You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I’ve been using a Yamaha WXAD-10 streaming gizmo for a good few years to play music on Tidal from both Android and apple devices.
It’s worked really well and sounds good, however, over the last few months the WXAD-10 repeatedly looses connectivity with the mobile device.
Yamaha don’t have any firmware updates as the device is no longer supported, so I’m after a similar type of music streaming device to replace it with. Any recommendations?
Cheers 🍻
I'm using a wiim mini, does Spotify connect and I'm pretty sure does Tidal connect too. Cheap and easy to use, upgradable with an external dac should it take your fancy.
Thanks Kaiser, that Wiim mini looks to be just about perfect, and an ideal birthday present too!
Now I won’t have to borrow the Bluetooth-only Logitech Logi from the workshop!
@temudgin I use a few of those. They usually connect to the router unless you are referring to connecting via Bluetooth?
For streaming over WiFi, check under the settings, there's 'information' under that it'll show you the WiFi signal strength. 70+ should work ok, lower and it will drop out. How you then identify what's interfering with the signal is the hard part.
My default answer to these questions
Volumino or Roone running on a Rasperry Pi with a high quality DAC extension board (I use an IQAudio PI-DAC+. You can also get a class D Amo board and drive speakers directly from that should you want.
A bit more hands on than an off the shelf unit but cheaper, quality just as good if not better depending on the DAC you choose and it’s more future proof as you can update and replace software to keep up with date with latest streaming standards etc.
Will connecting it over cat5 help?
I have a Yammy streaming amp and it never played ball over wifi but is fine connected to a mesh disc.
Otherwise the Bluesound Node is good, but perhaps a tad pricey for your needs. The BluOS app works well and is better than MusicCast.
Chromecast Audio?
Echo link amp if you're on the Amazon ecosystem
I also have a Yamaha WXAD-10, it was never really happy until I put an access point in the same room. Even then I find the BT on it a bit flakey with android devices.
The MusicCast app isn’t that great and everybody except me forgets how to use it.
The Wiim looks great as Tidal connect will be much easier for others to use. Time to give the Yamaha the boot I think.
Time to give the Yamaha the boot I think.
They still sell for a reasonable price on the bay, I just moved on my 2 WX-21 speakers for not far from the sale price I paid 2 years ago. They were considerably less reliable in connection terms than the WXAD-10s even, I tried a lot of things, Yamaha's last suggestion was more config than I can be bothered with on my router, I just want to plug it in and have it work!
While we're talking about Yamaha MusicCast I was listening to 6 Music through internet radio the other day and it was interrupted by a voice saying BBC is going to change the way it streams radio in the new year and we need to contact our suppliers to fingd how to keep listening.
I'm pretty sure that streaming internet radio is the best current quality. Has anybody else looked into this and what's the best way to get my Yamaha streaming amp to obtain the best quality audio?
I for one think the MusicCast app is pretty good - compared to Denon, Audiolab and Marantz it's great.
It looks like airable plan to offer the BBC live streams via HLS, the problem I can't get to the bottom of now is whether the firmware for the WXAD-10s will be updated to handle this.
I am considering a short term solution of re-awaking an old tablet and using the sounds app on that to Bluetooth to the WXAD-10s for now.
Looking at the Volumino/Pi solution above it also looks like it needa an HLS feed to work from. This level of streaming tech is all new to me so let me know if I'm wrong in places.
My default answer to these questions
Volumino or Roone running on a Rasperry Pi with a high quality DAC extension board (I use an IQAudio PI-DAC+. You can also get a class D Amo board and drive speakers directly from that should you want.
Only if you can actually get a Pi at the moment...
Pi 4, case,DAC board, a few cables, power supply, memory card etc. and you're at a Wiim Mini in temrs of cost.
On the BBC exiting TuneIn/Airable front, do any Yamaha users have a good solution yet? I tried the old tablet, and while it works I recall the reason I stopped using it was the touch screen was only partially functional still, works 50% of the time everytime.
So I want to stream 6Music around the house via my MusicCasts, with the airable feed going and no update from Yamaha by the looks of various fora, anyone have any cost effective solutions? Ideally I'd not need an extra device but I can't see how I'll avoid that given MusicCast won't have a feed I can use.