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Newbie questions - Seeking a streamer with the right features - I'm confused!

OK, here is the situation.

I have a boatload of CDs I want to rip to disk and be able to stream.  I also intend to add to my music library by purchasing digital music files.

I want to "playback" digital music in two ways:

1) Connect the output of the streamer to my Parasound P5 preamp.  This preamp has both DAC digital inputs, as well as analog inputs (In other words, this preamp has an internal DAC).  Most streamers I see online have digital outputs, that I can connect to the DAC input on my preamp.  Some streamers have internal DACS, and have analog outputs as well, though it seems wasteful to pay for another DAC.  I want music played back via this method to have the maximum possible fidelity.  At any rate, for this method of playback, I think I understand my options.

2) THIS is where I get confused.  I would also like to stream music from the streamer, to remote speakers in my house.  Can this be done over my local Wi-Fi network, or would the streamer have to be able to stream to Bluetooth?  What streamers out there can do this?  I know I would have to purchase special remote speakers.  I am really confused about my options here.  It's OK if the music streaming via this method not be the best quality, just reasonable quality.

The most I can afford to spend on a streamer is $3000, MAX.  Is there anything out there that I can perform both use cases above?  Given my confusion, I suspect I have some sort of fundamental misunderstanding.

btanchors
btanchors OP
13 posts
 

I live in a three-story house.  The audio system, which is where the streamer would reside, is in the basement.  The remote speakers would mostly be on the first floor, one floor above the basement, or possibly outside, on my deck.  Both of these locations are well within strong signal range for Wi-Fi, but I am not sure how well it would work via Blue Tooth.

A wired solution won't work - I am hoping to have some sort of wireless solution.  Fortunately, I don't care if the wireless sound is audiophile quality.

Any thoughts on which solution - Bluesound, Sonos, etc., would be better?  I do not need to stream to both main speakers and remote speakers simultaneously.

What I want is to be able to "call up" music to be played on the remote speakers from an iPad or iPhone from the first floor without having to go downstairs into the basement to fiddle with the streamer.

2psyop's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
2psyop
1,598 posts
 
I really like the Sonos system and I think it would be perfect for what you are trying to do. I helped my 70 yr old neighbor across the street set this up and he’s ecstatic with the results. He has two small Sonos speakers on thin stands in his living room, two more on stands on his back deck and two more in his upstairs bedroom. Here is the best part, he controls all of them from his phone. He does not have a streamer, his home network and his phone control content from his phone’s Spotify app with all the music he can dream of. All the speakers are self powered and plugged into AC outlets. He can have Billy Joel playing on the bac deck, while Beethoven is playing in the living room and James Taylor playing on the bedroom.
an example of the speakers on stands https://www.google.com/search?q=sonos+speakers+on+stands+in+living+room&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEw...
mahler123
3,361 posts
 
+1 with 2psyop
AirPlay May also work for you, if the remote speakers are Apple Home Pods
pcc67
226 posts
 
Just a question.  Why bother ripping CDs if you are going to stream from a pay service like tidal?  I have couple hundred cds, I bought a bluesound 2i and hooked up with tidal. I make play list with tidal. Have it on my phone android and iPad.  Bring with me yo my car and bluetooth.  I thought about getting the bluesound vault for ripping CDs, but realized tidal has everything I put in it. So why spend the 1k on the vault.  My node 2i is hardwired to my modem.  This is my first and only streamer I have ever had or used. I'm very happy with it, I'm sure there are other services. Its hooked up to high end system.  Audio dealer used in their store. I'm not very techie,  this was plug and play. I'm not sure if bluesound will do multi room. I think it would require other nodes, but not sure. I just crank up the volume and do multi room that way. Only me and wife, so no issues there. Lol
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