Budget wifi streaming / DAC - chromecast or ALL1C or other?
Discussion
Thinking about adding some wireless convenience to my budget system (currently Yamaha RX-797 + Wharfedale Diamond 225)... any experience of the cheaper wifi options?
I'm not using any streaming services like spotify (though I guess it wouldn't hurt to have the option), playing a mixture of FLAC, MP3, AAC etc from computer HD via Foobar. Currently just running output from headphone jack to the amp so relying on whatever DAC is in the laptop soundcard, its tolerable but certainly not up with the DACs in my (10 year old also non-wifi) Onkyo AV receiver in the other room.
The chromecast audio seems to be the cheapest option I've seen at ~$60NZ, from what I read I can't send audio directly to it from PC but can use an app like bubbleupnp on android to stream music on the PC to the CC. I don't have a separate DAC and the RX-797 doesn't have one built in, so would be relying on the DAC in the CCA for now - how good/bad is it?
I've also noticed another option for not much more cost, the Panasonic ALL1C is around $100NZ - anyone here used one to compare? Being targeted more for that purpose I'm wondering if it might have a better DAC, it says 192/24 but not much else about what it is. Also not sure if I can send directly to it from PC or if it needs to be done the same way as chromecast using an android app.
Both have optical as well as analog outputs so I could use them with a separate DAC if I buy one in future, but I'm hoping I won't need to. I am keeping an eye out for good second hand deals on 'proper' hi fi network streamers too though.
Any thoughts, other suggestions that I haven't considered?
I'm not using any streaming services like spotify (though I guess it wouldn't hurt to have the option), playing a mixture of FLAC, MP3, AAC etc from computer HD via Foobar. Currently just running output from headphone jack to the amp so relying on whatever DAC is in the laptop soundcard, its tolerable but certainly not up with the DACs in my (10 year old also non-wifi) Onkyo AV receiver in the other room.
The chromecast audio seems to be the cheapest option I've seen at ~$60NZ, from what I read I can't send audio directly to it from PC but can use an app like bubbleupnp on android to stream music on the PC to the CC. I don't have a separate DAC and the RX-797 doesn't have one built in, so would be relying on the DAC in the CCA for now - how good/bad is it?
I've also noticed another option for not much more cost, the Panasonic ALL1C is around $100NZ - anyone here used one to compare? Being targeted more for that purpose I'm wondering if it might have a better DAC, it says 192/24 but not much else about what it is. Also not sure if I can send directly to it from PC or if it needs to be done the same way as chromecast using an android app.
Both have optical as well as analog outputs so I could use them with a separate DAC if I buy one in future, but I'm hoping I won't need to. I am keeping an eye out for good second hand deals on 'proper' hi fi network streamers too though.
Any thoughts, other suggestions that I haven't considered?
Update: I bought the ALL1C and pretty happy so far.
Sounds good, better detail and clarity than the PC headphone output. Can't compare it with a chromecast unless I get one of those too though.
Using phone app to control play via upnp (with foobar on pc as media server) works fine, occasional audible skip or lag on volume control etc but that might be due to wifi rather than the unit itself. Might try it via ethernet for comparison at some stage.
Haven't managed to get it playing direct from PC to the ALL1C properly yet though - it recognises the connected device and I can right-click>cast to device from windows explorer to play individual files through it, but none of the media players on PC (foobar, win media player, itunes, vlc) will send music direct to it. Not the end of the world but hopefully I can get it working that way too as the PC is a bit easier to navigate through media libraries etc.
Sounds good, better detail and clarity than the PC headphone output. Can't compare it with a chromecast unless I get one of those too though.
Using phone app to control play via upnp (with foobar on pc as media server) works fine, occasional audible skip or lag on volume control etc but that might be due to wifi rather than the unit itself. Might try it via ethernet for comparison at some stage.
Haven't managed to get it playing direct from PC to the ALL1C properly yet though - it recognises the connected device and I can right-click>cast to device from windows explorer to play individual files through it, but none of the media players on PC (foobar, win media player, itunes, vlc) will send music direct to it. Not the end of the world but hopefully I can get it working that way too as the PC is a bit easier to navigate through media libraries etc.
Gassing Station | Home Cinema & Hi-Fi | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff