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Seriously considering abandoning CD's and going for streaming. I'll need a fast laptop with a big storage facility for my ripped CD's and 4g Wifi. The plan is to plug this straight into the system through a DAC.
Any recommendations?
Does it need to look pretty and what is your budget?
https://www.apple.com/uk/music/
https://www.spotify.com/uk/
using
edit: you added the 4g requirement in a ninja edit while i was typing.
Does the iPhone have a power in and a USB info out?
I already have a Samsung Note 4, but it only has one USB port. I doubt any streaming would last long on the battery life...
No? Yes?
No, but has a decent battery. You could connect it to power if you wish and connect to amp with a jackplug.
Is that the jackplug for the earphones? Would that work in a DAC that's looking for an information file?
Yes it is. Second bit, I have no idea
Some 3.5mm "headphone" jacks incorporate SPDIF, in which case that would output digital to your DAC. My elderly Acer laptop does, but I've no idea about what specific Apple kit has this. It'll be on the spec sheet.
I wonder whether a laptop is the best solution for this.
Maybe something like an Intel NUC or other SFF PC would be better suited, run it headless and connect over the network when you need to copy to it. Or a Raspberry Pi and an external HDD perhaps.
Here, all my media is on a PC acting as a server. I've got an Xbox 360, a BD player and a Chromecast attached to the AV rack, all of which can act as a media header. It's not quite the configuration you want, but it works well for me.
Thanks Cougar that sounds great but unfortunately I didn't understand a word of it.
I've emailed NAIM for the definitive and hopefully slightly less technical answer.
That sounds expensive.
NAIM DAC £1,345.50, refurbished second-hand, hopefully. 😀
My sides!
*heads to exit*
I would have a listen to the Chord DAC also. It sounds very good IMHO.
You need to consider how much storage you need. How are you going to take backups. Traditionally you would use a NAS (I plan to use one and in a different room than the hi-fi so I don't have to worry about the volume levels of it).
I don't think your laptop needs to be particularly fancy. Your 4g can be had with a dongle from one of the mobile providers (do you not have broadband?) Just consider how noisy it is. Some laptops are louder than others.
I have picked up a free laptop from an office clearout which I installed Linux on.
Oh, and google what Cougar is saying. NAIM are not exactly going to give you impartial advice. Is the DAC you talk about just a dac or a complete streaming solution? If it's just a dac, you will still need something to stream the data files to it, as well as store (and backup) those files.
Yes, I understand the different streaming box options available from NAIM. You may have realised by now that it's the only hifi gear I'm interested in owning apart from the speakers (ProAc).
I'm just investigating the limits of my Note 4 at the moment.
Thanks.
Question for Cougar, who seems to know about these things (the charming man).
Can I connect this cable: [url= http://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Samsung-Galaxy-sticker-provider/dp/B00K72MWRU ]Here[/url]
to power up my Note 4 AND transfer the digital output into the DAC both at the same time?
It [i]should [/i]do (assuming your DAC has HDMI inputs). However, on the Q&A page further down,
Q: Anyone tested this for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4?A: Honestly does not work. I went online and it's been the same thing with a lot of buyers. You would have to get the Samsung one. It's a little more expensive but works
I don't think that cable will work. Is it not a usb to HDMI cable with a usb power? Your dac will want a USB input or s/pdif I would imagine
Naim electronics and ProAc? 😮