Musaic MPL Music Player £250...a snip?

[Leeps]

As a Tidal subscriber, I tend to keep my eyes open for streamers that incorporate the service. This is one, and looks an interesting alternative to the Sonos Connect.

Much is made of the Sabre DAC, so for its £250 asking price, it would be interesting to see how its SQ compared. Given the DAC used, I guess much would depend on the quality of the analogue outputs (although digital outputs are also available) and of course the user-friendliness of its control app. But it would be interesting to see what sort of SQ you could achieve using its own DAC streaming Tidal through the analogue RCA outs into a conventional integrated amp.

Considering the price of the Bluesound Node now after its price hike to £500, the Musaic looks very appealing, particularly when you start considering more than one for multi-room applications. Although Musaic has been around for a couple of years, it looks like the MPL music player has only just been released. Its about time someone came up with a new era Squeezebox that ticked all the audiophile boxes in a reasonably priced but high SQ package.

 

[tino]

As a Tidal subscriber, I tend to keep my eyes open for streamers that incorporate the service. This is one, and looks an interesting alternative to the Sonos Connect.

Much is made of the Sabre DAC, so for its £250 asking price, it would be interesting to see how its SQ compared. Given the DAC used, I guess much would depend on the quality of the analogue outputs (although digital outputs are also available) and of course the user-friendliness of its control app. But it would be interesting to see what sort of SQ you could achieve using its own DAC streaming Tidal through the analogue RCA outs into a conventional integrated amp.

Considering the price of the Bluesound Node now after its price hike to £500, the Musaic looks very appealing, particularly when you start considering more than one for multi-room applications. Although Musaic has been around for a couple of years, it looks like the MPL music player has only just been released. Its about time someone came up with a new era Squeezebox that ticked all the audiophile boxes in a reasonably priced but high SQ package.

Interesting little box which also includes an element of home automation. There are a couple of omissions which if present would have made this device a great proposition as a digital hub ... e.g. Bluetooth (which is on their other products), a way to attach a USB hard drive, and at least one digital input to make use of that nice DAC that's inside. Shame but I will stick with my Squeezebox for now.

 

[Leeps]

True, although maybe that's why it's half the price of the Bluesound Node which does carry those features. If they've concentrated their budget entirely on sound quality and creating a robust user-friendly app, then it's to be applauded, although much does ride on those two 'ifs'.

As I don't own any downloaded music and don't use Bluetooth it doesn't bother me. My only musical sources are Tidal (used 95% of the time), CD and the odd Bluray Audio.

At the price it's almost worth a punt.

 

[tino]

True, although maybe that's why it's half the price of the Bluesound Node which does carry those features. If they've concentrated their budget entirely on sound quality and creating a robust user-friendly app, then it's to be applauded, although much does ride on those two 'ifs'.

At the price it's almost worth a punt.

Agreed ... it looks a better value product than the Bluesound.

 

[nopiano]

Thanks for highlighting this product, another contender to carry on the role that the SBT did so well. What I regret is that the screen, which I thought was a big feature of the Squeezebox, is no longer deemed necessary. I suppose the app has eliminated the need, and doubtless a manufacturer is delighted at the cost saving?

 

[muljao]

Looks very similar to my Raumfeld connector, I paid 179 euro, aboyt 150 pounds for mind, now available for 149 euro, a bargain in my opinion

https://www.teufelaudio.com/wifi/raumfeld-connector-p9527.html

 

[tino]

Thanks for highlighting this product, another contender to carry on the role that the SBT did so well.  What I regret is that the screen, which I thought was a big feature of the Squeezebox, is no longer deemed necessary.  I suppose the app has eliminated the need, and doubtless a manufacturer is delighted at the cost saving? 

All is not lost ... Check this out http://rasptouch.audiophonics.fr/

 

[Leeps]

A lot depends on how you intend to use it. If you intend to use the optical output into a separate DAC, then you're less concerned about its inherant sound quality, as long as it's not too badly jittery (a la Sonos). But adding a separate DAC begins to up the cost again if you only have a conventional integrated amp.

I was just thinking how this might fare as a replacement for a CD player in a conventional source > integrated amp > speakers system, so I'm curious to know what its own SQ is like using the RCA outputs. For that reason its lack of Bluetooth and USB gizmos could bode well for its SQ.

 

[nopiano]

Thanks for highlighting this product, another contender to carry on the role that the SBT did so well. What I regret is that the screen, which I thought was a big feature of the Squeezebox, is no longer deemed necessary. I suppose the app has eliminated the need, and doubtless a manufacturer is delighted at the cost saving?

All is not lost ... Check this out

It seems to be one of these things they have to raise money for, like Olive once did. Not getting my money! Nice idea I'm sure.

The link went a bit weird on my iPad. I found this:-

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1626717193/audiophile-touch-audio-player-raspberry-pi-3-sabre

 

[nevalti]

I have been using MPLs for a few months now and really cannot fault the sound.

In my main listening room I use Digital Out into my Benchmark DAC2 and a top notch hifi system and am delighted with how good it sounds. This combination easily matches mega expensive L*** & N*** streamers. The built in DAC is also really good, perhaps a little too polite in my system, but plenty good enough for non critical listening such as my bedroom and is probably Ideal in a bright system. Its own a DAC very much reminds me of the AK Jr which is truly great with bright earphones but less than great with excellent earphones.

I was using Sonos and SBT but since hearing the MPL, all of the Sonos kit has gone on eBay along with the SBT. The Squeezebox is an excellent streamer but not very user friendly. The Sonos Zoneplayers were seriously shown up by the MPLs. The improved 'realism' via MPL instead of Sonos was remarkable. I don't know how or why Sonos Zoneplayers were spoiling the sound but they certainly were. To the Sonos lovers - No, I was not using any signal processing or volume control via Sonos. Everything was turned off to get the best possible sound - which simply was not good enough. Comparing the same track on Sonos and CD via the same DAC you could hear a clear difference. Conducting the same test with the MPL, it is indistinguishable from the CD.

The Musaic App is pretty disappointing. I have too many albums to use Album View so I have to use Folder View to find what I want. Unfortunately, I have yet to find a way to play the whole album via Folder View. Either I am being a bit thick or the App designer was. All is not lost however as ANY Allplayer App works just fine. I tend to use the Panasonic App most of the time and the Musaic App for radio as you can easily select the superb, high bit rate BBC streams. Ahhhh, Radio 3 as she was always meant to be heard - wonderful live broadcasts. Even the close-miked performances are pretty good.

One big drawback for me is that I can not find any Windows Apps for Allplayer based systems. That is a real pain as I have a Windows PC or tablet in every room but my one and only phone, which is now essential, always seems to be in a different room when I need it. Also, using the Panasonic & Musaic Apps just eats battery power. My iPhone will not last a day with those Apps turned on. Sonos overcame the high battery use issue but the others don't seem to have caught up. The Sonos App is far better in lots of ways but Sonos sound quality is clearly inferior. If Musaic can improve their App, they deserve to take over the market completely.

To me, sound quality is of prime importance and I can put up with an inferior App. Some people don't even understand what sound quality is, so they are more influenced by the App. That is why Sonos have done so well.

 

[Leeps]

Some useful comments there Nevalti, thank you. Especially about SQ, app functionality & idevice battery use.

There are quite a few streamers now that offer similar functionality at the below £500 mark;

Aurelic Aries Mini - usefully small, majors on SQ. Decent internal DAC, but lacks support for Spotify and other streaming services. As a Tidal user, that's fine for me, but not if Tidal went belly-up overnight. £450 a shot starts to get expensive for multi-room and there's not a wide range of products that fit in with the ecosystem in the way that Bluesound and Yamaha have.

Bluesound Node - excellent functionality with probably the widest support of streaming services out there (bar Sonos), and whatever the SQ of its own DAC, offers digital outputs anyway. MQA support is a bonus, but it's getting on the pricey side now at £500.

Musaic MPL - already covered really.

Yamaha WXC50 - Yamaha's MusicCast app seems to attract universal praise. Yamaha really seem to have invested heavily in getting the whole MusicCast thing right first time, so credit where it's due. Digital outputs too. Now/soon to support Tidal too.

Yamaha WXAD-10 - Cheap but sadly lacking digital output. At least this could work for reasonably priced 2nd systems and can link in with the WXC50 for a main system.

if multi-room, rather than streaming ability is important, then the ability of MusicCast to have a wide range of priced components for different systems is pretty handy and has a major impact on overall budget. 2 or 3 Bluesound Nodes start to look expensive for example if you want stereo rather than one-box boombox type systems.

There are other streamers in this price range of course, but many only offer local streaming from your computer or NAS. Cambridge streamers (more expensive I know) don't offer Tidal, so I wouldn't consider them no matter how good they sounded. Shame as I like the brand's house sound.

 

[Andrewjvt]

Some useful comments there Nevalti, thank you.  Especially about SQ, app functionality & idevice battery use.

There are quite a few streamers now that offer similar functionality at the below £500 mark;

Aurelic Aries Mini - usefully small, majors on SQ. Decent internal DAC, but lacks support for Spotify and other streaming services.  As a Tidal user, that's fine for me, but not if Tidal went belly-up overnight.  £450 a shot starts to get expensive for multi-room and there's not a wide range of products that fit in with the ecosystem in the way that Bluesound and Yamaha have.

 

Bluesound Node - excellent functionality with probably the widest support of streaming services out there (bar Sonos), and whatever the SQ of its own DAC, offers digital outputs anyway.  MQA support is a bonus, but it's getting on the pricey side now at £500.

 

Musaic MPL - already covered really.

 

Yamaha WXC50 - Yamaha's MusicCast app seems to attract universal praise.  Yamaha really seem to have invested heavily in getting the whole MusicCast thing right first time, so credit where it's due.  Digital outputs too. Now/soon to support Tidal too. 

 

Yamaha WXAD-10 - Cheap but sadly lacking digital output.  At least this could work for reasonably priced 2nd systems and can link in with the WXC50 for a main system.

 

 

if multi-room, rather than streaming ability is important, then the ability of MusicCast to have a wide range of priced components for different systems is pretty handy and has a major impact on overall budget.  2 or 3 Bluesound Nodes start to look expensive for example if you want stereo rather than one-box boombox type systems.

 

 

 

 

There are other streamers in this price range of course, but many only offer local streaming from your computer or NAS.  Cambridge streamers (more expensive I know) don't offer Tidal, so I wouldn't consider them no matter how good they sounded. Shame as I like the brand's house sound.

 

 

A good sum up of all the top choices.

For me its a toss up between bluesound and aries mini.
With the mini winning over the ability to add an ssd internaly of my choice and the bluesound having slightly better function.

 

[insider9]

Where did the info about Yamaha WXC-50 and Tidal came from? It would be great news.

EDIT

Found the info. That's great news indeed! Coming this summer. Can't wait.

 

[Andrewjvt]

Where did the info about Yamaha WXC-50 and Tidal came from? It would be great news.

EDIT

Found the info. That's great news indeed! Coming this summer. Can't wait.

How are you connecting the yamaha music cast?

 

[insider9]

How are you connecting the yamaha music cast?

At the minute I'm using Yamaha's built-in dac so it goes analogue (pre out) to amp and (line out) to headphone amp. That's how I used it for the last 6 months. I have my PC connected via optical as well and use USB for FLAC playback.

Once I get my new minidsp I will be using it as preamp/streamer only going out via coax.

Worth adding sound quality of in-built dac is excellent. I compared it to Sonos Connect and the differences weren't small. Sonos still won in terms of app itself but in everything else Yamaha crushed it. I was going to upgrade to Bluesound Node 2 a couple of times and considered using playback from a pc via Roon but Yamaha is excellent value as it's so much more than just a steamer and now that it will support Tidal it meets my needs 100%. The app could still do with some development but can't complain really.

 

[Andrewjvt]

How are you connecting the yamaha music cast?

At the minute I'm using Yamaha's built-in dac so it goes analogue (pre out) to amp and (line out) to headphone amp. That's how I used it for the last 6 months. I have my PC connected via optical as well and use USB for FLAC playback.

Once I get my new minidsp I will be using it as preamp/streamer only going out via coax.

Worth adding sound quality of in-built dac is excellent. I compared it to Sonos Connect and the differences weren't small. Sonos still won in terms of app itself but in everything else Yamaha crushed it. I was going to upgrade to Bluesound Node 2 a couple of times and considered using playback from a pc via Roon but Yamaha is excellent value as it's so much more than just a steamer and now that it will support Tidal it meets my needs 100%. The app could still do with some development but can't complain really.

Ok.thanks for that

 

[Blacksabbath25]

I got my Yamaha WXC-50 connected though my Yamaha A-S cdplayer using coax so I am taking advantage of the onboard dac on my cdplayer which is better then the WXC-50 dac .

i never tried the flac files yet as mainly streaming off my iMac from my own library which basically I am only using airplay .

 

[Andrewjvt]

I got my Yamaha WXC-50 connected though my Yamaha A-S cdplayer using coax so I am taking advantage of the onboard dac on my cdplayer which is better then the WXC-50 dac .

i never tried the flac files yet as mainly streaming off my iMac from my own library which basically I am only using airplay .

How do you find the sound quality between airplay and playing cds through same dac? Do you notice a change?

 

[Blacksabbath25]

I got my Yamaha WXC-50 connected though my Yamaha A-S cdplayer using coax so I am taking advantage of the onboard dac on my cdplayer which is better then the WXC-50 dac .

i never tried the flac files yet as mainly streaming off my iMac from my own library which basically I am only using airplay .

How do you find the sound quality between airplay and playing cds through same dac? Do you notice a change?

yes I notice that the cd sounds better then using airplay .

i have my settings on my iTunes set to best quality and the MusicCast hard wired to the router as you get no drop outs in sound as I found using the wifi on the MusicCast the sound lost abit of soundstage using the wifi and now and again drop-outs in sound .

but Yamaha keep coming up with updates which improves things but basically the MusicCast is excellent value for money .

 

[nevalti]

Having re-read my earlier post about the excellent Musaic MPL, I notice that one comment was perhaps a little misleading in one respect.

Although I can find no Windows App to control the MPL, nor indeed any Allplay products, you can easily send music to it from Windows 10 using the common or garden 'Windows Explorer'. Right click on the folder or file that you wish to play - Select 'Cast to device' and select the reqired device. A mini controller and 'Castlist' will pop up.

You can add to the 'Castlist' by dragging extra files or folders into the list or by repeating the original selection procedure. Right click within the list to move or delete tracks. The 'Castlist/Controller' Window remains available until you delete it - just like any other 'Window'.

That's fine BUT it does not interact with any of the Allplay Apps. You can't control the Windows 'Castlist' from an App or visa versa. One caution - if you select a whole album from the folder it lists all the tracks in the 'Castlist' but it only plays one track at a time and then stops. If you add multiple track from within a folder it plays them sequentially - just as you would expect. Strange logic!