Entering the World of Streaming!

Posted by: Allante93 on 08 June 2016

Entering the world of Streaming!

Gentleman, I don't have a clue about streaming, just trying to enter it on the Cheap.

Hence, I just want to know, am I on the right track?

First off, I plan to wire my Home with Ethernet at all three hi fi locations.

The Office contains the cheap version of the MM:

Processor: 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5/Storage: 500GB (5400-rpm) hard drive/Memory: 4GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 memory

My understanding, is that the Audirvana and other high end software apps, are at their best with more memory!

Hence considering buying a second MM, and house it in the Music Room.

MM > hi face2 > DC 1 > Ndac > 282 (the proposed new)

Airport Express > 282 (the present)

Processor: 2.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5/Storage:1 TB (5400-rpm) hard drive/Memory:8GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 memory

Plan of Attack:

Audirvana Plus > MM > hiFace Two converter > Naim DC 1 Digital Connector > Ndac / Cdx2 > 282 > SCDR > 3 x 250.2 > Briks

At the moment I guess I'm kinda sorta streaming, Airport Extreme to Airport Express, Living Room, Family Room, and Rec Room!

iTunes is all I know, I buy songs for a buck, and Rip CD's to Library and Can Create countless numbers of Playlist! FREE! And controll all from my Android cell phone, with a Free Remote II app.

But I'm under the impression, that the above Route will improve SQ, close to My Cdx2 Playback! (Leaving Wireless to direct connect)

I do realize that when I stream to the Music Room I’m utilizing a $100 dac incorporated within the Airport Express > 282!

The Family Room has the advantage with Airport Express > Emotive Dac 1> Primare Pre 30 .

Being a Baby Boomer, the way I see it when it comes to source there is three options:

Records = TT = Analog

CD's = CDP = Digital Redbook = 16 bit/44.1khz

Streaming = H Res 24 bit/48khz, 24 bit/96khz, 24 bit/192khz, 32 bit/384khz

So if your favorite music isn’t available with Spotify, Audirvana, Tidal, etc,,,,,, I don’t know, where ever one streams from, for a cost, I know, you still need the Silver disk, and Records!!!!

Also, could one elaborate on the passage belowe:I would like to take advantage H res!

“”The new version of hiFace, named simply hiFace Two, offers the same streaming capacity as the first model at 24bit/192kHz, in asynchronous transfer mode (meaning that the interface and not the computer dictates the rate of the data transfer). Additionally, compatibility with ASIO mode is included for further versatility. There is no need to install any driver if your playback system is based on a Mac or Linux computer but, as usual, you will need to do some downloading and installation in PC platforms if you want to use sample rates above 24/96.””

Thanks In Advance!

I'm a little slow to this Streaming, so take it easy with me, just looking for general direction before spending the bucks!!

Repeat entering the World of Streaming on the Cheap!

No NDS, NDX, etc….. just a 2nd hand Ndac, hi face2, and the 8 gig MM, DC 1, and Audirvana Plus, I guess!

Thanks In Advance!

Allante93!

Posted on: 08 June 2016 by Clay Bingham

Or you could just not do anything. That's the alternative I've selected. I have 2000 albums, at least, plus another several hundred CD's. I have a lovely little Unitiqute for FM and streaming radio. I probably won't live long enough to enjoy all this available music. Do I need to spend all this money and complication just to make it easy to do play lists and fiddle with my iPhone or iPad to get even more music? No I don't.

And I say this with nothing but total respect for Simon in Suffolk and others who have taught me a ton (tonne?) about streaming and computer music.

I've decided to wait until the technology settles down and all these conversations about bit rates and lossless files goes away and ripping alternatives become a thing of the past.

Sorry Allante! I guess I'm becoming a bit of a Luddite in my old age. I'll shut up now.

Posted on: 08 June 2016 by Allante93

No, I feel you Clay, that's why I said on the cheap!

SCDR is on the way!

555PS on the list

Ndac on the list

Hi face2 $149 you get the point!

I will just enjoy my Cdx2, and Enter the World of Streaming Slow and on the Cheap!

Out!

Allante93!

Posted on: 08 June 2016 by Foot tapper

Streaming on the cheap?

Rip your CDs on to your mac mini using something like XLD and use the AIFF codec (it sounds better to me than ALAC), then load the Bitperfect app from the itunes store on to your mac mini, buy a Chord mojo or Rega dac, connect the dac output into one of your Naim pre-amp and off you go.

To upgrade from this, change dac to a Chord Hugo/Hugo TT/Naim DAC/another good dac, keeping everything else the same.

Or, you could make it much more complicated and sophisticated in any number of ways.

Honestly, I'm not joking. The first option will get you going surprisingly well. The upgraded option may start to sound worryingly good.

Hope this helps and saves you a few bucks while you learn about this brave new world.

Best regards, FT

Posted on: 08 June 2016 by dayjay

Foot tapper posted:
Streaming on the cheap?
Rip your CDs on to your mac mini using something like XLD and use the AIFF codec (it sounds better to me than ALAC), then load the Bitperfect app from the itunes store on to your mac mini, buy a Chord mojo or Rega dac, connect the dac output into one of your Naim pre-amp and off you go.
To upgrade from this, change dac to a Chord Hugo/Hugo TT/Naim DAC/another good dac, keeping everything else the same.
Or, you could make it much more complicated and sophisticated in any number of ways.
Honestly, I'm not joking. The first option will get you going surprisingly well. The upgraded option may start to sound worryingly good.
Hope this helps and saves you a few bucks while you learn about this brave new world.
Best regards, FT

+1, that's a lot of sq for not a lot of money.

Posted on: 08 June 2016 by Peter Dinh

dayjay posted:
Foot tapper posted:
Streaming on the cheap?
Rip your CDs on to your mac mini using something like XLD and use the AIFF codec (it sounds better to me than ALAC), then load the Bitperfect app from the itunes store on to your mac mini, buy a Chord mojo or Rega dac, connect the dac output into one of your Naim pre-amp and off you go.
To upgrade from this, change dac to a Chord Hugo/Hugo TT/Naim DAC/another good dac, keeping everything else the same.
Or, you could make it much more complicated and sophisticated in any number of ways.
Honestly, I'm not joking. The first option will get you going surprisingly well. The upgraded option may start to sound worryingly good.
Hope this helps and saves you a few bucks while you learn about this brave new world.
Best regards, FT
+1, that's a lot of sq for not a lot of money.

And do not forget some thing like the USB/SPDIF isolator, you will be surprised how much SQ will be improved. Look around this forum for that item, there are a lot of choices.

Posted on: 08 June 2016 by dayjay

I can recommend USB regen and the JItterbug bother which I use with a Mac Mini and Hugoand both improved SQ

Posted on: 08 June 2016 by Allante93

Foot tapper posted:
Streaming on the cheap?
Rip your CDs on to your mac mini using something like XLD and use the AIFF codec (it sounds better to me than ALAC), then load the Bitperfect app from the itunes store on to your mac mini, buy a Chord mojo or Rega dac, connect the dac output into one of your Naim pre-amp and off you go.
To upgrade from this, change dac to a Chord Hugo/Hugo TT/Naim DAC/another good dac, keeping everything else the same.
Or, you could make it much more complicated and sophisticated in any number of ways.
Honestly, I'm not joking. The first option will get you going surprisingly well. The upgraded option may start to sound worryingly good.
Hope this helps and saves you a few bucks while you learn about this brave new world.
Best regards, FT

1st settings is set for AIFF I'm using the latest OS X El Capitan Operating System.

2nd I'm using USB SuperDrive, it the CD part, that does the ripping, I guess!

3rd I will do the bit Perfect Tomorrow!

Description

BitPerfect is a simple, easy to use, audiophile grade music player that works in conjunction with iTunes to deliver the highest possible sound quality.

What's New in Version 3.1

Significant optimizations to the Gen-IV audio engine, resulting in a subtle improvement in sound quality.
Fix for an intermittent crash on certain DACs.

4th Cord mojo sounds cheaper, How much USD?

And that's it!

its got to be more!

Allante93!!

Posted on: 08 June 2016 by dayjay

Pst, get Audirvana +, it's the best music player for Mac by a mile and doesn't need iTunes! Personally I would rip to Flac but each to their own. Mojo is $599

Posted on: 08 June 2016 by NickSeattle

Allante93,

If you are pulling wire anyway, be sure to pull Line-level wires at the same time (structured hi-fi, or RG-6, if you prefer). If you do it when you have the opportunity, the minimal added cost is only for the wire and (if they are extra) the terminations. In my experience, the sound quality is obviously better than the other options (network and wireless) that are only preferable if better sounding wired analog options are out of reach.

In my case, my UnitiQute2 in the Office plays 99% via Analog In from my main system in the Lounge, because it sounds vastly better than any of the onboard sources on the Qute.

Good luck.

Nick

Posted on: 08 June 2016 by NickSeattle

I should add, the Line-level wire I use is bog-standard Monster -- it came with the house. I'd have speced it higher, but am blown away by the result all the more, for its humility.

Nick

Posted on: 08 June 2016 by Richard Dane

Allante, I have moved your topic over the Streaming Audio room.

Posted on: 08 June 2016 by NickSeattle

I am surprised there seem to be more 500 owners, and more voices raised in support of dedicated power, than advocates for simple, analog line-level connections between zones, considering the obvious sound quality benefits, which one would expect to appeal to a few of "those who care".