Apple lossless as a source
I want to play Apple music as a source from either PC or iPhone (or whatever).
Background:
I am rebuilding my system to get back to music. I have several good but older components. I don't want to spend 5000$, lol
What I have:
NAD 2200 Power amp- continuous 100 watts at 8 ohms. Its dynamic headroom is rated at 6 dB, which means that it can deliver—in 20-millisecond bursts, twice per second—400 watts per channel to 8 ohms, 600 watts to 4 ohms, and 800 watts to 2-ohm loads.
Totem Tabu speakers- Basically upgraded Totem Model 1. Somewhere between a Forest and Forest Signature - very nice speakers that would be in the 5k range today.
I've been out of the audiophile stuff for many years (prior to all the digital stuff). Basically, I want to figure out how to get from Apple Music to the amp in a cost-effective way with the best quality. I am fairly technical but just haven't kept up with all the digital audio stuff.
Thanks for the help. I contacted Bluesound about the Node X to see if it can stream from PC or iPhone in Hi Res. Will update when I hear back. "If you have a component that accepts Bluetooth, AirPlay, or Google Chromecast, then you can send Apple Music wirelessly to that component" I don't think Airplay supports hi res.
Does anyone actually have a setup with PC -> DOC/Preamp -> amp with Apple Music?
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@vonhelmholtz I looked for where to post my system details but can't find it. Menu under profile says "virtual systems" but it throws an error: "Sorry, that user doesn't exist". |
You can airplay apple music from your iPhone or iPad to a streamer that supports airplay. It’s a better option than Bluetooth. Honestly in that system you are unlikely to suffer a significant sonic degradation. If you want something better you woukd have to get a streamer with a built in DAC and subscribe to Qobuz or Tidal. |
I stream Apple Music from a Samsung tablet via Chromecast to my Cambridge Audio streamer. The High Resolution tracks that Apple offers sound great this way. If I use an Apple device, such as my iPhone, it doesn’t offer Chromecast so I have use AirPlay, which is better than Bluetooth, but Chromecast is preferred |
This whole thing reminds me of 4k tv. No normal person can get 4k all the way from the service to the tv without a doctorate in gadgetology. Luckily I'm semi retired and have time for all this. I got a subscription to Qobuz and will try that out. Of course, when I tried to bring over a playlist from apple I had to go through some third-party app that wanted me to subscribe to the premium version or it wouldn't move more that 200 songs. :-( Rebuilding my 650 song playlist will be a project. Qobuz should build a converter from other services in to make it easier to switch. I'd prefer to keep the streamer and DAC/preamp separate. I think the streamer will be obsolete long before the DAC. Preamps never die. |
