front panel features a volume knob and a row of indicator lights showing the active source (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ARC, line, optical, USB). ArtSound places it among its preamplifiers, and the term is apt: the RCA stereo output follows the volume setting, allowing you to connect a power amplifier or a pair of active speakers directly, without going through an integrated amplifier. A subwoofer output complements the main output to add an active subwoofer to the system.
Sound adjustment is limited to volume, treble and bass, enough to compensate for a slightly dull-sounding room or speakers lacking at the lower end of the spectrum. The supplied infrared remote provides access to sources and tone settings, and the WiiM Home app offers the same controls from a smartphone, tablet or computer running Windows or macOS. The device also includes an alarm function and a sleep timer, handy for falling asleep to the radio or starting the day with music.
TV, turntable and CD player through a single connection
The rear panel is the Smart Stream 2’s real reason for being. The HDMI ARC input receives TV audio through a simple HDMI cable: films and programmes then play through the hi-fi system rather than the screen’s built-in speakers. The Toslink optical input accommodates a CD player, a console or an older TV without HDMI ARC, and the optical cable supplied in the box saves you buying another one.
The RCA analogue input accepts a line-level source: a CD player, computer or turntable equipped with a phono preamplifier (built-in or external). A turntable without a preamplifier cannot be connected directly, as there is no dedicated phono input. Finally, the USB port plays music stored on a flash drive or hard drive. The Smart Stream 2 processes all these sources in stereo, with a 24-bit / 192 kHz converter, a signal-to-noise ratio of 98 dB and total harmonic distortion of 0.01%.
Streaming and Internet radio from the WiiM Home app
The Smart Stream 2 uses WiiM’s software platform, with the WiiM Home app serving as its main remote control. Spotify Connect, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Amazon Music, Napster, TuneIn and vTuner are accessible there, along with Internet radio from around the world, a good solution when FM or DAB+ reception is poor at home. AirPlay streams from an iPhone, iPad or Mac, Bluetooth 5.2 from any phone, and the DLNA and UPnP protocols provide access to a library stored on a NAS server. FLAC, ALAC, APE, WAV, MP3, AAC and AAC+ files are played at up to 24-bit / 192 kHz.
The network connection uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable connected to the RJ45 10/100 Mbit/s port. The 2.4 GHz band reaches further through walls than the 5 GHz band, but it is often more congested in apartment buildings. If the box is close to the router, an Ethernet cable remains the most stable connection.
Part of the ArtSound Smart multiroom system
The Smart Stream 2 can be grouped with other products in the ArtSound Smart range, such as the multiroom amplifiers that power in-wall speakers, and more broadly with WiiM / Linkplay and AirPlay-compatible devices. From the app, each room can play its own music or synchronise with the others. A living room equipped with a stereo system can thus join the kitchen or a terrace fitted with speakers, without changing apps.
Changes from the first Smart Stream
The first Smart Stream worked with the 4Stream app; the switch to WiiM Home changes the interface and software updates. Bluetooth moves from version 5.0 to 5.2, an HDMI ARC input makes its debut and the power supply drops the 12 V adapter in favour of a 5 V / 2 A USB-C port. The box also becomes narrower and lighter (200 g versus 370 g).
This simplification has a downside. The first model’s coaxial and optical digital outputs disappear, as does the 12 V trigger output that switched on an amplifier remotely. The Smart Stream 2 therefore always uses its own converter and cannot feed an external DAC: it takes its place in an analogue system, between the sources and the amplification.
Technical specifications
Overview
- Type: network player with compact preamplifier
- Colour: black
Network and wireless connections
- Wi-Fi: 2.4 GHz
- Ethernet: RJ45 port 10 / 100 Mbit/s
- Bluetooth: version 5.2
Audio inputs and outputs
- Audio inputs:
- RCA stereo analogue input: turntable with phono preamplifier, CD player, computer…
- Optical digital input: Toslink
- HDMI ARC input: television
- USB port: file playback from a USB flash drive or disk
- Audio outputs:
- RCA stereo analogue output
- Subwoofer output
Audio performance
- Converter: 24-bit / 192 kHz
- Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Signal-to-noise ratio: 98 dB
- Total harmonic distortion + noise (THD+N): 0.01%
Streaming and music sources
- Protocols: Spotify Connect, AirPlay, DLNA, UPnP, QPlay
- Online services: Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Amazon Music, Napster, TuneIn, vTuner
- Internet radio: stations from around the world via the WiiM Home app
- Local music: smartphone or tablet, NAS server, USB storage
- File formats: FLAC, ALAC, APE, WAV, MP3, AAC, AAC+
Multiroom audio
- Compatibility: WiiM / Linkplay, AirPlay
- Pairing with other products in the ArtSound Smart range
Settings and control
- Volume, treble and bass adjustment
- Alarm function
- Sleep timer
- WiiM Home app:
- For iOS and Android
- For Windows and Mac
Power supply
- USB-C input: 5 V / 2 A
Box contents and included accessories
- Smart Stream 2
- USB-C cable
- Stereo RCA cable: 2 RCA to 2 RCA
- Toslink optical cable
- Infrared remote control
Dimensions and weight
- Dimensions (H × W × D): 40 × 120 × 130 mm
- Weight: 0.2 kg
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Smart Stream 2 directly power passive speakers?
No. The Smart Stream 2 delivers a line-level signal, without a power stage. It connects to an integrated amplifier (via a line input), a power amplifier, or active speakers, each of which has its own amplification.
Do I need to buy a power supply separately?
The box contains a USB-C cable, but no power adapter. A USB charger capable of supplying 5 V at 2 A is suitable, as most recent phone chargers do. It’s best to avoid an underpowered charger, which could cause interruptions.
How do I set the TV to use the HDMI ARC input?
Connect the HDMI cable to the TV socket marked ARC, then select the HDMI ARC audio output (or “external audio system”) in the on-screen menus. Since the Smart Stream 2 operates in stereo, set the TV’s audio output format to PCM: this is the safest setting to avoid silence on programmes broadcast in multichannel audio.
Can the subwoofer output and stereo output be used at the same time?
Yes, both outputs work simultaneously. The stereo output feeds the amplifier or powered speakers, while the subwoofer output feeds a powered subwoofer. Adjust the crossover frequency and level on the subwoofer itself so that it takes over from the main speakers without overlap.
Does the Smart Stream 2 connect to a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network?
No, it only uses the 2.4 GHz band. If your router broadcasts both bands under the same name, it usually connects without any intervention; if the networks have different names, choose the 2.4 GHz one. An Ethernet cable remains the alternative whenever the Wi-Fi signal weakens.
Can the Smart Stream 2 be controlled from a computer?
Yes. The WiiM Home app is available for Windows and macOS as well as iOS and Android. It provides access to streaming services, radio stations, the NAS library, and multiroom groups from your desktop.
How do you connect a turntable?
The RCA input requires a line-level signal. A turntable with a built-in phono preamp connects directly, set to “line” if it has a selector switch. A turntable without a preamp requires an external phono preamp, placed between the turntable and the Smart Stream 2.
Does the Smart Stream 2 work with WiiM amplifiers or those from other brands on the same platform?
It can be grouped with WiiM / Linkplay-compatible devices in the WiiM Home app, and with AirPlay devices from an iPhone or a Mac. A WiiM amplifier in another room can therefore play the same music as the living room equipped with the Smart Stream 2.
- Eco-contribution included in the sale price.
- Manufacturer reference: SMARTSTREAM2
- GTIN / EAN: 5420020107407
