Recommend a simple but effective streaming playback device

[SACripps]

I have a room in my place where I would like to stream music. I don't want to spend much, but I want good sound reproduction and I don't want it to take up too much space. Stereo and not mono playback is essential.

The Zeppelin Air would be perfect...if it was considerably cheaper.

Any help/advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

Airport Express (Apple) and some cheap active speakers. Or a small one boxer eg Denon,Marantz etc and some speakers. You can stream from a laptop, Nas, iPod Touch or iPad.
Nick

 

[Anonymous]

SB Touch + Audio Engine A2s.

 

[SACripps]

Thanks - nice to have two differing points of view. There's some investigating for me to do now.

Thanks again.

 

[SACripps]

Thanks - nice to have two differing points of view. Now for some investigating!

Thanks again.

 

[Anonymous]

Plus one for the audioengine A2's, they're great littlespeakers!

Personally I have an ever-growing collection of Airport Expresses (or is that Expressi?) and really can't fault the iTunes/AirPlay solution (continually improving via software updates too) but can see a lot to recommend the Squeezebox as well. Depends a lot on your existing music software I guess? Good luck choosing!

 

[Anonymous]

Apple's whole solution is badly flawed. You have to have ur pc on, are restricted to Apple formats and only 720p video at poor bitrates.

If u have a wireless network, just buy a full 1080p media streamer like a playon!hd2 - or if u dont need the internal storage the playon!hd mini 2 and off u go.

 

[Anonymous]

Not as flawed as this comment, however. Perhaps you'd like to explain the importance of 1080p when streaming music?

 

[Anonymous]

Apple's whole solution is badly flawed. You have to have ur pc on, are restricted to Apple formats and only 720p video at poor bitrates.

If u have a wireless network, just buy a full 1080p media streamer like a playon!hd2 - or if u dont need the internal storage the playon!hd mini 2 and off u go.

So, aside from missing the point of recommending "a simple but effective streaming playback device" and recommending that the OP spends additional money on a NAS instead (with no recommendation of a device for actually listening to the music on it...), I think calling CD quality bitrates "poor" is a little harsh, and as Grotty said, how is the video resolution relevant to music streaming?

I'd also point out that iTunes will play most formats aside from FLAC, (and it can even that with various plugins available - which also allow for 24-bit...) and what's wrong with Apple Lossless as a format anyway?

Finally, I'd point out that with an AirPlay device (eg Airport Express, Zepplin Air, Marantz CR6003, etc) playback can be controlled and/or sent from any iTunes device, including iPod/Pad/Phones... Obviously if you have an allergic reaction to apples, like TechMad, this will be a problem, but otherwise it's great!

P.S And I'm not denigrating the SB Touch at all, please do still check it out and choose for yourself!

 

[Anonymous]

I use my 32gb iPod touch to stream music to my Aex then into my Adms no computer used only when updating my iPod playlists.
Nick