OK I need a network player

kevhed72

Mainly for listening to streaming free HD radio and a subscription to a high Rez music service. I will probably never get into downloading music to a PC or laptop. Will this fit the bill?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA71N3FN5454&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-_-Home+Audio-_-9SIA71N3FN5454&gclid=CIyP3rnt_MwCFUc2gQodzcMOaw&gclsrc=aw.ds

msg

which high resolution service are you interested in?
Natively, I don't think this player supported Spotify, if that's on your list, but it appears that Cambridge has released a firmware update that should allow for this now?

Probably need to do a bit more research to see whether Tidal is supported.

https://techsupport.cambridgeaudio.com/hc/en-us/articles/203671531-New-changes-to-network-music-players

kevhed72

The more I think about it....I cannot commit to another monthly bill such as Tidal. Soooo, I would need a player for free Spotify and HD radio - particularly WRAS streamed live from the concrete campus of Georgia State. Someone suggested a Squeezebox Duet....any others?

msg

Squeezebox is a good recommendation, and that's what I use. There are a few neat add-ons you can get for it, and I use the Orange Squeeze app to control it; very nice; $5

You can also build a piCorePlayer based streamer using a Raspberry Pi with a HiFiBerry DAC, if you're the DIY type. You'd run it off the free Logitech Media Server software running on a PC, and use a smartphone or tablet for remote/control. Pretty easy setup, overall, and I think you can be in for under $200. Depends on how serious you are. I'm experimenting with one of these right now. As a standalone, it would work nicely, though I'm having some sync issues in running it with other Squeezebox players on my network; sometimes it seems to either lag or advance slightly. You can add a touchscreen and stand for another $100 or so.

Actually, Kev - there's this SB3 that @halo is selling - can't really beat this package/price to get you started; modded Squeezebox 3 with upgraded power supply
http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/172977/slim-devices-sb3-bolder-cable-mod-ci-audio-sb3-power-supply

vcwatkins

If you can run an ethernet cable to the player and have a USB dac, I'd suggest giving the Sonore microRendu (iFi power supply) a try. You can read up here at Computer Audiophile. VERY flexible as far as player applications/modes go, outstanding sound quality, easy to set up, excellent value IMO ($690).

HQ Player users seem to love what that provides through the uRendu. But if you'll be limited to 320 streaming, there are plenty of cheaper options like Squeezebox.

tonyb

kevhed72 wrote: »

The more I think about it....I cannot commit to another monthly bill such as Tidal. Soooo, I would need a player for free Spotify and HD radio - particularly WRAS streamed live from the concrete campus of Georgia State. Someone suggested a Squeezebox Duet....any others?

Can't overlook Sonos if that's all your going to stream. About as easy and close to plug n play as you'll get.

jdjohn

To get the best from Spotify, you'll have to pay for the premium service. It will get you HD streaming, and I found that I couldn't use my Onkyo remote smartphone app without the premium service. YMMV

I have a Squeezebox Touch on the way...very anxious to try it.

kevhed72

I have a line on a deal for a DACMagic Plus by Cambridge audio.....wondering if this is a better route for both CD Transport use and for a network player to stream HD radio for free. I was also looking at the Arcam irDAC but that's a jump in price....will either of these fit the need for a DAC to stream music?

EndersShadow

The DacMagic plus is a DAC only. You will need to connect it to a CD player/computer/etc to "stream" through it

Mikey081057

I like bluesound node or node2. If someday you can stream Tidal you will be ready.

kevhed72

EndersShadow wrote: »

The DacMagic plus is a DAC only. You will need to connect it to a CD player/computer/etc to "stream" through it

Right....my idea is upgrade the DAC for the CD player and eventually purchase a network player or something to stream music to the DAC...the bad thing about swim meets is you literally have hours of sitting to think about spending more money.

kevhed72

Think of it as a dual purpose DAC....

kevhed72

Mikey081057 wrote: »

I like bluesound node or node2. If someday you can stream Tidal you will be ready.

Let me run this one by you and ask:
http://www.musicdirect.com/p-514539-bluesound-vault-2-digital-music-playerripperstorage-drive-2tb-white-demo.aspx
Would I be able to stream free HD radio, save it, and playback at anytime??? That would be the bomb for what I need....

Mikey081057

I have no experience with the Vault2 which is a Node2 with storage so not sure if you can store internet radio on the HD and playback. But with the $500 more than the Node 2 you can get 25 months of Tidal which will give you the ability to have access to all of their content and the ability to build playlists of music that you want accessible to all of your devices controlled by a mobile app in CD quality. Any content that you can get for free will be low quality and have commercials.

msg

Audials lets you record internet radio - captures to files - which you could play back any time you like, but you'll need a PC for it, and then you'd have to have the files stored somewhere depending on how your player would access them. Records anything going across your soundcard and lookup services break it up into files for you.

RamZet

Oppo-103 comes with 3 months free Tidal HiFi.
With the extra 100 bucks you save you can pay for Tidal.
They also do Student discounts (50%).