Network music player basics

[hybridauth_Facebook_715980457]

Hello guys,

I'm rather new to all this, but I listen to a lot of Spotify and iTunes so I thought a network music player (is this just called a streamer?) could be a good option.

However, I can't seem to find some basics. I hope you guys could give me a hand!

What exactly are they for? (Super basic, I know, but most websites mention the strength of the compontants rather than what the thing can actually be used for!)

I have an amp, speakers, and a record player currently. What does the network music player plug into?

I'm planning on either using my phone, computer or tablet to play music through the network music player. Is this ideal? Or do you have to have a NAS for peak performance (only just found out what this is)?

I've heard of people mentioning that they plug their TV into a network music player. What would this do?

Thank you so much guys, really appreciate it!

 

[The_Lhc]

What exactly are they for? (Super basic, I know, but most websites mention the strength of the compontants rather than what the thing can actually be used for!)

The clue is kind of in the name, they play music over a network (wireless or wired typically), that can either be locally stored music that you own or from an online service such as Spotify.

I have an amp, speakers, and a record player currently. What does the network music player plug into?

Depends what you buy, if you buy an all in one that has amps and speakers built in then it doesn't plug in to any of that, it's an independant unit, other will have an on-board amp but no speakers, so you'd plug speakers in it, other will be just a player, no amp, no speakers, so you'd treat them just like a CD player and plug that into your amp as an additional source.

I'm planning on either using my phone, computer or tablet to play music through the network music player. Is this ideal? Or do you have to have a NAS for peak performance (only just found out what this is)?

Whatever's easiest for you, a lot of players can pull music directly from a phone or table but it's not the most reliable method, if you're happy to have your PC running all the time you wish to listen to music then you can configure most players to get your music directly from there. That's what a NAS would replace, they won't give you "peak performance" because that really doesn't mean anything but NASs are generally quieter and cheaper to run compared to having a PC running all the time. For online services most players would ignore the computer and just pull the service directly. You'd probably be using the phone or tablet for controlling the device, it does depend entirely on the player in question however.

I've heard of people mentioning that they plug their TV into a network music player. What would this do?

What would do this or why would you do it? I can't think of any reason why you'd want to do that.

 

[spiny norman]

I've heard of people mentioning that they plug their TV into a network music player. What would this do?

What would do this or why would you do it? I can't think of any reason why you'd want to do that.

Nor me, unless the network player has a digital input to which you could connect the digital out on a TV, enabling sound to be played through your system.

 

[The_Lhc]

Yeah, good point, keep forgetting modern TVs often only have digital outputs now.

 

[spiny norman]

Yeah, good point, keep forgetting modern TVs often only have digital outputs now.

Gad-danged newfangled technology! ;-) Mind you, even when both analog and digital are provided, the latter often sounds better, though you must be sure to set the TV to output 2ch PCM rather than doubly digital or whatever.

 

[Dave_]

I've heard of people mentioning that they plug their TV into a network music player. What would this do?

What would do this or why would you do it? I can't think of any reason why you'd want to do that.

Nor me, unless the network player has a digital input to which you could connect the digital out on a TV, enabling sound to be played through your system.

Or just maybe the OP is confusing network music player and media player...

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_715980457]

Thank you so much for all the replies.

I feel I have the basics, but a LOT more to work out!

Is it better to connect a streamer to your own quality amp and speakers, or get something like a SONOS PLAYBAR that seems to do everything?

How does a streamer make music from Spotify sound better?

Finally, where do most people buy high quality digital audio from to store on a NAS? (I'm sure it's not iTunes.)

 

[jmgooding]

I'd say it depends on your priorities.

I'm a big fan of Sonos and have a Connect hooked up to a PM6005 and Focal Aria 906s via digital coax and I think it sounds great. I also have a Playbar, which sounds good for what it is (don't have a sub) but is really convenient.

Among others, Qobuz sell digital audio - including high res, but if that's your thing then Sonos doesn't stream high res.

I spend a lot of time now streaming Qobuz and Spotify over the Sonos Connect and it makes me very happy. Which is the point of it all I guess

 

[The_Lhc]

Is it better to connect a streamer to your own quality amp and speakers, or get something like a SONOS PLAYBAR that seems to do everything?

Well, that kind of depends on what you want, do you want to use your tried and trusted amp and speakers or do you need audio in a different room or, in the case of a Playbar, are you looking to enhance your TV sound as well. There's no one answer here, you pick the product that meets your requirements or you get both of course, Sonos' USP is it's multi-room capabilities, so it's kind of expected that you'll end up with more than one.

How does a streamer make music from Spotify sound better?

Better than what?

Finally, where do most people buy high quality digital audio from to store on a NAS? (I'm sure it's not iTunes.)

Well, firstly, don't discount the abilities of decent compression techniques, I've got a favourite group that frequently only release their music in mp3 and I have to be honest, I really don't notice much difference. But if you have a look over on the thread asking who's still buying CDs you'll see a lot of people buy them solely to rip them to a lossless format and the CD never gets played directly (I do this myself, although I'll occassionally play a CD in the car), otherwise many groups now sell their music directly from their own websites, which will generally include a lossless format, often 24-bit if that's what you're after. Otherwise 7digital is selling some lossless and hi-res stuff now, they recently had Bjork's new album on 24-bit for just £7.49, the 16-bit version was only a pound cheaper so it was no great hardship to go for the 24-bit, just on the off-chance it was mastered differently of course.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_715980457]

"better than what?"

I mean, better than simply plugging in my phone or laptop directly into my amp.

Thank you!

 

[The_Lhc]

"better than what?"

I mean, better than simply plugging in my phone or laptop directly into my amp.

Thank you!

That will just be down to the quality of the analogue output stage, which will vary from streamer to streamer as well as from laptop to laptop and phone to phone.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_715980457]

So, I've also discovered VEVO for playing music videos on my TV via my ROKU 3.

Could I hook up a streamer (say, a Stream Magic 6) to improve the audio of these clips?

Would I plug the ROKU 3 into the STREAM MAGIC? (Not even sure if this can be done.)