Streaming frustration. Will this work?

[Tony1963]

I hope I’m right here!
I live in an Apple household, and as I realised quite quickly, AirPlay doesn’t allow an iOS device to stream hi res music to my Yamaha WXC-50 pre amp streamer. Annoyingly, the MusicCast app/Qobuz/WXC-50 combo won’t play gapless, which the Qobuz app on an iOS device will (just not in hi res.

So.... will this billy bargain:

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/compu...o-tab-e7-tab...

allow me to download the Qobuz app and then stream hi res over WiFi to the Yamaha?
Storage doesn’t matter, as long as there’s room for the app, nothing else matters, unless you can convince me otherwise!

I don’t want adverts appearing or any other nastiness.

In summary:

Using MusicCast app, Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer will be hi res, but not Gapless.

Using Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer apps gives gapless, with good user interface, but ‘only’ in CD quality.

I want a cheap/cheapish tablet that will stream hi res to the Yamaha via WiFi using a Qobuz/Tidal/Deezer app, simply and cleanly.

Edited by Tony1963 on Friday 14th August 08:51

[legzr1]

I haven’t got an answer to your specific question(s) but I will say that, in my experience over the years, streamed hi-res isn’t a silver bullet. Especially with Tidal (which I’ve now dumped) but even 24/192 from Qobuz shows negligible ‘improvements’ over the same album ripped and streamed locally from CD.

The jump from MP3/oggVorbis to 16/44 flac from any of the main players out there is absolutely worth the effort.
16/44 to hi-res? I’m not so sure if I’m being honest.

[Tony1963]

I’ve run hi res into the Yamaha, and there is a difference. Please, let’s not go down that road.

[TonyRPH]

Your URL is broken in your OP.

"404 Error"

[Tony1963]

TonyRPH said:

Your URL is broken in your OP.

"404 Error"

Ok. It was a cheap Lenovo android tablet. E7 I think.

[legzr1]

Tony1963 said:

I’ve run hi res into the Yamaha, and there is a difference. Please, let’s not go down that road.

Ok.

Only trying to save you some time and money.

Personally, I find a well produced and mastered album more important than the file size and sampling frequency.

[Tony1963]

legzr1 said:

Ok.

Only trying to save you some time and money.

Personally, I find a well produced and mastered album more important than the file size and sampling frequency.

Which I why, for now, I’ve reinstalled my CD player!
I’ve other stuff to spend my money on at the moment, so will revisit this messy part of the hifi world later.

I’ve had most of my hifi since the 1990s, and so am reluctant to spend, say, £1500 on a streamer that could very well be obsolete in five to ten years. Screens fading, out of date software, internal parts dying and not being repairable... doesn’t fill me with confidence!
A Naim ND5 XS2 would do very nicely, but £2400? No way.

[legzr1]

Tony1963 said:

Which I why, for now, I’ve reinstalled my CD player!
I’ve other stuff to spend my money on at the moment, so will revisit this messy part of the hifi world later.

I’ve had most of my hifi since the 1990s, and so am reluctant to spend, say, £1500 on a streamer that could very well be obsolete in five to ten years. Screens fading, out of date software, internal parts dying and not being repairable... doesn’t fill me with confidence!
A Naim ND5 XS2 would do very nicely, but £2400? No way.

CD?

That’s been dead for 15 years apparently!

Seriously, I get what you’re saying. My ‘go to’ recommendation for a fine sounding streamer with support for years from a manufacturer is always the C.A CXN V2. Plays just about anything you throw at it with grace.

Just for balance, I’ve had a few pricey disc players over the years from the likes of Krell,Shangling, MF etc which have left me with large repair bills or, even worse, a nice door stop.
I never use the screen on my NDX either although I feel for those with defunct screens on expensive equipment.

Ever thought about vinyl?

[Tony1963]

“Ever thought about vinyl?”

Yep, but it’s mean starting all over again, as my record buying stopped in about 1982, and the records playing horribly now. Getting out of the chair every 22 minutes just doesn’t appeal

[legzr1]

I was joking!

I still have an AR turntable I bought new 30+ years ago and a few records - it comes out now and again to show the kids how good they have it.

22 minutes! Luxury! I have a few hundred 12” singles - up every 6 or so minutes. No thanks.

Streamers - look up the Tuefel (sp ?) model for around £100. Was getting some excellent feedback on AVForums last year and seems to do everything for relative pennies.

[STiG911]

I can't tell 100% from the spec, but how about using a 3rd-gen Apple TV box with Optical Audio to your Yamaha? I note that it offers DD5.1 pass-through, so might do the same for hi-res audio...

[Tony1963]

STiG911 said:

I can't tell 100% from the spec, but how about using a 3rd-gen Apple TV box with Optical Audio to your Yamaha? I note that it offers DD5.1 pass-through, so might do the same for hi-res audio...

As far as I’m aware, ATV only passes through at about CD quality.

I’ll check the Teufel thing.


Thanks.


Edit to add: hmm. This is hardly a rave review https://www.avforums.com/threads/controller-apps-g...

Edited by Tony1963 on Monday 17th August 18:46

[Tony1963]

Perhaps the Bluesound Node 2i is what I should be looking at again.

[legzr1]

Tony1963 said:

As far as I’m aware, ATV only passes through at about CD quality.

I’ll check the Teufel thing.


Thanks.


Edit to add: hmm. This is hardly a rave review https://www.avforums.com/threads/controller-apps-g...

Edited by Tony1963 on Monday 17th August 18:46

The app isn’t as polished or flexible as something costing 10 times as much but that’s hardly a surprise to be honest.
The recommendations I’ve read for it are on a cost-vs-sound quality basis.

I’ve never tried the BS Node but I’ve read they’re good.
On the other hand, they seem to come up for sale lightly used quite regularly...

[Tony1963]

legzr1 said:

The app isn’t as polished or flexible as something costing 10 times as much but that’s hardly a surprise to be honest.
The recommendations I’ve read for it are on a cost-vs-sound quality basis.

I’ve never tried the BS Node but I’ve read they’re good.
On the other hand, they seem to come up for sale lightly used quite regularly...

It's a challenge!

[legzr1]

Tony1963 said:

It's a challenge!

It should be easy but in my experience it isn’t!

The best thing I did was dump Tidal (I’m not convinced by the MQA marketing and all the unfolding nonsense) which frees you from the necessity to get a streamer with the required chips/firmware.

I stuck with Qobuz - true hi-res FLAC where available. Something a CA CXN V2 handles it beautifully and has a really good control interface. Roon recently added too. £450-£500 should get you a nice used example.

If you want Tidal and Qobuz then the Nodei looks a no-brainier at similar price to the CXN.

If you have a spare £5K go for the Naim NDX2 - 15K, the Naim ND555

[StescoG66]

Tony1963 said:

Perhaps the Bluesound Node 2i is what I should be looking at again.

I am about to upgrade my Cambridge NP30 and DacMagic if you fancy a tentative toe dip into streaming. Both still have boxes, manuals etc. The DAC will take USB from the laptop. Not looking for a fortune and Open to a sensible offer for the two. Drop me a PM if of interest

Edited by StescoG66 on Tuesday 18th August 17:38

[StescoG66]

legzr1 said:

I was joking!

I still have an AR turntable I bought new 30+ years ago and a few records - it comes out now and again to show the kids how good they have it.

.

EB101 - I have one too. Cracking old thing

[Tony1963]

StescoG66 said:

I am about to upgrade my Cambridge NP30 and DacMagic if you fancy a tentative toe dip into streaming. Both still have boxes, manuals etc. The DAC will take USB from the laptop. Not looking for a fortune and Open to a sensible offer for the two. Drop me a PM if of interest

Edited by StescoG66 on Tuesday 18th August 17:38

Thank you for the kind offer, but I’m putting up with the Yamaha while I work out the next step.

[VEX]

If I can help with some trial kit I am happy to Help and get some independent reviews of kit.

V.