Dedicated Streaming Audio Player with built-in web browser support ?

[aListener]

I am wondering if there are any (wifi-capable) streaming audio players that support audio streaming through a generic web browser (HTML5) ? I am new to this but the few audio streamers I have looked at (Sonos, or the Blu-Ray streames from Sony, Samsung, etc ...) seem to require connecting to specific services such as Spotify, Pandora, You-Tube, etc .... so I am not sure if they can stream from any random URL without a complicated setup step for each ?

One solution is to dedicate a laptop to this function but I would prefer something with a better quality analog output (i.e. a better DAC) that can also be controlled remotely via a phone or tablet.

Thanks much for any recommendations !

 

[John James]

An outboard DAC tied to a laptop via USB cable is easy.

https://www.google.com/#q=external+dac+with+usb+input

I can't help with the other questions.

Good luck!

 

[AlphaEcho35]

I think you are basically describing a laptop or an iPad, etc. Now, you could also get something like a CuBox and load dedicated software on it.

 

[aListener]

An outboard DAC tied to a laptop via USB cable is easy.

https://www.google.com/#q=external+dac+with+usb+input

I can't help with the other questions.

Good luck!

Thanks much for the suggestion + list of possible DACs. ! Would you know if a high-end DAC with Blutooth interface would be comparable to USB in terms of the final audio quality (i.e. can Blutooth handle the data rate from HD sources ?) This would make it easier to use a dedicated tablet instead of a laptop.

 

[uofmtiger]

The Airport Express and other AirPlay devices can accept anything playing on your computer with an app called Airfoil.

 

[aListener]

I think you are basically describing a laptop or an iPad, etc. Now, you could also get something like a CuBox and load dedicated software on it.

You are right, a tablet with a good web browser can stream from any random source but the quality of the audio through the headphone jack is rather limited. Would you know if you can you direct the audio of an android tablet to its USB port ? Alternatively, are there external DACs with Blutooth interface that are USB powered ? Thanks !

 

[John James]

Thanks much for the suggestion + list of possible DACs. ! Would you know if a high-end DAC with Blutooth interface would be comparable to USB in terms of the final audio quality (i.e. can Blutooth handle the data rate from HD sources ?) This would make it easier to use a dedicated tablet instead of a laptop.

I could be wrong, (I often am, just ask my wife!) but I think I have read here that Bluetooth is not the best way to go. I'm sure someone will prove me right or wrong.

 

[C.A.P]

still find it a bit confusing but want to badly go this route as the silver dics is tiresome
What if you have a great dac in your pre amp? Then what do you need ?

 

[dshoaf]

USB connectivity will give you more options for hifi work than Bluetooth for the most part. I'd suggest you look at Squeezeplay as a app that can then control outboard DACs. You also might want to consider dinking (a technical term!) with a Raspberry Pi running Linux-based apps that you control from other computers in the house. I keep my disk drive attached to my router and then pull my ripped CDs down to any number of Pi-devices throughout the house and garage. I can control them from any other computer, too.

Check the DAC and Digital Sources forums here at AK!

Cheers,

David

 

[Yamaki]

I used to use a SimAudio Moon Mind 180 streamer that could stream audio from the web. It works on either an Ethernet or wireless configuration and has an iPad, iPod or iPhone interface option as well. In fact, I think it's in a box in the garage!