Streaming audio on a shoe-string

WIRED:

1) USB Converter of your liking and budget.
OR
New soundcard with digital output.

2) Digital cable (whatever works the the above)
3) DAC of your choice.
4) RCA-to-DIN interconnect


#1 you could go with:
M-Audio Transit
Hiface
or one of hundreds of USB-to-spdif converters.

I highly recommend one that supports ASIO. Regardless of whether or not you even know what this is.


#2:
Use the "best" you can afford. Everyone makes them.
Naim
Chord
Radio Shack
Monster


#3
Beresford
DACmagic
Audionote
Naim
bel canto
and thousands of others.

Figure out your budget and your method above and come in here with the question. People will give you a short list for demo given your budget.


4)
Same as #2.
Naim Hiline
Chord (one of the dozens)
Nordost (sp?)
etc...

You could forget all of the above and get a USB DAC.

Wireless:
Squeezebox,
Transporter
Qute
Apple TV
etc....

All will stream and provide a digital output to your DAC.

-p

David,

While there are a great many options, given your desire to start cheap, I would go for a second had Logitech Squeezebox.

You can then use Logitech's bundled software for the streaming and an iPhone or iPod Touch for remote control.

Alternatively, the more recent Squeexebox Duet includes a neat remote control.

An Apple Airport Express would have been a simple solution too, but requires a TOSLink intput which I believe the Numerik is lacking.

John

Thanks for the answers to what I guess for many are obvious questions. I have been skimming the Dist. Audio forum here, but it is easy to be left with more questions than answers.

Looks like the Squeezebox Duet would be a good start point as I need a wireless/cable solution to go from PC in study to Lounge and don't own an iPhone/iTouch. Any other options?

Thanks.

/david

The new Squeezebox Touch may have advantages - it reputedly has a better digital output, certainly copes with higher resolution files than the Squeezebox and has a nice touch screen. You don't get the Duet controller, but the iPeng app for an iTouch/iPhone is better anyway ime.

quote:

Originally posted by David Legge:
Thanks for the answers to what I guess for many are obvious questions. I have been skimming the Dist. Audio forum here, but it is easy to be left with more questions than answers.

Looks like the Squeezebox Duet would be a good start point as I need a wireless/cable solution to go from PC in study to Lounge and don't own an iPhone/iTouch. Any other options?

Thanks.

/david

tried squeeze box and sonos. found quality of sonos far better ,no drop outs . use iphone and z90 digital out to naim dac perfect

I would get a secondhand SB3/Classic as there is no display on the Duet. The Controller + Duet is expensive for someone on a shoestring. I really like the SB3 display (or the Transporter one that I have now!).

For the price of the Controller for the Duet you could get a Beresford Caiman DAC or a CA DACMagic. Makes more sense to me.

Neil

quote:

Originally posted by badlyread:
I would get a secondhand SB3/Classic as there is no display on the Duet. The Controller + Duet is expensive for someone on a shoestring. I really like the SB3 display (or the Transporter one that I have now!).

For the price of the Controller for the Duet you could get a Beresford Caiman DAC or a CA DACMagic. Makes more sense to me.

Neil

Assuming you like the sound of your Linn Numerik ... why is anyone suggesting you buy a new DAC? Maybe a little inconvinient switching cables if it only has one input, but worth a try using a Squeezebox (SB3 Classic or Duet Reciever) or even an Apple Airport Express (if you use iTunes and the Numerik has optical input or use optical to co-ax converter if now).

Eloise

Missed the DAC Eloise!!

Sorry.... Didnt know the Numerik was a DAC.

Just get a Squeezebox or Sonos or something.

The Numerik DAC has two SPDIF inputs (not optical), one for the Karik CD transport and one for another digital source.

I wasn't really wanting to move my tower PC into the lounge, hence looking for a networked solution. And in any case, the PC only has a basic soundcard with line out, so to try streaming into the Numerik DAC, I either need a new soundcard with SPDIF out (AND move the PC closer to the hifi) or, as has been suggested, get a SB/Sonos/whatever.

Thanks for suggestions thus far. It has helped me gather my thoughts.

/dl

David,

Wireless seems to be the choice for you.

You could go with:
Squeezebox Touch
Sonos
Apple TV
etc...

I think your choice will be dictated by two factors:
- What media player do you want to use?
- How would you like to control it?

If you can answer those two questions, people should be able to narrow it down for you.

-p

Do not Squeezebox, Sonos etc, have specific controllers / media streaming software to allow me to select the track / playlists I want?

David,

Yes. I was wondering if you already had a preference.

Controllers? If you mean "remote", yes there are options.

-p

No, no preferences.

Currently ripping my CD's to .flac using EAC, vanila foobar2000 as player on PC.

/dl

Sonos is my preferred sounding over the SB3 at the moment. Neither does beyong 16/48. SB touch will do HiDef, is locally controlable and comes with a simple remote. Haven't heard it. Sonos has an Iphone app which will also work on an Ipod touch.

iPeng is the iPhone/Touch app for the Squeezeboxes.

Works nicely.

Sonos has far too many limitations, to even consider regardless of SQ. 24/96 is a deal breaker.

Ill demo the SB Touch when I can buy one. I will simply return it if I dont get along with it. I am sure Best Buy or other big box store will have them.

Wireless or wired streaming from a NAS running SqueezeServer all headless with the exception of the iPhone app, is very attractive.

Also, the software can handle a library bigger than I can imagine having.

Slap a Naim DAC in the back of it at some point........

-p

PC, I like the HiDef aspect and also need to hear a touch as I stated but not all need HiDef or the extra customization of open source. The Sonos interface is lots freindlier for lay people and plenty versitile enough. It's one of the very few products I sell that the wife will ask her husband for expansion. It does say a lot for the ease of use and accessability to software.

David,

The AppleTV will not connect directly as it offers optical SPDIF and RCA analogue out.

Shame really as it is a great local music server with Touch based remote app.

Jono

...you can use AppleTV as a streamer with XBMC (plays files from my UPNP source over wlan)....but the sound quality could be better....
ralf

Apple TV has the same issue as Airport Express - optical out rather than co-ax. Sounds great into my Uniti but won't work for the OP's co-ax only Numerik.
Also, if you have AppleTV, iTunes and Apple Remote app, it works a treat - no need to abuse it with XBMC.

So basically, of currently available products
a) Squeezebox Touch (but I need to get up and walk over to it to select a CD/playlist(?)
b)Squeezebox Duet (I get a remote, but poorer sound quality?)
c.) A Sonos zone player + Controller (a la Duet.)

Apple AirPort only gives me line out, and I need to buy an iPhone or iPod touch to act as remote. AppleTV, optical digital out, or line out. Any Apple product means uing iTunes and I cant play my flac files??

Living in the far north of Sweden means that options to audition are reletively few. The local hifi shoppe would appear to stock sonos + squeezebox, but I am lothed to go in for a demo without intending to buy. I'll pick up what ever I decided on when over in the UK.

Thanks for the input. Been most useful.

/dl

David,

An iTouch is less expensive with far more functionality than the Sonos controller.

I would budget a iTouch/Phone for whatever you decide on.

David,

You never said you were a FLAC man... Good boy.

Dont loathe the demo. And you are planning to buy one of them. Figure out which one you like better and run with it.

The SB touch has a remote in the event you dont get an iTouch/Phone. If you get a Sonos you will want the iTouch. To use the common Naim Forum vernacular, I have heard the controller is "dreadful".

The SB Touch is supposed to support larger libraries. It can play hi-res. Does not REQUIRE an expensive controller or iPhone, etc... But if the Sonos sounds better, I am guessing those hurdles are not insurmountable.

Most importantly, HAVE FUN!

-Patrick

quote:

Originally posted by John Bleasdale:
Also, if you have AppleTV, iTunes and Apple Remote app, it works a treat - no need to abuse it with XBMC.

Agreed, the latest OS is fine for most needs. It just needs to be able to tap into iPlayer to be complete.

Jono