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Streamer suggestion

AngelAT

AngelAT

Well-Known Member
Hello there,

I am a vintage audio fan, recently started to consider streaming.

I have the hi res Tidal plan but somehow I still can’t enjoy it. I bought a Chinese BT receiver and hooked it to my Mcintosh C29 preamp -> Mcintosh MC2105 -> JBL L50 (all restored by me). I use an iPad to connect.

First problem is that the sound is not good, as already mentioned
Second problem is that sound level is very low.

So, I was thinking about buying a decent streamer (without having to break the kids’ piggy bank).
I need: to use it via the iPad, to have decent output level and to be able to use the Tidal plan I pay for.

Somehow bluesound node and Sonos port seem expensive.

An you guys suggest alternatives?
Thanks in advance!
 
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Might want to look at this device on Amazon. It does Tidal Connect, so you can use the native Tidal app on your iPad. Currently limited to 16/48 on the optical output, but they say that restriction will be removed next month with a firmware update.
 
Hello,
OK. for what it is worth, I stream Amazon HD through an iPhone 6S via lightnening/USB to my external DAC > integrated amp > speakers/subwooofer. It sounds fabulous both redbook (CD) and hi-resolution files. There is no reason you cannot output via your iPad with similar quality that I am experiencing.

a) Regarding sound volume make sure that the iPad is maximum volume output and control the music volume with the preamp
b) The quality is a tough one. The first question is why are you hooking up the iPad to the receiver and then a preamp? Is it possible you have digital (iPad) to analog conversion (receiver) hooked up to another analog
conversion in your preamp.
c) Try either iPad to receiver (digital input) to speakers or iPad to preamp (digital input) to speakers. Not both. Volume will obviously be controlled by one of the two pieces keeping iPad maxed out in either case.
 
chicks said:
Might want to look at this device on Amazon. It does Tidal Connect, so you can use the native Tidal app on your iPad. Currently limited to 16/48 on the optical output, but they say that restriction will be removed next month with a firmware update.
Click to expand...

Not sure I understand all of the advantages of that device over a CCA (Chromecast Audio); which is what I so often see it compared to.

Anybody used both?
 
Ballylongford said:
Not sure I understand all of the advantages of that device over a CCA (Chromecast Audio); which is what I so often see it compared to.

Anybody used both?
Click to expand...
I have both and the main upside to the WiiM is that it supports more services from the iPad because it has AirPlay2 support in addition to supporting some services natively. It also has UPNP support which could come in handy.
 
Thanks guys for the responses!

A clarification: the preamp has only analog inputs. Furthermore, I want to carry the iPad with me - do not want to cable connect it with the preamp.

A question about the Wim- does it have an amp so that it can deliver high enough signal?
BTW I used chromecast audio but I gave it to my daughter for her new rig (she moved out). Still I was not overwhelmed by the sound quality.

I was looking at the iFi Zen blue, but it is again a BT receiver. And I am not sure BT is the best solution…

I am sure there should be a nice hardware solution out there…
 
AngelAT said:
And I am not sure BT is the best solution…
Click to expand...

Whilst Bluetooth CODECs have improved, there is still no lossless BT CODEC. And your iPad would need to support the latest LDAC CODEC; does ir?

Chromecast has a high quality setting; did you enable it? The CCA's DAC is average, but it works excellently as a digital streaming endpoint, feeding an SPDIF DAC.

Streamers and DACs will usually output an analogue level of 2V, as per a CD player. They may allow hardware or software level control.
 
cpt_paranoia said:
Whilst Bluetooth CODECs have improved, there is still no lossless BT CODEC. And your iPad would need to support the latest LDAC CODEC; does ir?

Chromecast has a high quality setting; did you enable it? The CCA's DAC is average, but it works excellently as a digital streaming endpoint, feeding an SPDIF DAC.

Streamers and DACs will usually output an analogue level of 2V, as per a CD player. They may allow hardware or software level control.
Click to expand...
Thanks cpt_paranoia!
I am not sure my iPad supports LDAC. In forums I read that it does.
Chromecast is now used by my daughter, so I can’t use it.
2v is a fine output level for me. This is what I am looking for.

Can you suggest a nice hardware unit with 2v output?
Thanks!
 
Thanks Dan!
How do you use it?
Do you use it with Tidal connect? And do you connect to the receiver via the 3,5 mm jack?
And more importantly - is the signal strong enough?
 
Last edited:
@AngelAT Once you've set up the AE to your wifi network, Tidal will see it in the Sound Output in the app. You then just stream it to the AE and the AE connects to the receiver via 3.5 mm Jack/RCA male cable.
61UDD4VGEmL._AC_UY218_.jpg
 
AngelAT said:
Thanks Dan!
How do you use it?
Do you use it with Tidal connect? And do you connect to the receiver via the 3,5 mm jack?
And more importantly - is the signal strong enough?
Click to expand...
I have one of these, as well. Belkin and Airport Express are very similar in that they only support Airplay. However, both also put out a 16/44.1 signal. The WiiM is currently 16/48, but may get a firmware update to up the output resolution. I have had the AE in my system for years out in our Sunroom. I have no heat or Air Conditioning out there, so this is a well built device. The Belkin is much smaller, so easier to hide out of the way. The WiiM is the most versatile, so it really depends on what you are trying to do.

I haven't noticed much difference in the analog out volume with these devices.
 
chicks said:
Might want to look at this device on Amazon. It does Tidal Connect, so you can use the native Tidal app on your iPad. Currently limited to 16/48 on the optical output, but they say that restriction will be removed next month with a firmware update.
Click to expand...

I just bought the WiiM Mini the other day to use for my bedroom system, after John Darko posted his review at Darko.Audio and The Cheap Audio Man did a review on his YouTube channel. The deal clincher for me was I got it for $89 before tax (Prime member) and it does about 90% the capabilities of the $600 Bluesound Node. I have it connected via TOSLINK to my NAD D 3045 using that amp’s built-in DAC and it’s already a big step up from using Bluetooth. The WiiM Home app has a simple UI but I just control Tidal and Spotify in their respective apps. For the fraction of the price of the Node and other streamers, this little thing is a bargain.
 
uofmtiger said:
I have one of these, as well. Belkin and Airport Express are very similar in that they only support Airplay. However, both also put out a 16/44.1 signal. The WiiM is currently 16/48, but may get a firmware update to up the output resolution. I have had the AE in my system for years out in our Sunroom. I have no heat or Air Conditioning out there, so this is a well built device. The Belkin is much smaller, so easier to hide out of the way. The WiiM is the most versatile, so it really depends on what you are trying to do.

I haven't noticed much difference in the analog out volume with these devices.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up on the Belkin. I've had a couple of AEs go bad over the years and the ones I have are getting old. Good to know the Belkin exists.
 
A
AngelAT said:
Hello there,

I am a vintage audio fan, recently started to consider streaming.

I have the hi res Tidal plan but somehow I still can’t enjoy it. I bought a Chinese BT receiver and hooked it to my Mcintosh C29 preamp -> Mcintosh MC2105 -> JBL L50 (all restored by me). I use an iPad to connect.

First problem is that the sound is not good, as already mentioned
Second problem is that sound level is very low.

So, I was thinking about buying a decent streamer (without having to break the kids’ piggy bank).
I need: to use it via the iPad, to have decent output level and to be able to use the Tidal plan I pay for.

Somehow bluesound node and Sonos port seem expensive.

An you guys suggest alternatives?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

An audiophile friend who is pretty hapless technically likes his Andover Songbird. He connects it to a DAC but it does have a line out you could use with an adapter cable to you vintage amplifier. It comes with a phone app that he finds easy to use, and will stream hi-rez Tidal files.
 
zackthedog said:
A


An audiophile friend who is pretty hapless technically likes his Andover Songbird. He connects it to a DAC but it does have a line out you could use with an adapter cable to you vintage amplifier. It comes with a phone app that he finds easy to use, and will stream hi-rez Tidal files.
Click to expand...
Nice, I haven't seen this one. Seems like the one to beat for hi res material right now at less than $200. The Wiim is supposed to get an update, but I wouldn't hang my hat on a promise. The only issue I have with it is that it appears to be using Airplay 1 rather than 2. Hard to tell sometimes, though. Some use the word "Airplay" interchangably.
 
zackthedog said:
A


An audiophile friend who is pretty hapless technically likes his Andover Songbird. He connects it to a DAC but it does have a line out you could use with an adapter cable to you vintage amplifier. It comes with a phone app that he finds easy to use, and will stream hi-rez Tidal files.
Click to expand...

Unless it's had a firmware update, it won't even meet 16-bit performance. It truncates 24-bit streams, rather than properly converting them.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...andover-audio-songbird-review-streamer.24729/

BTW, it's based on an older version of the LinkPlay module used in the Wiim, which doesn't support AirPlay 2 or Tidal Connect.
 
chicks said:
Unless it's had a firmware update, it won't even meet 16-bit performance. It truncates 24-bit streams, rather than properly converting them.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...andover-audio-songbird-review-streamer.24729/

BTW, it's based on an older version of the LinkPlay module used in the Wiim, which doesn't support AirPlay 2 or Tidal Connect.
Click to expand...
Wow! Their site is a bit misleading then. So was the Wiim when I got it, so I guess the marketing people don't really understand the tech. At least, Wiim has updated their info on Amazon.

I noticed that the Wiim has two separate listings on Amazon and one is $10 cheaper. They look like the same thing, though.
 
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