Network audio streamers
Discussion
My CD player died last year (Linn Mimik II, lovely player, needs a new laser board) and having just set up a 3TB NAS (QNAP) I think now might be the time to finally let go of CD for my day-to-day music listening.
I also have a Quad 77 amp and dynaudio speakers which I want to keep.
Anyone have any recommendations of a device that can pull music files from the NAS via Ethernet (the NAS has a UBS port but don't want to use this for music) then output an analogue signal to the amp? The NAS is running a twonky server. Looks like Pioneer do some that will fit the bill, any others? Looking to spend less than £300 but don't mind second hand stuff.
I also have a Quad 77 amp and dynaudio speakers which I want to keep.
Anyone have any recommendations of a device that can pull music files from the NAS via Ethernet (the NAS has a UBS port but don't want to use this for music) then output an analogue signal to the amp? The NAS is running a twonky server. Looks like Pioneer do some that will fit the bill, any others? Looking to spend less than £300 but don't mind second hand stuff.
lufbramatt said:
My CD player died last year (Linn Mimik II, lovely player, needs a new laser board) and having just set up a 3TB NAS (QNAP) I think now might be the time to finally let go of CD for my day-to-day music listening.
I also have a Quad 77 amp and dynaudio speakers which I want to keep.
Anyone have any recommendations of a device that can pull music files from the NAS via Ethernet (the NAS has a UBS port but don't want to use this for music) then output an analogue signal to the amp? The NAS is running a twonky server. Looks like Pioneer do some that will fit the bill, any others? Looking to spend less than £300 but don't mind second hand stuff.
Ethernet from Nas to Streamer, RCA/xlr streamer to Amp and a phone or tablet as a controlling point and away you go.I also have a Quad 77 amp and dynaudio speakers which I want to keep.
Anyone have any recommendations of a device that can pull music files from the NAS via Ethernet (the NAS has a UBS port but don't want to use this for music) then output an analogue signal to the amp? The NAS is running a twonky server. Looks like Pioneer do some that will fit the bill, any others? Looking to spend less than £300 but don't mind second hand stuff.
You don't 'need' a phone/tablet but an app on an iPad makes it so much more pleasurable for scanning albums and tracks, building playlists etc.
I've tried a few streamers including the Pioneer N50 and Marantz 7xxx - nice, simple and good sounding but your budget would get you a used example what I ended up with - Cambridge Audio SM6.
Fed with FLAC files it is excellent.
It replaced a Krell 300CD then an MF 308CD - what tiny amount it may lose out in outright 'quality' it more than gains in everything else it adds - 2 USB inputs, co-ax and optical inputs, internet radio as well as a very, very good built in pre-amp (which can be disabled).
They really are good and the best bargain I've ever had in over 30 years in this game.
It will render files from the NAS so no need for Twonky unless you like using it of course.
For ripping, pay a little and get DBPoweramp - excellent ripping and tagging that sorts out artwork automatically.
EAD (free) is another option but DB is so simple and has never failed doing thousands of rips.
legzr1 said:
Ethernet from Nas to Streamer, RCA/xlr streamer to Amp and a phone or tablet as a controlling point and away you go.
You don't 'need' a phone/tablet but an app on an iPad makes it so much more pleasurable for scanning albums and tracks, building playlists etc.
I've tried a few streamers including the Pioneer N50 and Marantz 7xxx - nice, simple and good sounding but your budget would get you a used example what I ended up with - Cambridge Audio SM6.
Fed with FLAC files it is excellent.
It replaced a Krell 300CD then an MF 308CD - what tiny amount it may lose out in outright 'quality' it more than gains in everything else it adds - 2 USB inputs, co-ax and optical inputs, internet radio as well as a very, very good built in pre-amp (which can be disabled).
They really are good and the best bargain I've ever had in over 30 years in this game.
It will render files from the NAS so no need for Twonky unless you like using it of course.
For ripping, pay a little and get DBPoweramp - excellent ripping and tagging that sorts out artwork automatically.
EAD (free) is another option but DB is so simple and has never failed doing thousands of rips.
Great stuff, thanks. Nothing against using an app but needs to be able to function without it as we only have one iPad- don't want to have to rely on it if my wife has taken it with her for the day or my little boy wants to play the odd game on it. Have a laptop but don't want to have to boot it up every time I want to quickly stick some background music on.You don't 'need' a phone/tablet but an app on an iPad makes it so much more pleasurable for scanning albums and tracks, building playlists etc.
I've tried a few streamers including the Pioneer N50 and Marantz 7xxx - nice, simple and good sounding but your budget would get you a used example what I ended up with - Cambridge Audio SM6.
Fed with FLAC files it is excellent.
It replaced a Krell 300CD then an MF 308CD - what tiny amount it may lose out in outright 'quality' it more than gains in everything else it adds - 2 USB inputs, co-ax and optical inputs, internet radio as well as a very, very good built in pre-amp (which can be disabled).
They really are good and the best bargain I've ever had in over 30 years in this game.
It will render files from the NAS so no need for Twonky unless you like using it of course.
For ripping, pay a little and get DBPoweramp - excellent ripping and tagging that sorts out artwork automatically.
EAD (free) is another option but DB is so simple and has never failed doing thousands of rips.
That Cambridge looks interesting, will check them out, as well as the DBpoweramp software.
Twonky is there as I'm using a PS3 to view video files on the TV and it seems to work well. TBH I'm pretty new to all this- got really into hifi about 15 years ago but it's all changed loads!
lufbramatt said:
Great stuff, thanks. Nothing against using an app but needs to be able to function without it as we only have one iPad- don't want to have to rely on it if my wife has taken it with her for the day or my little boy wants to play the odd game on it. Have a laptop but don't want to have to boot it up every time I want to quickly stick some background music on.
That Cambridge looks interesting, will check them out, as well as the DBpoweramp software.
Twonky is there as I'm using a PS3 to view video files on the TV and it seems to work well. TBH I'm pretty new to all this- got really into hifi about 15 years ago but it's all changed loads!
Doesn't have to be an iPad - a used 7" tablet for £20 will do the job just as well.That Cambridge looks interesting, will check them out, as well as the DBpoweramp software.
Twonky is there as I'm using a PS3 to view video files on the TV and it seems to work well. TBH I'm pretty new to all this- got really into hifi about 15 years ago but it's all changed loads!
Of course, you can use your phone too.
The SM6 has a decent display but difficult to read from a distance but you can operate it from the supplied remote too.
The replacement for the SM6 is the CXN - adds newer DACS, better display and can play 192/24 files but it's nearer £800!
lufbramatt said:
Thanks- looks like a cool bit of kit but want something a bit more "hifi" that also doesn't rely on a phone or tablet app to work 
Have you heard one? With a quality recording im not sure there's any difference between the CC and the cd player in my linn classik
For 15 quid it's worth just trying one out for comparison purposes of you are trying out streaming
A Sonos Connect would do what you want - can stream Flac direct from a share on the NAS so you wouldn't need Twonky running, also stream Spotify / Amazon / Internet radio / your phone. It does need a controller app, but this is available for IOS / Android / Windows / MacOS. I've been a Sonos user for a while, and the ease of controlling/managing your music is one of the best bits about it. Quality is good from the analogue outputs, but also has digital out so you can use an offboard DAC if you prefer.
+1 for dbPoweramp, it's also good for editing tags and also cross-converting to other formats e.g. mp3 or apple for loading on to your phone.
+1 for dbPoweramp, it's also good for editing tags and also cross-converting to other formats e.g. mp3 or apple for loading on to your phone.
I've just been sat on my couch listening to Michael Jackson Bad (ok I know, but it is a great album!) in full 24bit/192khz running through a Cambridge CXN (a CXA60 amp & B&W CM1) which I've had a short while. Its the first time i've fed it true hi-res music, I know some people say you can't tell the difference but by god it sounds good. Running FLAC CD rips through it sound bloody amazing too. It is well above your budget, but might be worth a listen...
Last night I finally got round to downloading DBPoweramp to start ripping my CD collection. Took me an hour or so to configure all the secure ripping settings and setup the naming and multi-format ripping but did a couple of CDs and looks like it's doing exactly what I want once I had got round a little bug in the program. Needed it to create a lossless file plus a mp3 for use in the car via a USB stick, then stick both rips in separate folders on my NAS. Great bit of software.
Still haven't got round to sorting out a network streamer but still like the look of the Cambridge SM6. Will be keeping an eye out on the second hand sites.
Still haven't got round to sorting out a network streamer but still like the look of the Cambridge SM6. Will be keeping an eye out on the second hand sites.
Edited by lufbramatt on Monday 3rd April 09:20
lufbramatt said:
Last night I finally got round to downloading DBPoweramp to start ripping my CD collection. Took me an hour or so to configure all the secure ripping settings and setup the naming and multi-format ripping but did a couple of CDs and looks like it's doing exactly what I want. Needed it to create a lossless file plus a mp3 for use in the car via a USB stick, then stick both rips in separate folders on my NAS. Great bit of software.
Still haven't got round to sorting out a network streamer but still like the look of the Cambridge SM6. Will be keeping an eye out on the second hand sites.
I have all my music synced up to Google Music, I then use my phone or tablet to control the music via the Sonos system so either different music can be played in different rooms or the whole house plays the same music - choice is yours but very simple and no need to be accessing NAS devices etc.Still haven't got round to sorting out a network streamer but still like the look of the Cambridge SM6. Will be keeping an eye out on the second hand sites.
Google music automatically syncs any new music I put in that folder so that it's available in Sonos etc
I also use Google music to play music in the car, it allows you to download to the device so your not using mobile data etc
I only have a little 1930's semi which is quite open plan downstairs so what's playing on the hifi downstairs is what the whole house hears So no point messing around with multi room systems. The plan is to have a central music library on the NAS which was bought specifically to house music and photos.
Using google music in the car would involve me plugging my phone in via the aux cable which I don't like as you have to fiddle with the phone to control the music, I won't touch my phone while driving. I also end up leaving my phone in the car which is a pain, as the office is a 1/4 mile walk from the car park. Having it on a USB stick means I can use the dash/steering wheel controls and just leave the stick plugged in semi-permanently.
So no point messing around with multi room systems. The plan is to have a central music library on the NAS which was bought specifically to house music and photos.Using google music in the car would involve me plugging my phone in via the aux cable which I don't like as you have to fiddle with the phone to control the music, I won't touch my phone while driving. I also end up leaving my phone in the car which is a pain, as the office is a 1/4 mile walk from the car park. Having it on a USB stick means I can use the dash/steering wheel controls and just leave the stick plugged in semi-permanently.
Edited by lufbramatt on Monday 3rd April 09:42
If sound quality is important (Quad and Dynaudio means it probably is) I'd avoid Google music, amazon etc - the compressed stuff sent to Sonos and the like is acceptable but FLAC through a decent DAC into decent hifi is far better to my ears.
I've seen a couple of SM6s go for around £250 recently and C.A were selling off old stock brand new on their eBay store for £299. The quality for that price is unbeatable imho.
The only very slight issue I have with the SM6 is it's inability to play anything over 96/24. It's not really an issue if I'm honest - the 5 or 6 albums I have at 192/24 play through my AV DACS and the actual music isn't my style!
I've seen a couple of SM6s go for around £250 recently and C.A were selling off old stock brand new on their eBay store for £299. The quality for that price is unbeatable imho.
The only very slight issue I have with the SM6 is it's inability to play anything over 96/24. It's not really an issue if I'm honest - the 5 or 6 albums I have at 192/24 play through my AV DACS and the actual music isn't my style!
Have you considered Roon?
It is worth looking at, it is a superb system fro browsing music, plus you can have a Rasberry Pi as an end point, or maybe something like the Meridian MS200 plugged into your amp.
Combine it with Tidal an it just makes finding new music a joy.
I got into the habit of playing the same alums I have played for years until getting Tidal, Spotify was great but crap sound quality so used to use it to find stuff and then order CDs, I have had Tidal for 3 years and only bought 2 CDs since then. Used to buy about 4-5 a month before.
Roon is $120 a year, but brilliant, I haven't even bothered ripping CDs, I just use Tidal.
Also, something really nice about having an amp and a pair of speakers, the simplicity is great.
It is worth looking at, it is a superb system fro browsing music, plus you can have a Rasberry Pi as an end point, or maybe something like the Meridian MS200 plugged into your amp.
Combine it with Tidal an it just makes finding new music a joy.
I got into the habit of playing the same alums I have played for years until getting Tidal, Spotify was great but crap sound quality so used to use it to find stuff and then order CDs, I have had Tidal for 3 years and only bought 2 CDs since then. Used to buy about 4-5 a month before.
Roon is $120 a year, but brilliant, I haven't even bothered ripping CDs, I just use Tidal.
Also, something really nice about having an amp and a pair of speakers, the simplicity is great.
I should explain, Roon is a system that is an interface, it puts all you music into one search engine with the best Metadata that has ever been available.
You can browse info on the music you're listening to, like the bassline in a track, you can search for albums the bass player is in etc. etc.
It also has RATT, which is their network protocol, this allows you to have networked endpoints or dacs etc.
So all done on ethernet (you can use digital or USB as well) so you can have your NAS and Tidal running in the office and then have say a Meridian MS200 endpoint going into your Quad amp, maybe a Sonos Play 5 in the kitchen, a Raspberry Pi in the office with a pair of £200 active monitors etc. etc.
One interface controls it all and blends your nas rips with Tidal etc. etc.
This image shows the sort of info you get and it shows the signal path from the roon app to, in this case, an Apple Airport Express it looks like.
You can run it as a PC/Mac/Linux app, or as a small server, and then use ipad/iphone/android tablet etc. as a brower and remote.
It is a very, very good and getting better all the time, the latest version has room correction as well.
You can browse info on the music you're listening to, like the bassline in a track, you can search for albums the bass player is in etc. etc.
It also has RATT, which is their network protocol, this allows you to have networked endpoints or dacs etc.
So all done on ethernet (you can use digital or USB as well) so you can have your NAS and Tidal running in the office and then have say a Meridian MS200 endpoint going into your Quad amp, maybe a Sonos Play 5 in the kitchen, a Raspberry Pi in the office with a pair of £200 active monitors etc. etc.
One interface controls it all and blends your nas rips with Tidal etc. etc.
This image shows the sort of info you get and it shows the signal path from the roon app to, in this case, an Apple Airport Express it looks like.
You can run it as a PC/Mac/Linux app, or as a small server, and then use ipad/iphone/android tablet etc. as a brower and remote.
It is a very, very good and getting better all the time, the latest version has room correction as well.
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