Help with PlugPlayer, DAC, iMac

Although entirely possible to do you would be far better off connecting the imac properly to the dac.

I'm with Gary here. Why would anyone want to tether their telephone to their stereo, other than to appear clever? What a strange world we live in. If you really can't physically connect the iMac and DAC (and are using iTunes), get an Airport Express. They're cheap.

Winky

Thank you for your (knee jerk) response.

If connecting the iMac to the DAC directly was feasible then I would not be asking the question.

And, now matter how cheap the AE is, it costs more than the $5 charged for PlugPlayer.

Finally, as I consider a definitive digital source to use with the DAC, I merely wanted to experiment with various interim options. Not sure who you would have me trying to appear clever to - I was simply seeking clarification about something that several others on the forum (including one Naim dealer) have described and found to be worth trying. My experience shows that loading files onto a USB stick works well but I wanted to have access to much more of my music that can be realistically navigated using the stick. And, for what it's worth, yesterday I did indeed try using the AE as a wired (rather than wireless) bridge between the iMac and the DAC, using a optical cable, and found it to be less good than the same files played via the USB stick.

Shame you made such an ill considered response to someone seeking assistance - I would have hoped for something a little more thoughtful from a (fellow) Vancouverite...

Apologies. Not trying to be aggressive. I'm having a bad day.

Why would it be a bad thing to use an existing (and perhaps unused), iPod or iPhone to stream to the DAC?

How/why would it be any worse than an Airport Express?

Billy,

My guess is that if you dont appreciate the Airport output to the DAC, you will probably find simlilar SQ with the iPod in the middle.

FYI, I could not perceive a huge difference between the following:
1) iPhone into DAC's USB
2) M-Audio Transit to Toslink
3) USB stick

I listened to 4 tracks (2 were 24/96) with each of the above methods. I think it sounded best with Option 2. But if there were ANY differences they are extremely subtle.

Pick the method that best serves you for now. Listen to that for a few months. Then investigate other options.

The differences, if they actually exist, are so minor I dont think an immediate A/B will bear things out.

You need seriously extended sessions to be able to definitively state one to be superior to another.

At least that is my impression with about 24 hours with my home demo DAC (courtesy of Connon @ Tune in Seattle).

He even delivered it to me in Portland!!!!! Talk about a good dealer...

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
Why would it be a bad thing to use an existing (and perhaps unused), iPod or iPhone to stream to the DAC?

How/why would it be any worse than an Airport Express?

Good question. I'm not saying it would be worse than an AE. And if it unused, then it would be cheaper. If it is in use though, then it would seem to be a trifle inconvenient. That was my main (but obviously deeply flawed) idea.

quote:

Originally posted by Billy Rubin:
Can anyone assist...?

Can I stream content from my iMac to the Naim DAC using my iPhone (connected to the DAC via USB)?

I had understood that PlugPlayer on the iPhone plus Eyeconnect on the iMac would allow this, but an having difficulty.

Eyeconnect 'sees' my iPhone but PlugPlayer doesn't find the iMac. Manually adding the iMac as a device requires some kind of XML string, apparently, and at this point I'm lost.

All help appreciated!

Make sure your copies of the EyeConnect plug-in and the PlugPlayer app are up-to-date.

Test by disabling the Mac OS X firewall, if not already allowing all incoming connections.

Turn on Airplane Mode on the iPhone, then re-enable Wi-Fi. Confirm internet access from the phone via the local network.

Turn on UPnP Control (optional) within PlugPlayer.

Configure EyeConnect to share your iTunes Music Library, start server, and make sure that your iPhone appears on the list of connected devices.

Confirm presence of EyeConnect as UPnP mediaserver from within PlugPlayer.

I've been able to control one iPhone from another without any issues, so a single device should be fine.

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:
Apologies. Not trying to be aggressive. I'm having a bad day.

Apology accepted with thanks - it's good to be nice - one day you might need my help

I think you are going to run into a couple of fundamental issues.

1. Plug Player is as flaky as arse holes. It really is. It will not lead to a good user experience. Have they even managed to get it to play more than one track?
2. You would have to have another iphone/pod in order to control the iphone tethered, or you are going to have to get up each time to change the music (may as well use a CD player)

Although I can appreciate the desire to experiment, do not let it be the lasting impression of distributed audio, because frankly its an arse way to do it.