Best Wireless Solution for Streaming music/video from PC via DAC

[admin_exported]

Current setup

PC > Stello DA100 DAC > Roksan amp

What I would now like to do though is move my PC into another room, and stream files to my DAC/Amp in the living room. My main focus is on getting music files streamed (which are mainly flac), however I would also like to be able to stream video files from my PC, with audio via DAC/Amp also.

What would be the best device to do this?

 

[nads]

Two very different problems. One of which I don't think you will sort. as Video does not go anywhere near a DAC.

there are some USB wireless dongles out there that may work for you. Does the DAC have a wireless input?

Otherwise look at some media player that you can attach to the TV and the Amp/DAC and use that to access the files on the PC or put them all on a NAS and use a media player to access that.

 

[professorhat]

Assuming your TV and stereo are within easy reach of each other, you just need a media streamer (like the LG ST600). Optical output on this is connected into DAC which goes into stereo. HDMI output connects it to the TV - job done.

The key thing is to ensure you get a streamer which can handle whatever format your music and videos are stored in.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, thanks for the reply. No wireless on the DAC, but could I not connect something like the Netgear Neo TV directly to a router via ethernet and then connect the Neo TV via optical out to the DAC? (maybe I wasn't clear in that it doesn't have to be a completely wireless solution), would that not then enable the NeoTV to access both movie and video files on the PC in another room

I'm trying to aviod using a NAS as my music/video files are at about 2TB (and growing), and was hopying for a cheaper solution.

 

[Anonymous]

Assuming your TV and stereo are within easy reach of each other, you just need a media streamer (like the LG ST600). Optical output on this is connected into DAC which goes into stereo. HDMI output connects it to the TV - job done.

The key thing is to ensure you get a streamer which can handle whatever format your music and videos are stored in.

Thanks, typed my previous reply before I saw this, so to confirm the set up would be router > media streamer > DAC > Amp (with an HDMI from streamer to TV also)?

 

[nads]

Assuming your TV and stereo are within easy reach of each other, you just need a media streamer (like the LG ST600). Optical output on this is connected into DAC which goes into stereo. HDMI output connects it to the TV - job done.

The key thing is to ensure you get a streamer which can handle whatever format your music and videos are stored in.

Thanks, typed my previous reply before I saw this, so to confirm the set up would be router > media streamer > DAC > Amp (with an HDMI from streamer to TV also)?

only if you are only sending Stereo audio to the DAC no 5.1 audio.

 

[professorhat]

Assuming your TV and stereo are within easy reach of each other, you just need a media streamer (like the LG ST600). Optical output on this is connected into DAC which goes into stereo. HDMI output connects it to the TV - job done.

The key thing is to ensure you get a streamer which can handle whatever format your music and videos are stored in.

Thanks, typed my previous reply before I saw this, so to confirm the set up would be router > media streamer > DAC > Amp (with an HDMI from streamer to TV also)?

Essentially - assuming you have a wireless network, the streamer doesn't necessarily have to be connected to the router (though it's probably recommended if you can get a wired connection, especially for video streaming). The PC would also need to be hooked into that same network - again best if it can be wired, but wireless should work.

Then as you say, streamer is connected into the DAC via optical output (or digital coaxial - depends on streamer / DAC) and into the TV via HDMI.

only if you are only sending Stereo audio to the DAC no 5.1 audio.

Indeed, good point. If you want 5.1 audio on streamed video, you'd have to go a different route.

 

[Anonymous]

I'l only be using Stereo out rather than 5.1. Does the above solution mean that all media files would need to be accessed via the Streamer, or would I be able to, say for instance, load up a playlist on Foobar2000 on the PC and for it to stream via the streamer/dac without the TV being switched on.

 

[nads]

I'l only be using Stereo out rather than 5.1. Does the above solution mean that all media files would need to be accessed via the Streamer, or would I be able to, say for instance, load up a playlist on Foobar2000 on the PC and for it to stream via the streamer/dac without the TV being switched on.

the streamer as that is waht is playing the music. If you want the PC to play it you will just need some USB dongles.

You need to decide what you want to "play" the files. PC or media player.

 

[professorhat]

I'l only be using Stereo out rather than 5.1. Does the above solution mean that all media files would need to be accessed via the Streamer, or would I be able to, say for instance, load up a playlist on Foobar2000 on the PC and for it to stream via the streamer/dac without the TV being switched on.

I believe you would need to access the files via the streamer.

For just streaming music wirelessly from your PC to the DAC in another room, you could implement an Apple Airport Express with the Airfoil application. This allows you to stream anything on your PC to the Airport Express (which is connected into the DAC via optical). So using this, you could thus load up a playlist within whatever application you like (e.g. Foobar2000) on the PC and stream this to the Airport Express.

This wouldn't handle video though. For that, it may be possible to use an Apple TV (certainly streaming music would be the same via Airfoil). I've no idea how you stream video from a PC to an Apple TV though, so perhaps someone else can say whether this is possible.

 

[Anonymous]

I'l only be using Stereo out rather than 5.1. Does the above solution mean that all media files would need to be accessed via the Streamer, or would I be able to, say for instance, load up a playlist on Foobar2000 on the PC and for it to stream via the streamer/dac without the TV being switched on.

I believe you would need to access the files via the streamer.

For just streaming music wirelessly from your PC to the DAC in another room, you could implement an Apple Airport Express with the Airfoil application. This allows you to stream anything on your PC to the Airport Express (which is connected into the DAC via optical). So using this, you could thus load up a playlist within whatever application you like (e.g. Foobar2000) on the PC and stream this to the Airport Express.

This wouldn't handle video though. For that, it may be possible to use an Apple TV (certainly streaming music would be the same via Airfoil). I've no idea how you stream video from a PC to an Apple TV though, so perhaps someone else can say whether this is possible.

So Airfoil enables you to use applications other than itunes with Airport? This might be the route I take then, as the thing putting me off Airport was having to use itunes and flac being unsupported. I can live without being able to stream from video files.

 

[professorhat]

Yup, Airfoil lets you send sound from any application or even all sound from a PC to an Airport Express / Apple TV. Costs $25 (just over £15 thereabouts).