How do I start streaming music?

grillebilly

Empty Head
I am considering joining the 21st century and streaming music at home. Where and how do I start? I do not have a smart phone. I have a computer obviously.
My preamp (McIntosh C47) has a lot of inputs, including a USB port. Is there a device that can plug into one of the ports and stream wireless from my computer? Is that a preferred method?
Any and all advice is welcomed and thanks in advance.
 
Have a look at Chromecast Audio which is a small device that plugs into your hifi using RCA phono inputs. Once set up this communicates with a router via wifi & any music-playing device connected to the same network can play its files on the hifi. I have one & play music files on my desktop (wired to the wifi router) to my hifi on the other side of the room using wifi.
 
Streaming from where? A commercial service? Your PC? A NAS?

The simplest method is a 3.5mm to RCA lead from headphone output of your PC to a line input on your amp, with a streaming service program, or media player/manager program on the PC.

Beyond that, you have many choices of how to get audio files from the PC to a DAC, and thence to your amp.

Have a read of these threads:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index....ur-digital-files-to-your-hi-fi-system.826709/

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/questions-on-making-server-for-flac-playback.742307/
 
Streaming from where

I am thinking of subscribing to a service through my computer. I don't want to listen on the cheap computer speakers, though, it needs to be somehow connected to my main system. Sending a cable from the computer to the pre is not something i want to do, as they are far apart but still in the same room.
Thanks for the links I will take a look now.
 
For the absolute cheapest way to get started, get one of these:

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A 3.5mm to RCA cable.You likely have several of them lying around. Or you can buy from Monoprice cheap (or Amazon, etc.) -- as long as 50 feet. Plug the single end into your computer, speakers out, and the double into a pair of available RCA ins on your preamp.

Then go here and set up a free Spotify account: https://www.spotify.com/us/. The free service is lower quality and has commercials, but it's free. You can always upgrade later if you like it.

Stream...
 
Ok it looks like I can download Chrome to my PC. And then I should be good to go.
PC> Audioengine D2 24bit WiFi DAC>McIntosh

You don't need a service, plenty of music out there and your computer files are not dependent on the quality of your internet.

OK I forgot you have a nice DAC

PC, USB out> Audioengine D2 24bit WiFi DAC, Optical out>McIntosh Preamp Optical in
 
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