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Looking for a music streamer to work with my fairly decent "old school" hifi separates. I have an Arcam FMJ processor going to a Roksan power amp, which works very well, with both CD and Amazon music through the TV optical out.
I want a decent quality unit that can be controlled by a tablet, to stream FLAC files from a NAS drive. Direct compatibility with Amazon Music but not essential.
Budget up to about £300 - £400.
Or should I just keep the money and use an old laptop, with a wireless mouse, plugged in through a USB DAC and connected to the TV, to select the files through Kodi or similar?
Any suggestions?
My answer to your question is Sonos (whatever the unit is that you plug into your amp) but I'd also consider whether it is really worth the expense and hassle of a NAS setup when you can just stream so easily and cheaply with a chromecast (or Amazon's equivalent if they have one)
I have a Sonos Connect. They are not cheap (although within your budget). I honestly don't know if it plays all the file types you want, but it works well for me. I also like that I can play CDs on my separates back through it and stream it to other Sonos devices.
Arcam do a streamer for about that price...
You can get an Echo Dot which can plug in and do the same if you need Amazon.
Yep, Sonos Connect is in budget and works great. Older Sonos ZP90 or (even older) ZP80 are basically the same thing if you were looking secondhand, still work with all the current software. None of them need the special Sonos Connect thing any more, they can just connect straight to your wifi or via a network cable.
Gosh I just plug a jack straight into my phone or laptop and put it into the amp via the tape input, although I realise this is a very basic way of doing things, sounds grand tho, can't tell the difference between that and CDs although it is on a vintage Technics system so not terribly high end..
A very techy friend streams his via airplay and then through a raspberry pi but reckons having an old phone or laptop directly connected is the simplest way, although less convenient.
It’s actually worth checking whether the laptop in question has a hidden optical digital output from the headphone socket. Not sure whether any PCs do, but my Mac does.
I use a Naim streamer fwiw, but probably beyond that budget. Works with Spotify and Tidal natively too, though I use the mac’s optical out for tidal so I can use the high definition stream as sadly the Naim can’t handle the encryption of their high res stream (ok at CD quality though).
Do you want woofers and tweeters?
Gosh I just plug a jack straight into my phone or laptop and put it into the amp via the tape input, although I realise this is a very basic way of doing things, sounds grand tho, can’t tell the difference between that and CDs although it is on a vintage Technics system so not terribly high end..
Are you me?
I read all this streaming things and just don't understand what anybody is going on about. What Hi-Fi reviewed a DAC that cost over a thousand pounds, but didn't really say what it was for. Apparently it can make the saxophone solo in Philip Glass' 4'33" more dispeptic, or something.
can’t tell the difference between that and CDs although it is on a vintage Technics system so not terribly high end..
obviously...
Spotify on the computer. audio output plugged into the input on the amp. Works fine
the difference in quality if I put a CD on or spotify is obvious if you try the same tune both ways but on its own spotify sounds fine
Do you want woofers and tweeters?
Don't be ridiculous. I will have a bag on my head though 🙂
you can also put spotify on your phone as well as the laptop then use your phone from anywhere to control the laptop
Spotify and BBC Radio iPlayer on my phone/tablet/pc and a £30 Chromecast Audio plugged into the aux socket on my old Denon amp.
Does everything I want.
Gosh I just plug a jack straight into my phone or laptop and put it into the amp via the tape input
Same here - the Google audio caster thing I bought just sits there unplugged. Sticking a cable into the laptop/device is so much more convenient than faffing about with Bluetooth.
I don't see why anyone would pay for Sonos. The 'speakerless' unit is massively overpriced and the app interface isn't all that as far as I can see.
I'm just using Airplay devices (built into amp, Apple TV, Apple Airport) with Spotify and iTunes. Spotify's own interface as a 'remote control' is much better than the Sonos app. The only downside is that Multiroom requires "airfoil" running on a mac which adds a bit of fiddle factor
https://gramofon.com/ will do what you want and are only £60. haven't used one so cant vouch for the app, don't appear to have a digital out if that bothers you.
I still regret selling my Logitech Squeezeboxes as for streaming from a computer it was damn fine. The Server software is open source and still available. You can build your own players easily based on Raspbery Pi
http://www.easysqueezebox.com/index.php/articles/reviewing-diy-alternatives-to-logitech-touch/
Or how about one with a 7" touchscreen?
http://www.instructables.com/id/High-End-Sound-with-7-Inch-Touchscreen-Control-Bas/
Same here – the Google audio caster thing I bought just sits there unplugged. Sticking a cable into the laptop/device is so much more convenient than faffing about with Bluetooth.
I buy my bikes from Halfords - I don't understand people wanting to spend anymore than their prices on fancy full-suspension bikes from other shops, my bike gets me places and up and down hills fine.
I buy my bikes from Halfords – I don’t understand people wanting to spend anymore than their prices
Yeah! Cos that's exactly the same!
Apologies. This is going to turn into another audiophile Ethernet/USB/speaker cable thread isn't it?
I think I will just try and strip back the laptop and use Kodi for the time being. Spend the £300 on wine, always a good way to improve hifi quality, if not the user interface experience.
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Including the 3.5mm jack and a smartphone ideas.
I have the Sonos and in true STW fashion I will recommend it. I think it will play FLAC files but only up to 16 bit which is not an issue for my ears (but apparently son no2 can tell the difference). It also has a 65,000 track limit (again not an issue for me) but there are ways around that. Ends up so that I can play stuff from all sorts of sources - NAS, spotify, apple, radio etc etc and now just works...
Chromecast audio plugged into the tape input on my Linn Classik. Works a treat. As does the other one plugged into the aux input on the Optonica in the bike cave.
Cheap option 2nd hand airport express + airplay.
Ive only got £200 hearing and can’t tell the difference with high end systems
My wife plays her fancy magic interweb files and other sh!t through Sonos connect on my amp. It sounds good as well. FLAC and NAS are supported.
Or a chromecast audio for £20
This. It's exactly what it's for. If you've got a digital input on your hifi then any wibblings about quality is pure snake oil, it's the same digital bitstream at both ends.
How easy is it to play the music on his NAS (whichever one it is) on the Chromecast?
How easy is it to play the music on his NAS (whichever one it is) on the Chromecast?
Very easy
Are you going to give me a clue how?
Assuming the NAS supports DLNA, you need a player app that supports DLNA and Chromecast. There are quite a few of them.
If you’ve got a digital input on your hifi then any wibblings about quality is pure snake oil, it’s the same digital bitstream at both ends.
No, not really.