convenient flac playback with remote control ?

[meehow]

Could you comment and help please.
New to hifi. Actually returning after 30 years.

I have:
- amplifier (inputs: RCA, optical, coax)
- speakers
- android phone and tablet

I want to:
1. Playback Flac.
2. Remote control from a phone/tablet where I could set up playlists, search by artist etc.

Priority is music quality. Otherwise, I would have just popped headphones out from a phone into the amp LOL!
Second priority is functionality.
Currently, I play Flac from an old Panasonic DVD player (from USB stick) -> over optical into the Denon amplifier.
The quality is great but Panasonic only has next/previous/random and is sooo slow switching between pages of flacs not to mention, there is no sorting nor playlists.
I have to keep my TV on to see what is played - another nuisance.

I would like to avoid spending more than £250 if not necessary.

I identified the following 3 options. Perhaps there are other options?

Option A £250
Denon AVRX550BT
- plays flac from an USB stick (some limitation to a number of folders and files)
- can be controlled via app
- not sure how useful the app is

Option B £200
Volumio app on a slim PC (fanless small factor office computer) with USB DAC
- apparently very useful app - works over wifi
- basic DAC: fiio or topping

Option C £100 + £10
USB DAC connected to tablet over 3 meters of cable
- basic DAC: fiio or topping
- apparently a quality USB cable can transfer data up to 5 meters, I need 3 meters from tablet on a sofa to the DAC,
- any good media player app in the playstore (£10?)

 

[Gray]

.....I would like to avoid spending more than £250 if not necessary.
Option B £200
Volumio app on a slim PC (fanless small factor office computer) with USB DAC
- apparently very useful app - works over wifi

How do you fancy (a version of) your option B for under £100?
The small fanless PC would be a Raspberry Pi with a plug-on PCB to give (coax or optical) digital out to your amplifier....meaning no need to buy a DAC.
This is not the current model, but it's all you'd need:

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Buy Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ at Amazon UK. Free delivery and return on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

Then this plugs on:

HiFiBerry Digi+ PRO : Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

HiFiBerry Digi+ PRO : Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

www.amazon.co.uk

The other essentials are a 5v PSU (minimum 2.5 amps).
And a micro SD card for the Pi to store the Volumio operating system.
Some sort of enclosure for the above is optional - though it's all small enough to be hidden away out of sight.

Does everything you require.
You can plug your FLAC drive into any of the Pi's USB ports.
(The SD card can also store some of your music - in which case you select 'internal' drive and no external drive is even necessary).
Volumio also allows you to stream 'radio' stations (including Radio Paradise, which streams at CD quality).

You wouldn't be able to fault the (bit-perfect) sound....though you might prefer something better-looking, if you want it to be on show.
Don't be daunted by any of the above, if you know how to write to an SD card....you know more than I did when I started (I'd never touched one before)....and that's the hardest part.

 

[Friesiansam]

About "quality" USB cables. Don't bother with expensive 'audio grade' cables, Anker or Belkin will serve you well.