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Internet radio for Luddites

I listen to Jazz FM a lot in my workshop but when they switched from DAB to DAB+ I bought a Denon DNP-800NE purely for that and continue with my beloved TU1800 for BBC as it's so easy to switch stations, sounds good enough and is internet free. Use a Wi-fi link at the moment which isn't great (might run a CAT cable but it's going to be a pain) but the main thing is I want to get all the great American jazz stuff and the DNP can do it but it's a major PITA for a simpleton like myself that just wants to press a button, store a few favourites and surf without staring at a tablet/ monitor/ phone etc. I don't do apps (have an old Nokia and my vintage I-pad doesn't play ball with a lot of stuff now). My amp (Cambridge Audio CXA80) will take digital which I use for both tuners and a CXC transport (even has XLRs on it) and is running Quad 57s and an REL. 

I used to have a portable radio thing in the kitchen that brought all the internet stations up on a screen and you just scrolled and pressed and used the headphone out to my separates- sound was surprisingly good but the main thing was useability.- just want station name and poss what's playing. When it died went back to a TIBO DAB+ which is OK but lost all those stations.

The only solution I can see at the mo is to make space for a spare computer with decent sound card and plug it in but want the workshop to be my escape from that...

Never bother with FM now despite decent antenna and reasonable reception (have an old Leak Troughline along with various other Denon, Technics etc tuners sitting unloved at the mo)

Anything under a grand (UK sterling) would be marvelous
keithsax
mwinkc
368 posts
 
The Node 2i is great, but you do need a computer or smartphone to set it up and create presents... probably not for you.
I'm in Kansas City. We recently got a great FM station that is all, well curated classical music. It's been 6 years since we had such a station. Jazz? In this "city of jazz" where Charlie Parker is from, we have to settle for the occasional jazz show on Public Radio. So no...FM isn't a great option here.

I've heard good things about the Logitech device mentioned above, but it's not intended to be audiophile or even CD quality, but it's versatile and gets internet radio with minimal fuss.
keithsax OP
107 posts
 
I don't think the FM reception will reach Bedfordshire from Boston! (even the Lincolnshire one). Love getting the green bars on the Leak Troughline as close together as poss or the signal strength needle on the Yamaha CR-800 receiver to the right.

Remember watching a programme on Charlie Parker where all the sax guys stood around his statue in Kansas and someone played Parker's Mood beautifully. Have fond memories of the amazing quality of the busking in Chicago and the guy in the (amazingly huge) record shop not understanding me asking for Magnetic by Steps Ahead ( someone said he means Maargnetic!)

Weirdly it's interesting to hear the New Jersey morning traffic reports here in Blighty!

I think it was a ROKU unit I used to use in the kitchen- it was so simple; just had a list of stations you scrolled down and pressed on- how I found the 1920's network.

OK fidelity isn't going to be an issue with the 1920's radio network but WGBO (listening to Art Pepper through Sennheiser HD580 phones from Onkyo CR505DAB off computer at the mo and it's pretty good) , Jazz FM etc. have always sounded great through my ESL57s, REL, CXA80 (soon to be Quad 22/ II again)

Am going to go for a CXN after payday and get the Quad 22 going again (keeps dropping a channel); used to take it back to the factory in Huntingdon for servicing back in the day- think they've started doing service again as my current repair guy obviously isn't that great.

To recap all I really want is a good sounding simple to use way of getting internet radio stations sans apps/ phones/ hassle
crustycoot
644 posts
 
The Yamaha WX-C50 is like a cheaper version of the Node, uses MusicCast and has presets you access using the app.  But the Node has presets that can be selected with their optional remote control.  Once you register your up to 40 presets in the Bluesound app you can select them by typing in the desired number on the remote 10-key. Easy peasy.  Used Node 2s can be had on Audiomart or eBay. 
keithsax OP
107 posts
 
Thankyou everybody but it seems HI-FI, like life is now totally app based ARGGHH

The haunted fish tank has become the black mirror. At least the blue screen of death is rarely with us and turning off and on still often fixes it...
cm6td
14 posts
 
I don't want to belabor the point, but the CXN(V2) isn't app based. There is an app available, but it's unnecessary for what you want to do. Everything related to internet radio can be set up and controlled entirely from the front panel or the infrared remote, with no need to ever use an app.
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