Streaming

[lpv]

But I can't agree ever that 320 mb/s mp3 is indistinguishable from cd. Part of the requirements of the op relate to obvious differences he hears. It might be close - but it is obviously discernible.

wiggy

if you play song xyz from cd and play same xyz song but from qobuz via bluetooth then bluetooth is what limits you, not mp3..

bluetooth is inferior - sound quality wise - to cd

 

[tonky]

You are quite correct - I forgot he was just using bluetooth (inferior - big yes) - I thought he was also using upnp and/or DLNA. And 320mp3 still inferior - but getting closer.

cheers tonky

 

[cse]

I contacted Arcam and they said:

"to enjoy aptx you need both the sources (ie your ipad) and Solo to support aptx. We cannot "genenerate" aptx if the sources don't transmit it.

Audio dropouts - Try playing local contact on your ipad to solo (not streaming), then stream into your ipad and listen to that using headphones. That will tell you if it is the wifi or the BT that is dropping out.

CD quality over BT - It is measurably better than compressed audio (eg MP3 or AAC) but it is debateable whether you will hear the difference".

Not sure what local contact means. I also don't own headphones, but bearing in mind that the dropout is so spasmodmic I'm not sure how I can tell. Have pretty much decided that for streaming purposes i won't upgrade from MP3 320 to CD quality, but I would like to eliminate the sporadic dropouts. The streaming capabilities are not the reason for purchasing the Arcam though. I could of course by a better quality streamer as an add-on (?).

ap

 

[davedotco]

I contacted Arcam and they said:

"to enjoy aptx you need both the sources (ie your ipad) and Solo to support aptx. We cannot "genenerate" aptx if the sources don't transmit it.

Audio dropouts - Try playing local contact on your ipad to solo (not streaming), then stream into your ipad and listen to that using headphones. That will tell you if it is the wifi or the BT that is dropping out.

CD quality over BT - It is measurably better than compressed audio (eg MP3 or AAC) but it is debateable whether you will hear the difference".

Not sure what local contact means. I also don't own headphones, but bearing in mind that the dropout is so spasmodmic I'm not sure how I can tell. Have pretty much decided that for streaming purposes i won't upgrade from MP3 320 to CD quality, but I would like to eliminate the sporadic dropouts. The streaming capabilities are not the reason for purchasing the Arcam though. I could of course by a better quality streamer as an add-on (?).

ap

They are saying exactly what I said several posts ago.

The iPad does not have AptX, bluetooth performance is, at best, mediocre.

"Local contact" is just hi-fi bullsh!t for plugging it in, use the iPad headphone output as suggested above either into your Arcam or as they suggest, try headphones. If such a connection reduces or eliminates the dropouts, speak to Arcam and ask them why their Bluetooth connection is not working consistently, also ask if there are any settings you can tweak.

If you can't get decent Bluetooth transmission then a new tablet is unlikely to be much better, hence my other suggestions, you do not need an expensive streamer, a Chromecast Audio at £30 will do fine.

Set up properly, the difference between Qobus at 320 mps and Cd quality should be miniscule, you have a fair way to go yet.

 

[cse]

Thanks again. So I will obviously need to buy a lead, but which one. What will it look like on the arcam end. I've already tried it plugged in with the powecord and into usb, but this still had dropouts.

 

[spiny norman]

Thanks again. So I will obviously need to buy a lead, but which one. What will it look like on the arcam end. I've already tried it plugged in with the powecord and into usb, but this still had dropouts.

If you're connecting from the iThing to the Arcam using USB and you're still getting dropouts, it suggests the problem is in the iThing and its connection to the stream, not the connection from the iThing to the Arcam.

 

[cse]

So u mean from the iPad to the streaming service Quobuz? If I were to buy chromecast would the same problem stil persist? Another thought, I haven't downloaded the arcam app, might that help?

 

[davedotco]

I was unaware that the Arcam had a suitable usb input, but if you are using this and still getting dropouts, then it is clearly not the Bluetooth that is causing this problem.

(To be clear, the drop in quality of qobus compared to cd probably is a Bluetooth issue, but that is a separate issue.)

So, next step is to try and work out if this is a wifi issue, ie the wireless connection from your iPad to your router or an internet supply issue to your house.

Do you have a computer that you can use to stream Qobuz that is connect by wire to your modem and then by audio cable to your Arcam?

Can you try that?

 

[Leeps]

Audio dropouts - Try playing local contact on your ipad to solo (not streaming), then stream into your ipad and listen to that using headphones. That will tell you if it is the wifi or the BT that is dropping out.

Not sure what local contact means.

I read this differently to DDC (not saying I'm definitely right, but it might help).

I think they meant to say, try playing local CONTENT on your iPad to Solo (not streaming). In other words, playing something you've actually downloaded into your iPad rather than streaming from Qobuz over wifi.

That way if it still fits and starts, you can be sure it's the Bluetooth that's the problem rather than your wifi.

Then, streaming something from Qobuz over wifi but using headphones eliminates the Bluetooth out of the equation, so if it fits and starts then, it'll definitely be the wifi that's the issue.

Of course, if it jitters in both scenarios, then it's your wifi AND your Bluetooth that's at fault at which point you're up a creek (and I don't mean one of Arcam's competitors either).

It's just a process of elimination and cutting out whatever the weakest link appears to be.

 

[davedotco]

Audio dropouts - Try playing local contact on your ipad to solo (not streaming), then stream into your ipad and listen to that using headphones. That will tell you if it is the wifi or the BT that is dropping out.

Not sure what local contact means.

I read this differently to DDC (not saying I'm definitely right, but it might help).

I think they meant to say, try playing local CONTENT on your iPad to Solo (not streaming). In other words, playing something you've actually downloaded into your iPad rather than streaming from Qobuz over wifi.

That way if it still fits and starts, you can be sure it's the Bluetooth that's the problem rather than your wifi.

Then, streaming something from Qobuz over wifi but using headphones eliminates the Bluetooth out of the equation, so if it fits and starts then, it'll definitely be the wifi that's the issue.

Of course, if it jitters in both scenarios, then it's your wifi AND your Bluetooth that's at fault at which point you're up a creek (and I don't mean one of Arcam's competitors either).

It's just a process of elimination and cutting out whatever the weakest link appears to be.

In all these scenarios we need to find out what is causing the dropouts. If playing local 'content' is smooth and without dropouts, then either the network is an issue or your internet connection is not great.

It's all about logic, trying to work out where the problem lies so it can be fixed.

 

[cse]

I still unfortunately didn't get an answer to what type of lead I need to plug from my headphone socket in my iPad into my arc am.

 

[spiny norman]

I still unfortunately didn't get an answer to what type of lead I need to plug from my headphone socket in my iPad into my arc am.

Either a 3.5mm stereo plug to two RCA phono plugs to connect to the Solo Music's 'Line' input, or a 3.5mm stereo to 3.5mm stereo to connect to the 'Aux' input.

 

[manicm]

I contacted Arcam and they said:

"to enjoy aptx you need both the sources (ie your ipad) and Solo to support aptx. We cannot "genenerate" aptx if the sources don't transmit it.

Audio dropouts - Try playing local contact on your ipad to solo (not streaming), then stream into your ipad and listen to that using headphones. That will tell you if it is the wifi or the BT that is dropping out.

CD quality over BT - It is measurably better than compressed audio (eg MP3 or AAC) but it is debateable whether you will hear the difference".

Not sure what local contact means. I also don't own headphones, but bearing in mind that the dropout is so spasmodmic I'm not sure how I can tell. Have pretty much decided that for streaming purposes i won't upgrade from MP3 320 to CD quality, but I would like to eliminate the sporadic dropouts. The streaming capabilities are not the reason for purchasing the Arcam though. I could of course by a better quality streamer as an add-on (?).

 

 

ap

 

 

 

They are saying exactly what I said several posts ago.

The iPad does not have AptX, bluetooth performance is, at best, mediocre.

"Local contact" is just hi-fi bullsh!t for plugging it in, use the iPad headphone output as suggested above either into your Arcam or as they suggest, try headphones. If such a connection reduces or eliminates the dropouts, speak to Arcam and ask them why their Bluetooth connection is not working consistently, also ask if there are any settings you can tweak.

If you can't get decent Bluetooth transmission then a new tablet is unlikely to be much better, hence my other suggestions, you do not need an expensive streamer, a Chromecast Audio at £30 will do fine.

Set up properly, the difference between Qobus at 320 mps and Cd quality should be miniscule, you have a fair way to go yet.

I think Arcam meant 'local content' in which case it makes perfect sense.

 

[davedotco]

I contacted Arcam and they said:

"to enjoy aptx you need both the sources (ie your ipad) and Solo to support aptx. We cannot "genenerate" aptx if the sources don't transmit it.

Audio dropouts - Try playing local contact on your ipad to solo (not streaming), then stream into your ipad and listen to that using headphones. That will tell you if it is the wifi or the BT that is dropping out.

CD quality over BT - It is measurably better than compressed audio (eg MP3 or AAC) but it is debateable whether you will hear the difference".

Not sure what local contact means. I also don't own headphones, but bearing in mind that the dropout is so spasmodmic I'm not sure how I can tell. Have pretty much decided that for streaming purposes i won't upgrade from MP3 320 to CD quality, but I would like to eliminate the sporadic dropouts. The streaming capabilities are not the reason for purchasing the Arcam though. I could of course by a better quality streamer as an add-on (?).

ap

They are saying exactly what I said several posts ago.

The iPad does not have AptX, bluetooth performance is, at best, mediocre.

"Local contact" is just hi-fi bullsh!t for plugging it in, use the iPad headphone output as suggested above either into your Arcam or as they suggest, try headphones. If such a connection reduces or eliminates the dropouts, speak to Arcam and ask them why their Bluetooth connection is not working consistently, also ask if there are any settings you can tweak.

If you can't get decent Bluetooth transmission then a new tablet is unlikely to be much better, hence my other suggestions, you do not need an expensive streamer, a Chromecast Audio at £30 will do fine.

Set up properly, the difference between Qobus at 320 mps and Cd quality should be miniscule, you have a fair way to go yet.

I think Arcam meant 'local content' in which case it makes perfect sense.

You may well be right, I took the comment as read, which is nonsense.

 

[cse]

Unfortunately, the computer that is wired to the router is upstairs and the hifi downstairs, so I can't eat that. I don't actually have any downloads to test, it not a medium that I want to get involved in. I'm thinking if (John Lewis) sells chromecast audio I could buy one and return if it doesn't work and if they sell airport express try the same with that as well. As you can guess I have no ict knowledge and have exclusivesively from listening to CDs and fm radio. Thanks for the input from everyone. If none of the above work, I will still stick with Quboz service, as dropouts do nor spoi the experience too much when it is just background music, or something on when I'm just moving about the house. I still didn't.

 

[Blacksabbath25]

As this topic about streaming

as you no I have ordered the Yamaha music cast cx50 pre too stream my own music of my iTunes account using AirPlay.

i have tried the airport express myself with out not much luck as the issues I faced were with sound dropping all of the time ..... Question..... is this a common issue with streaming you own music of your iTunes account . Question could this be down to iTunes software that could cause the drops in sound or is this purely a network issue on my own network somewhere ? As the components that I was using with the airport express were ... iMac wireless , wireless iPad , airport wired , virgin media superhub 2 wired , cables Internet lead from hub to airport -optical lead to cdplayer in ...

My concern is this when I do get my Yamaha music cast cx50 will I have the same issues that I had with the airport express ? If so what's the solution do I get virgin media out to look at my network and router to see if there is any issues with the hardware or software .

 

[lpv]

did you hard wire your AEX to the router?

 

[Blacksabbath25]

did you hard wire your AEX to the router?

yes and did it the wireless why

 

[lpv]

I have mine AEX hardwired and have no single dropout, ever.. Did have airplay enabled devices in the past and couldn't hard wired them ( the router was to far etc) and it was a pain at a times to listen via airplay as it soo many dropouts..

 

[chebby]

I have mine AEX hardwired and have no single dropout, ever.. Did have airplay enabled devices in the past and couldn't hard wired them ( the router was to far etc) and it was a pain at a times to listen via airplay as it soo many dropouts..

AEX (latest type) hardwired with 10m Cat6 shielded* cable to AirPort Extreme 802.11ac (itself hardwired to cable modem). AEX used as network extender in another room.

ATV3 cabled to Extreme 802.11ac (Cat6 shielded again) and connected with optical (to Quad Vena's internal DAC) for AirPlay with iPhone 6 128GB and iPad Mini 3 128GB 'front ends'.

* I recently changed all the old, grey, unshielded, Cat5 cables with new colour coded, Belkin Cat6 STP (shielded). 1m, 2m, 5m and 10m runs in red, blue, yellow and black. Total overkill but it didn't cost a lot and maybe the shielded cables are better where they run close to mains cables. Maybe not.

 

[cse]

Finally took the plunge and bought the chromecast audio. Have spent the evening with it and not having much luck. Bits have been downloaded, with varying success. Have downloaded bbc I player app but can't get it to play through my speakes consistently. At the moment it so much worse for dropouts than Bluetooth! I will probably be consigning it to the bin. Ever time I try to play something from radio 3 it takes an eternity to download and keeps dropping out every 5 seconds. Any ideas?

 

[nopiano]

Finally took the plunge and bought the chromecast audio. Have spent the evening with it and not having much luck. Bits have been downloaded, with varying success. Have downloaded bbc I player app but can't get it to play through my speakes consistently. At the moment it so much worse for dropouts than Bluetooth! I will probably be consigning it to the bin. Ever time I try to play something from radio 3 it takes an eternity to download and keeps dropping out every 5 seconds. Any ideas?

I use mine mainly via an iPad. The aps are on the iThing, and you 'cast' it to the chromecast device. The chromecast app itself helps with the set up. Radio starts immediately, and that's with an internet speed of barely 10 Mbs.

 

[cse]

I have 2 mb's!

 

[cse]

I have 2 mb's!

 

[cse]

Have u tried to 'cast' Quboz, I can't seem to get the Quboz app to open from the chromecst app.