Music Streaming Recommendation

boulderskies

Well, not sure if this is correct forum to post this or not since I'm new here but I would like to ask for your recommendations on a component(s) that would do the following:

* Access the Internet over an existing in-home wireless network which already accesses the Internet via a cable provider.

* Access Pandora, Rhapsody, Last.fm and Internet radio stations.

* Access iTUNES on a laptop (optional).

* Connect to legacy amplifier via unbalanced RCA analog connections.

* Has LCD screen for viewing Internet stations, songs, artists, artwork, etc.

This seems like a simple set of requirements and there are a variety of components that offer some, but not ALL of them, except for the Sonus system, but that seems expensive and more complex than I really need.

Thank you in advance for this.
Scott

heiney9

Logitech Squeezebox Touch

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/speakers-audio/wireless-music-systems/devices/5745

H9

thsmith

Mac Mini (?)

mdaudioguy

heiney9 wrote: »

Logitech Squeezebox Touch

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/speakers-audio/wireless-music-systems/devices/5745

H9

+1... or even an older Squeezebox Classic or Duet receiver. The control interface via smartphone apps makes them convenient, too.

boulderskies

Looks good. Again, I'm new at this phase of technology so forgive the following question:

* Does the laptop need to be up and running and connected to the Internet to access Internet radio stations and Pandora, or is Internet access directly via the router/modem?

I would prefer NOT to have to rely on a laptop (except for a music server, of course).

Scott

heiney9

boulderskies wrote: »

Looks good. Again, I'm new at this phase of technology so forgive the following question:

* Does the laptop need to be up and running and connected to the Internet to access Internet radio stations and Pandora, or is Internet access directly via the router/modem?

I would prefer NOT to have to rely on a laptop (except for a music server, of course).

Scott

You can run all internet access to radio stations/streaming services directly from your router/modem. If you had your own personal library of songs those would need to be accessed via the software loaded on a computer.

Make sense?

I also have the Squeeze Radio in my upstairs bedroom and it works fantastic for both internet streaming or listening to my music library.

H9

Sherardp

See post 2, H9 is spot on with it. Squeezbox Touch is awesome and does so much.

michaeljhsda2

Sherardp wrote: »

Squeezbox Touch is awesome and does so much.

If they ever get it to stream Grooveshark I'll buy one in a heartbeat.

pearsall001

Do it right the first time...Sonos is the ticket, it might be a tad pricey but you do get what you pay for.

tonyb

I'll second the Sonos, you can get a free app to download a controller to your phone if you don't want to shell out the coin for the seperate controller,even though I think it's worth it. Plus the flexability of Sonos is just too good and it simply works,all the time,every time.

GoBigBlue

I have an apple system throughout my apartment. I use an airport express with an optical cable to feed a Pioneer Elite receiver. I have my entire iTunes library on a MacBook Air and control the system wirelessly with my iPhone and iPad. I stream iTunes, pandora, and Spotify with apps from Apple's app store using AirPlay. No problems and sounds great. Not to mention my friends are blown away when they use the iPad to play music/videos anywhere in the apartment in an instant.

boulderskies

Thank you guys.....I am leaning towards the Sonus system for a couple of reasons:
* Expandability.
* Logitech just makes me hesitate. I've had a couple of other logitech products and I found them to be just a little on the cheap side. And their phone tech support was just shy of awful.

So for those of you with a Sonus, how do you find the sound quality when played thru decent tower speakers?

falconcry72

I prefer using a computer because, well, you can do a lot more with with a computer than you can with a music streaming device.

To connect to your amp you'd just get a USB DAC or a USB to SPDIF converter and then any non-USB DAC. Super easy.

You can get a decent laptop for the price of some music streaming devices, but with a laptop you can do whatever you want.:cool:

Devices to look at:

Musiland Monitor 02
Musical Fidelity V-Link
Musical Fidelity V-DAC
Musical Fidelity M1 DAC
Cambridge DACmagic
Wyred for Sound DAC 1 & 2

The cheapest option is the Musiland, as it has its own DAC and runs about 150 shipped. The most expensive is the W4S DAC2 at 1500, and the best bang for you buck, IMO, would be the V-Link plus V-DAC combo. The combo runs 480 I believe.

heiney9

Been using Logitech Squeeze products for years, not a single issue.

H9

boulderskies

I think I found the component that meets my original requirements: The Cambridge Audio NP30. It seems to be a one-box solution, although it looks like it needs to be located near the modem/router, which isnt what I was planning.

Does anyone have experiences with the NP30?

But, I think my requirements are changing and that the Sonus system is more appropriate. I can start with one Player, providing music to one of my systems and then add another Player in time, for my other system.

wayne3burk

michaeljhsda2 wrote: »

If they ever get it to stream Grooveshark I'll buy one in a heartbeat.

+1 on Grooveshark -- I think i'd go with a laptop or a mac mini..