A network streamer that fitts my needs?

[admin_exported]

Dear Hi-Fi enthusiasts!

I'm looking for a network streamer (network player) and I might need a little help on this subject. I have some demands on the player, quite basic I think but apparently they are not that easy to fulfill?

The player I'm looking for should have these features:

* Ability to play high bit music (24/192) from a NAS (Linux) via Ethernet cable
* Mobile device controller (iOS/Android control app)
* Internet Radio
* Being able to Fast forward in a track from mobile device
* At least two digital inputs to internal DAC (one for optical and one for coaxial)

The following things are nice-to-have:

* .m4p (Apple lossless) support
* Air Play

I have tested two network streamers but none of these fulfilled the demands I have. These are Cambridge Audio Stream Magic 6 and Pioneer N-50. The CA SM6 was really good but was missing 24/192 support for Ethernet and ability to fast forward. The N-50 delivers a really good sound but the player feels like a beta and not ready for the public. It has support for 24/192 but the iOS app is catastrophic and the player is far to buggy. It's also missing the ability to fast forward on a track.

A friend has the Linn Majik DS-I and besides the price it's just what I'm looking for.

Please help med with this "problem" of mine.

 

[plastic penguin]

This should fit most of your criterior: http://www.whathifi.com/review/marantz-na7004. I've heard this streamer/tuner and it sounds excellent for the money.

 

[John Duncan]

What about the Sneaky DS? Half the price of the Majok.

I'd recommend Cambridge or Naim (since have had excellent experiences with both), but even with those the problem you have seems to be the ability to fast forward, which is a bit of a niche thing to do, IMO. Is this specialist stuff you've recorded yourself? I just can't picture wanting to do that myself so can't quite understand why you need it. Can you give us examples?

 

[Anonymous]

@plastic penguin:
To be honest, I hvent tried the Marantz 7004 even though I guess I should. I have read the test in What Hifi and although it looks like a nice player I'm quite sure that I can't fast forward on a track. Guess I might have to test this just to be sure.

@John Duncan
I'm not really sure If I understand you completly. What I'm saying is if I have a track that is 20:00 minutes long and only want to hear the last 2:00 minutes (from 18:00 to 20:00) I would like to be able to swipe/slide the progress bar in the mobile app to get to that point and not have to wait for 18 minutes just to get there. This is standard flac files from CD rip or from HD-tracks.com
The Linn Sneaky has everything but missing the optical input.
I will look into Naim and see what they have to offer. Also read about Rotel releaseing some new streamers but from what I understood they where missing Digital inpus.

What really blows my mind is that the big brands dont have anything yet. Sony, Harman Kardon etc. Denon and NAD have some but according to my need they will not be an alternative yet (sadly). I know Cyrus have a streamer but beeing from Sweden I havend found a dealer yet.

But if any of you know something I don't please share your info.

 

[plastic penguin]

Had a quick scan of different brands/suppiers etc. and can't see anything that tick every box.

 

[Rich27]

I will look into Naim and see what they have to offer.

You cannot fast forward on the Naim streamers although that may or may not be added with a future software update at some point as yet unspecified in the future!

 

[Anonymous]

Had a quick scan of different brands/suppiers etc. and can't see anything that tick every box.

As far as I know Linn Majik DS-I has all these features. But it's a bit too pricy for me. that however is an integrated amplifier with built in streamer.
An other alternative is to get a Sonos system with a separate DAC for high resolution music, but I'm not sure if that would work.

 

[bigboss]

An other alternative is to get a Sonos system with a separate DAC for high resolution music, but I'm not sure if that would work.

Sonos is a brilliant option, but bear in mind that it does not support 24-bit audio.

 

[Anonymous]

An other alternative is to get a Sonos system with a separate DAC for high resolution music, but I'm not sure if that would work.

Sonos is a brilliant option, but bear in mind that it does not support 24-bit audio.

So buying a separate DAC for high resolution audio will not solve that? (doh)

 

[Anonymous]

I will look into Naim and see what they have to offer.

You cannot fast forward on the Naim streamers although that may or may not be added with a future software update at some point as yet unspecified in the future!

Interesting.. I thought that Naim would do it if anyone..?

Is it just me or is this something so rarely used that the vendors desided not to implement it? It cant be that hard - Logitech and Sonos have that feature and (for instance) what would all Compact Disc users say it that function was removed just like that? I still think it's a bit shocking... But thanks for letting me know!

 

[amcluesent]

You have some 'hi end' demands, but oddly don't mention gapless playback which is something few of the players using UPnP can do!

I'd say look at a 2nd hand Squeezebox Transporter at around the £600 mark-

* Ability to play high bit music (24/192) from a NAS (Linux) via Ethernet cable. Not natively, but 24/192 will be resampled to 24/96 in realtime by the server
* Mobile device controller (iOS/Android control app). Yes, several proven apps available on both platforms
* Internet Radio. Yes, ample plus BBC Listen Again plug-in
* Being able to Fast forward in a track from mobile device. Yes.
* At least two digital inputs to internal DAC (one for optical and one for coaxial). Yes, plus AES/EBU balanced digital in

The following things are nice-to-have:

* .m4p (Apple lossless) support. Yes. transcoded in realtime by the server to FLAC
* Air Play. No

 

[John Duncan]

I'm not really sure If I understand you completly. What I'm saying is if I have a track that is 20:00 minutes long and only want to hear the last 2:00 minutes (from 18:00 to 20:00) I would like to be able to swipe/slide the progress bar in the mobile app to get to that point and not have to wait for 18 minutes just to get there.

I'm just slightly confused as to which tracks are 20 minutes long. Most long tracks like that that I know (classical, Supper's Ready for example) have tracks to skip to.

I think somebody from Cambridge said it's basically not part of the UPnP standard and is hard to implement. No idea how true or not that is.

Oh, and @amcluesent, both Naim and Cambridge support gapless.

 

[bigboss]

An other alternative is to get a Sonos system with a separate DAC for high resolution music, but I'm not sure if that would work.

Sonos is a brilliant option, but bear in mind that it does not support 24-bit audio.

So buying a separate DAC for high resolution audio will not solve that? (doh)

This one supports 24-bit audio.

Review here.

 

[mykspence]

I'm just slightly confused as to which tracks are 20 minutes long. Most long tracks like that that I know (classical, Supper's Ready for example) have tracks to skip to.

Early Oldfield stuff for a start. But I find it useful when you have a hidden track on a cd, which only plays after a 10 minute wait.

 

[amcluesent]

The Musical Fidelity M1CLiC ticks some of the boxes. Certainly native 24/192 and digital inputs. I think you're out of luck on some other functions due to limitations of UPnP. An iOS app is supposedly in development.

 

[bigboss]

Another option.

Early impressions here.

 

[Crocodile]

Logitech Squeezebox Touch + DAC of your choice/budget.

 

[nads]

Logitech Squeezebox Touch + DAC of your choice/budget.

and it does gapless plyback.

 

[Anonymous]

Logitech Squeezebox Touch + DAC of your choice/budget.

Hi and thanks for post, but Logitech Squeezebox Touch, does not support 24/192 files and Im not sure adding a DAC will solve rhe issue.

Having gapless playback is more of a "nice to have".

 

[Crocodile]

Hi and thanks for post, but Logitech Squeezebox Touch, does not support 24/192 files

Not natively but:

http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?94512-Announce-Enhanced-Digital-Output-app-USB-Dac-and-192k-Digital-Ouput

 

[amcluesent]

>>Having gapless playback is more of a "nice to have".<<

Really? It would be far, far higher up my list than 24/192!

 

[kungula]

If you go for Sonos you need a DAC, if you take any Linn you can live without it. I auditioned just last week to the Linn Majik DSM and it offers all you will need for the next 10 years including HDMI.

 

[Crocodile]

>>Having gapless playback is more of a "nice to have".<<

Really? It would be far, far higher up my list than 24/192!

Maybe it's a generational thing? The idea of listening to albums in their entirety seems to be a concept that is lost on the playlist generation who only cherry pick their favourite tracks.

What I can't begin to fathom though is why reviewers continue to completely ignore this flaw in many of the so-called audiophile streamers. Again, maybe it's a generational thing but that doesn't explain why someone who is more "mature" & reviews for a mag specifically aimed at the classical listener also ignores the issue. :?

 

[Andrew Everard]

What I can't begin to fathom though is why reviewers continue to completely ignore this flaw in many of the so-called audiophile streamers. Again, maybe it's a generational thing but that doesn't explain why someone who is more "mature" & reviews for a mag specifically aimed at the classical listener also ignores the issue. :?

I'd suggest you clickety (and read some Gramophone reviews) before suggesting this issue is being ignored – although of course I can't speak for everyone here who is more "mature" & reviews for a mag specifically aimed at the classical listener

 

[Anonymous]

>>Having gapless playback is more of a "nice to have".<<

Really? It would be far, far higher up my list than 24/192!

If I can't listen to the 24/192 file I'm in no need of gapless playback - therefor the higher prio according to me.