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How do you use your streamer?

T

tanelpld

New Member
Hey! I have been working on a little software project lately, and basically just gathering ideas.

I'm interested in what different ways you use your streamer devices/softwares?

For example... Myself, it's mostly about finding artists and albums from Tidal and keeping albums in favourites lib.
Playing whole albums usually. Don't care much for creating playlists. But sure occasional daily discoveries list and local radio or two. I like to pick up where I was left off, so no matter the device it's the same screen. I like nerdy stuff - it always shows the bitrate, sample rate, file format, cpu usage, you name it. It's a progressive web app for me, custom. Running it on a cheap small computer in local wifi. USB connects to a professional level sound card that goes directly to power amp. Controlling the sound cards hardware volume from the app.

Just few general questions that come to mind...
Do you control streaming from multiple devices?
Do you use the device provided app?
Volume control?
Remote control?
On device screen and controls?
Is there multiple profiles in family for the same streamer device?
What's important in a streamer for you: streaming services, local files, playlists, recommendations, building an album library, discovering new music, radios, you name it...
How do you connect to DAC?

Would be cool to hear :)

Cheers!
 
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I have two systems and use them both somewhat similarly, albeit with different streamer/dac combos.
In my main system, for more "critical" listening, I use a MacBook Pro M4 that I have set up as a plex server and also stream Apple Music into a Schiit Bifrost 2/64 via USB. In this case, I mostly use my preamp's remote, although occasionally, I'll use the Remote App on my phone. For casual listening, I stream from either an iOS device or a laptop with Airplay to Apple TV with an HDMI to TOSLINK connection to my Bifrost.

My second system uses a WiiM Pro to stream Apple Music, Plex or files from my MacBook & iOS devices via Airplay, as well as from the laptop to the WiiM via optical cable and into the RCA ports from the headphone out. I use the WiiM as a preamp, into an Emotiva Mini-x a100 amp.

Increasingly, I'm becoming concerned with UX- I've used Apple Music/iTunes for 25 years and it has degraded considerably, even more so with the most recent iteration,
 
Do you control streaming from multiple devices? Yes
Do you use the device provided app? Yes
Volume control? Main system volume control
Remote control? Main system volume control
On device screen and controls? No
Is there multiple profiles in family for the same streamer device? No
What's important in a streamer for you: streaming services, local files, playlists, recommendations,
building an album library, discovering new music, radios, you name it... streaming internet radio, playing local files and playlists I've
created, finding new music, enjoying my library, adding to my library and mixing up the presentation including multiple genres.
How do you connect to DAC? via Optical
 
The ones I use most are Daphile on a small PC or Tidal on my phone.

Stream files from a NAS mostly on Daphile. Access the Daphile web server interface from phone, tablet, pc, whatever can bring up the interface pages when you hit the IP.

Sometimes I use the plain old analog output. Sometimes use a USB-connected DAC.

For the phone it's connecting by USB or BT to car audio, or USB DAC for headphones or analog out.
 
I use a streaming service right now....Spotify Premium lossless via wifi through a Chromebook laptop, then USB-C to my DAC, and I use my PC laptop as a controller. I do have volume control through the Spotify app. I mostly create playlists and shuffle those, but can also listen to albums, or download music.

There might be a streamer in my future, or a raspberry pi, as either can accept an ethernet connection.
 
Currently, I own three WiiM devices, two Pro Pus and one Ultra. The Ultra connects to a Cambridge Dac Magic 200 with USB. I’ve four 2 channel systems that I rotate. Also had a Node2i.
 
Do you control streaming from multiple devices?.. Yes
Do you use the device provided app?.. Yes + 3rd party
Volume control?.. Preamp
Remote control?..Preamp & Network Player
On device screen and controls?..Yes
Is there multiple profiles in family for the same streamer device?..No

I have a 10 year old Marantz ND 8006 Network Player (yes before streamers) a CD transport, very good DAC, & Network renderer, and can be used as a Preamp. I don't use it's DAC other than movies, it's coax to the standalone Primaluna EVO 100 DAC.

For apps I use the Marantz HEOS app for XM, & internet radio. For my network computers and NAS I use a 3rd party app on phone, Bubble UPnP. I don't have any streaming services (other than Nugs a Hi Rez live video service)

So the DAC is just that, but the Marantz sends all sources to it.
 
Last edited:
Gigantic said:
I have two systems and use them both somewhat similarly, albeit with different streamer/dac combos.
In my main system, for more "critical" listening, I use a MacBook Pro M4 that I have set up as a plex server and also stream Apple Music into a Schiit Bifrost 2/64 via USB. In this case, I mostly use my preamp's remote, although occasionally, I'll use the Remote App on my phone. For casual listening, I stream from either an iOS device or a laptop with Airplay to Apple TV with an HDMI to TOSLINK connection to my Bifrost.

My second system uses a WiiM Pro to stream Apple Music, Plex or files from my MacBook & iOS devices via Airplay, as well as from the laptop to the WiiM via optical cable and into the RCA ports from the headphone out. I use the WiiM as a preamp, into an Emotiva Mini-x a100 amp.

Increasingly, I'm becoming concerned with UX- I've used Apple Music/iTunes for 25 years and it has degraded considerably, even more so with the most recent iteration,
Click to expand...
I canceled my Apple Music subscription in April and now have a Plex Server streaming about 4800 albums worth of material. While I don't have the new music discovery of a streaming subscription, I've been enjoying re-acquainting myself with the music I already own.
 
I’ve modified my setup. I’ve a WiiM Ultra that feeds a Cambridge Dac Magic 200. It also feeds an additional two channel system by toslink to a Dac Magic 100. Then a third 2 channel system from the analog output on the Dac 200. My entire cd library was ripped lossless to a Synology server. Very very happy.
 
I have a WiiM Ultra streaming Qobuz to my main system. Another WiiM Ultra streaming Qobuz to my office system, and a WiiM Pro Plus streaming Qobuz to a Schitt Midgard headphone amp.

Everything gets controlled by the WiiM app on my iPhone. I use the WiiM remote controls for adjusting volume or pausing the music. Never use the buttons on the streamers for anything but set up.

I don't own any physical media, nor do I have any music files on my computer.
 
knotscott said:
I use a streaming service right now....Spotify Premium lossless via wifi through a Chromebook laptop, then USB-C to my DAC, and I use my PC laptop as a controller. I do have volume control through the Spotify app. I mostly create playlists and shuffle those, but can also listen to albums, or download music.

There might be a streamer in my future, or a raspberry pi, as either can accept an ethernet connection.
Click to expand...
Largely the same for me^

My version:
I use a streaming service right now....Spotify Premium lossless via wifi, Chromebook laptop iPhone, then USB-C to my DAC (an SMSL D6S), then to my amplifier. I use my PC laptop another iPhone as a controller. I do have volume control through the Spotify app, but put phone volume close to max and use the remote of the amplifier as volume control, because it provides more granular control and I still find it cool after all these years to see a motorised pot turn from a distance. I mostly create playlists and shuffle those, but can also listen to albums, or downloaded music. I use other apps as source from the (USB connected) phone too and plug other devices into the DAC, but that goes beyond the streaming use case. If I wouldn't have had multiple phones around due to work, I'd probably would have gotten a WiiM as well.

I played a bit with Daphile too recently (replacing the 'streamer phone' with an old laptop), but there's not enough (sonic or functional) benefit to me for having an additional layer or deeper control or deeper insights. Which also brings me to the core of the OP's question; I don't think that the use case of the app applies to me. It's a cool idea though!
Suggestion to the OP: I would also float this idea on ASR. :)
 
I am an old fuddy-duddy. I hate the internet involved in my music.

I have a Cambridge Audio CXN(ModWright modded) that I plug an external drive into. I have a modem/router connected to the CXN ( like I said - no internet) and use the Cambridge StreamMagic app to play music from my iPhone.

And periodically, I play cd’s from a Cambridge CXC player (no internal dac) plugged into the CXN.
 
A little late to the game, but here are my responses.

Just few general questions that come to mind...
Do you control streaming from multiple devices? Yes - laptop, iPad, or iPhone, depending on which is nearby
Do you use the device provided app? Either that (BluOS) or Qobuz Connect
Volume control? Preamp
Remote control? Preamp remote for volume, devices listed above for everything else
On device screen and controls? No
Is there multiple profiles in family for the same streamer device? No
What's important in a streamer for you: streaming services, local files, playlists, recommendations, building an album library, discovering new music, radios, you name it... Local files and streaming services (Qobuz, Deezer, SiriusXM)
How do you connect to DAC? coax out from Bluesound Node Icon
 
A WiiM Mini (hidden behind the little display), optical out the the RME DAC, usually controlled via my DIY Chrome extension, which allows me to use allmusic.com as the UI to Qobuz, and pass the selected album to the WiiM Mini. The RME’s balanced outputs drive a pair of JBL Pro monitors. RME’s DigiCheck NG, running on the Mac Mini, displays the VU and spectrum of anything currently playing.

IMG_6217.jpeg
 
Do you control streaming from multiple devices? Yes, WiiM Mini & WiiM Pro+
Do you use the device provided app? Yes WiiM App to control Amazon HD music content
Volume control? At my pre-amps
Remote control? No
On device screen and controls? Yes, WiiM App on my iPad
Is there multiple profiles in family for the same streamer device? No
What's important in a streamer for you: streaming services, local files, playlists, recommendations, building an album library, discovering new music, radios, you name it... (important features to me include support for multiple streaming services, playlists, and discovering new music (jazz))
How do you connect to DAC? WiiM Mini connects to a Chord Mojo via optical, WiiM Pro+ uses internal DAC.
 
tanelpld said:
Hey! I have been working on a little software project lately, and basically just gathering ideas.

I'm interested in what different ways you use your streamer devices/softwares?

For example... Myself, it's mostly about finding artists and albums from Tidal and keeping albums in favourites lib.
Playing whole albums usually. Don't care much for creating playlists. But sure occasional daily discoveries list and local radio or two. I like to pick up where I was left off, so no matter the device it's the same screen. I like nerdy stuff - it always shows the bitrate, sample rate, file format, cpu usage, you name it. It's a progressive web app for me, custom. Running it on a cheap small computer in local wifi. USB connects to a professional level sound card that goes directly to power amp. Controlling the sound cards hardware volume from the app.

Just few general questions that come to mind...
Do you control streaming from multiple devices?
Do you use the device provided app?
Volume control?
Remote control?
On device screen and controls?
Is there multiple profiles in family for the same streamer device?
What's important in a streamer for you: streaming services, local files, playlists, recommendations, building an album library, discovering new music, radios, you name it...
How do you connect to DAC?

Would be cool to hear :)

Cheers!
Click to expand...
I usually stream from a (sorta) dedicated (Android) tablet but on some occasions will use my (also Android) Samsung phone. Never to the (MSFT W11) PCs (laptops).
 
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