Vintage plus streaming/Bluetooth

[Raphaz]

I was wondering how you guys go about mixing modern with vintage gear.

I have substantial vinyl and CD collections and at the same time I listen to Spotify a lot, and on occasion to good old radio.
My system is in a large, tall open space and I don’t listen from a dedicated “sweet spot” - I like to have good sound from anywhere in that space, be it in the kitchen, living room, upper loft spaces…

Besides occasional waves of “upgraditis” I’m moderately happy with my vintage setup. But I’m looking to add capabilities for:
- better quality streaming
- convenient remote control
- adding good quality wireless (stereo!) speakers
- separate volume control for different sets of speakers in different locations within the space
- and maybe less maintenance/repair

I’d like to learn about how some of you guys achieved the above listed.
Did you go all “contemporary” or do you use both, newer and vintage gear? Are you happy with convenience and sound quality? Any unavoidable compromises to be expected? What is the best way to add wireless stereo speakers and control multiple sets/pairs separately?

Oh, and while we’re on it: any suggestions on how to get the best sound in a large, tall open space (no particular listening spot)?

Thank you for sharing your experience/opinion/suggestions.

–––––

Yamaha R-2000
2 x KEF Q500
1 x Klipsch R-112SW

Nikko NR-1219
6 x Minimus 7

MacBook Pro (mainly for Spotify)
Technics SL-D3 (OM 5E)
Nakamichi LX-3
Denon CD player (forgot the model)

 

[Bill S]

Wiim Mini or Pro seems to be consensus for wifi streaming. Your phone or tablet becomes the remote. Most here don't use powered speakers (they're not really wireless).

 

[Moby Dick]

I have a google chrome audio and a Bluetooth receiver hooked-up to my Marantz 2265b.
I stream from my iPhone usually into the chrome audio but sometimes I use the Bluetooth receiver.

 

[Fury161]

I run a Cambridge cxn v2 into the tuner port of my pioneer sa-9100. Controled from the Tidal app on my phone. Works just fine. It is, after all, the modern equivalent of a tuner.

 

[Sitka]

"- separate volume control for different sets of speakers in different locations within the space. "

For routing sound in my system I use a Russound SDB 4.1 - a glorified switch box. This allows separate volume controls, A/B amplifer source, on/off controls for each of four pair of speakers. For me, this works to control two pair of living room mains, and exterior patio and pool areas. It provides a lot of flexibility and options when entertaining.

My gear is a mixture of new (HT AVR Marantz SR6015 / digital streaming side) and old (2 channel vintage receiver Marantz 2238B & TT for vinyl side). The AVR offers high quality streaming, remote control, zone 2 if needed, bluetooth connectivity if wanted. I don't use wireless bluetooth, no experience with that; all speakers are wired, sound quality is great.

 

[Raphaz]

Thanks for advice and for sharing your experience.

Control of separate pairs of speakers/channels:
Looks like upgrading to a more advanced switch box would be the way to go for wired speakers.
Do you think wired speakers are still more affordable and still give you more flexibility in terms of speaker selection?

Wireless speakers:
Anyone out there happy with a wireless speaker setup similar to what I’m trying to do? What do you use? Are we still stuck with restricting ourselves to only a handful of brands that offer quality wireless speakers. Do you have experience with affordable good quality wireless options (real stereo as in left and right channel)? Or did you find a good way to add wireless capability to vintage analog speakers?


Streaming:
Looks like most of you add a dedicated streaming device or a newer receiver with streaming capabilities built in.
As mentioned I use an older MacBook Pro connected to my receiver via aux in and my iPhone serves as a remote.
How would adding a streaming device improve sound quality and convenience over what I have now?

Thanks!

 

[Bill S]

There is no such thing as a wireless speaker unless you're talking a small, battery powered BT speaker. Most (all) folks here use a power amp or receiver powering passive speakers. Cheaper (a lot if we're looking at apples to apples) better and easier to repair. Powered speakers have amps in them. Redundant if you have amp or receiver. Amp goes out, speaker goes out. There is a MUCH larger selection of passive speakers vs powered speakers (I don't mean powered subs which is a different story).

Wifi streaming using a high def service like Tidal, Amazon HD or Quobuz would allow you to stream lossless material. Not sure what your wired Macbook pro connection gives you. Good luck.

 

[kwkshift]

Just add Sonos.

 

[WizardWG4]

Raspberry Pi Zero W with a DAC hat. Running Volumio and streaming Spotify.

Takes a bit to set up but I love it.

 

[Inscrutable]

I have a separate modern system.

like you, thinking of adding streaming capability to vintage stacks. Thinking either another Node2i (have those and CD library on a Vault2i) or trying that BluMeHD I see pop up constantly on my FB feed. Anyone here using one of those?

 

[Raphaz]

Thanks, Bill S

So you are basically saying that wires throughout the house are unavoidable, correct? I was hoping that by now there would be better options (like Teufel) but I’m suspicious that quality isn’t what one would expect considering the prices and I’d be limited to use their proprietary receivers and speakers. That’s disappointing!

As far as streaming I’d like to know more about streaming devices and gadgets mentioned here. Are they really worth the money compared to using an older MacBook Pro?

 

[spark1]

I have a separate modern system.

like you, thinking of adding streaming capability to vintage stacks. Thinking either another Node2i (have those and CD library on a Vault2i) or trying that BluMeHD I see pop up constantly on my FB feed. Anyone here using one of those?

Wiim is an alternative you might consider. Wifi, so no compression. Bit perfect.

 

[pkaustin]

Just add Sonos.

A few years back we were trying to integrate modern and vintage speakers. My wife already had some Sonos Ones (wireless) she used in the office and we'd just snagged some Boston Acoustics A400s for the front room.

We ended up getting a Sonos amp (it can handle the 400s 4 ohm load), a Sonos sub (not needed, but kinda nice for movies), and my wife picked up some Symfonisk (made by Sonos) WiFi bookshelves from IKEA for our home office - my wife works in there and she likes what she likes. ; ) We're using the Sonos Ones as surrounds in our front room. The Sonos stuff is kinda spendy, but even a technophobe like me can manage to run everything.

Our newly-sorted, budget friendly garage system is a spare, old Yamaha receiver with a cheap Logitech bluetooth adapter hooked up to the receiver and is powering some Boston Acoustics bookshelf speakers + a BA sub I just picked up.

Everything is controlled through our respective phones. She controls her music in the office, garage/gym (or portable bluetooth speaker) with her phone and I run whatever/wherever I want with my phone. She streams Apple Music, I usually use Qobuz. We can link everything in the house together if we wanted, or add outdoor speakers. (Our good neighbors are close by, so that wouldn't be cool.)

That's pretty much the extent of my technical knowledge, but feel free to PM me to discuss.