Who has ditched their CDP for a computer/streamer? And what do you use?

admin_exported

New member
Aug 10, 2019
2,556
4
0
How many of you chaps are using a streaming device or a computer these days? I started experimenting at first late last year by using an old laptop plugged into the HiFi, which I controlled remotely. The next purchase was an Apple Airport Express, which was very cheap and easy. A really great product. Now I have a Squeezebox Duet and it uses an even neater interface, being all based within the remote control. I used to like my CDP but a computer into a good DAC doesn't lose out in sound to my ears, and I can't really be bothered to load discs anymore... Who else has made the leap? Darren
 

fatboyslimfast

Well-known member
Jan 10, 2008
158
0
18,590
I'll be honest, and say that the windows PC (with iTunes lossless) comes pretty close to my Alpha 6, and has the advantage that all the music is in one place. I can even control iTunes using my mobile phone (over bluetooth) and Salling Clicker software, so I don't need a screen attached to it - although the TV is connected if I want to use iPlayer or 4OD etc...
 

fr0g

New member
Jan 7, 2008
445
0
0
Duet here too. The sound through the DAC is just as good as the CD player, and I can sit and listen for hours, without once getting from the listening sofa :)

The flac files sit on my cheapy NAS and it works well.
Only downside if any probs (powercut etc) and it can take a while to get back up and running.

Next upgrade a transporter !!!
 

John Duncan

Well-known member
Jan 8, 2008
2,034
30
19,720
[quote user="fr0g"]Next upgrade a transporter !!![/quote]

If it weren't a) so ugly and b) so expensive, I'd agree - we've discussed the need for something in the middle, price-wise, that looks like a hifi component on the rack.......
 

fr0g

New member
Jan 7, 2008
445
0
0
[quote user="JohnDuncan"][quote user="fr0g"]Next upgrade a transporter !!![/quote]

If it weren't a) so ugly and b) so expensive, I'd agree - we've discussed the need for something in the middle, price-wise, that looks like a hifi component on the rack.......[/quote]

Too expensive certainly, but superdac and pretty uncompromising design with digi ins for your CD player / DVD / PS3 etc... as for looks... I LOVE IT!
 

John Duncan

Well-known member
Jan 8, 2008
2,034
30
19,720
[quote user="fr0g"]as for looks... I LOVE IT![/quote]

It has UV meters (or whatever they're called), which I can't forgive, but more than this - it has handles.............
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Im toying with the idea as I have a Cyrus DAC-X and I think lossless files would sound as good as my transport through it. I'll probably look into it later in the year.

The only drawback which I can think of at the moment is that having a music library, I will be skipping to favourties all the time rather than taking time to listen to album tracks etc etc (this is what I find myself doing if Im using iTunes at the moment to import new cds etc)
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
If you already have a DACX simply buy an Apple Airport Express £65, rip some CDs losslessly to iTunes, and stream it over. It'll sound the same as the CDs.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Cheers Darren (I take it you're the same Darren as on Cyrus unnofficial?)

Is this some kind of wireless streamer?
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Yes I'm from Cyrus forum. There's plenty of chat about them over there.

It's basically a little device that will receive any music playing in iTunes and will then output it via optical to a DAC:

airportexpress.jpg


vid 1

vid 2
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
[quote user="Andrew Everard"]
[quote user="darrenwm1"]Yes I'm from Cyrus forum.[/quote]

That explains quite a lot...
[/quote]

Hi there sweetie x
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Cheers Darren, for that cost, it's certainly worth a dabble....
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Still using CDP but increasingly turning to PC based audio, don't feel the need to fully embrace one or the other because they are all located in the same room. Sounds like we have some experts here so I was wondering, I have a desktop PC using iTunes and I want to stream this to a second system downstairs, if I get an airport express is there a way I can control my music remotely, it seems like I might be able to do this with an ipod touch? I notice others just use a laptop, but I would prefer to stick to desktops.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
You can use an iPod Touch and whatever that software is mentioned above, but a Squeezebox or Sonos will probably offer more bespoke functionality. An Apple TV would work too, but must be navigated through a TV.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
[quote user="darrenwm1"]You can use an iPod Touch and whatever that software is mentioned above, but a Squeezebox or Sonos will probably offer more bespoke functionality. An Apple TV would work too, but must be navigated through a TV.[/quote]Agreed. He could even go for the duet. ;-)About the use of pc/mac versus cd-player- I didn't intend to change at first. Auditioned Sennheisers hd650 with musical fidelity v3, cd player was arcam cd192. Glorious sound. First bought the senns and the headamp. Waited a little while with the cd-player as budget was tight. Thought I'd settle for a while with my mid-priced marantz cd-player....it was truly awful! So bright and fatiguing!Then tried the el-cheapo jbl audio output (external amp) from my compaq pc. This gave much better sound quality! I can tell you, it completely changed my idea of computer related music. This all got me thinking...how much better would it all sound through a separate dac? Bought one, tried it on the pc. It's so good, I'm never going back to cd-players anymore. Performance basically 70-80 % of ambience and micro detail the arcam 192 reveals. The separate dac is better in the bass department, though, with dance and bass related music. (Tighter bass) The convenience is just an extra.Edit: to your second question: tascam us-144, either connected to compaq pc or macbook pro.
 

matengawhat

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2007
695
15
18,895
I have just ordered the Squeezebox Classic - was going to wait for the Wadia transport but decided to give one of these ago instead - wanted the Squeexebox classic for the display on the unit and will prob add the remote at a later stage - i know more expensive this way but prob be better in the long run for me - going to be using it with a MF DAC V8 so looking forward to givng it all ago and seeing how it compares - only thing is i need to start from scratch uploading my albums to itunes using a lossless format - thats going to be a fun weekend!!!!
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
[quote user="matengawhat"]I have just ordered the Squeezebox Classic - was going to wait for the Wadia transport but decided to give one of these ago instead - wanted the Squeexebox classic for the display on the unit and will prob add the remote at a later stage - i know more expensive this way but prob be better in the long run for me - going to be using it with a MF DAC V8 so looking forward to givng it all ago and seeing how it compares - only thing is i need to start from scratch uploading my albums to itunes using a lossless format - thats going to be a fun weekend!!!![/quote]Welcome to the club of rebels! Seriously now, uploading your albums in your pc isn't that bad. Just upload the 20 most played cds you own, get a beer, stream some music ,sit back and relax. Most of the cds will be automatically recognised by freedb or whatever it's called- no typing needed! Add more cds when/if you see the benefits of streaming music..this way it's a joy. (I'm speaking from experience here. Don't start uploading your cds beginning with A.....)
 

fr0g

New member
Jan 7, 2008
445
0
0
[quote user="Solomon1"]Seriously now, uploading your albums in your pc isn't that bad. Just upload the 20 most played cds you own, get a beer, stream some music ,sit back and relax. Most of the cds will be automatically recognised by freedb or whatever it's called- no typing needed! Add more cds when/if you see the benefits of streaming music..this way it's a joy. (I'm speaking from experience here. Don't start uploading your cds beginning with A.....)[/quote]

Agreed here. I am doing mine in dribs and drabs as I can be bothered. I did about 50 of the most used, now I wait and see if theres something new I want to listen to... I use the CD player, then later I rip all that artists CDs.
 

Thaiman

New member
Jul 28, 2007
360
2
0
I haven't yet found any computer base products that can replace a dedicated HiFi source. I absolutely love the idea of it though.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
[quote user="Thaiman"]I haven't yet found any computer base products that can replace a dedicated HiFi source. I absolutely love the idea of it though.[/quote]Get a wifi streamer between your computer/NAS/mac and plug it into your cd-player's dac. This way you get the best of both worlds. Quality should be about the same, even John Atkinson/Stereophile says so. http://stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/906slim/
 

fr0g

New member
Jan 7, 2008
445
0
0
[quote user="Thaiman"]I haven't yet found any computer base products that can replace a dedicated HiFi source. I absolutely love the idea of it though.[/quote]

Surely going through your Stello it should be pretty darn excellent!
 

Thaiman

New member
Jul 28, 2007
360
2
0
[quote user="fr0g"][quote user="Thaiman"]I haven't yet found any computer base products that can replace a dedicated HiFi source. I absolutely love the idea of it though.[/quote]

Surely going through your Stello it should be pretty darn excellent![/quote]

As much as my brain don't want to believe that transports make different to the sound, my ears however...can! It's a shame really as my stello is a real pukka of a DAC :)
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Ob,

If you didn't live so far away I'd come and demo it all to you.
We could even hold a blindfolded transport demo!
A server system would be useful in the pub too...
Darren
 

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts