I, and I assume many others here, would LOVE to hear your impressions of any differences you hear between running direct from your router and using the extender. This would be MOST VALUABLE information as so few people here have done both. Thanks in advance!
Please help with setting up a streaming system
Hi guys and gals,
I would like to start streaming some high res and cd quality music. I am very computer illiterate so please take it easy on me. I would like to set something up fairly easy to use and not spend more than 2k. I currently have an older PS Audio PWD 2 with just the bridge card and the PWT memory player going to PrimaLuna mono blocks and pre amp. I would like to use my dac if it is still a viable solution because I really like the sound when the recording is decent. Can someone please offer some direction and experience with where to start?
Thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions!
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@soix @justinm : I was going to ask the same thing (about fully hardwired vs using an extender)! Someone mentioned using a “mesh router” which I looked up, but I can’t tell if it will work with my equipment. I can get an extender, no problem, but I’m not sure I’d be able to run a cable all the way from the gateway to the streamer (at least not easily). Right now my streaming equipment consists of a Bluesound node (N130) into a Cambridge DacMagic Plus. My music sources are Spotify and Apple Music Lossless via Bluetooth, and Radio Paradise (which is preloaded onto the Node). Radio Paradise sounds much better to me, but as I’m learning more, I believe that may be due to the fact that the Bluetooth is limiting the quality of the other sources I’m using. I tried Qobuz for the free trial period and didn’t like it (sound quality was just Ok, and the app wasn’t user friendly - to me), so I cancelled. But now I’m thinking it was dumbed down by being transmitted over Bluetooth. I’m planning to give it another try when I get this streaming system sorted out. |
@krelldreams Bluetooth sucks and completely undermined your Qobuz experience. Just get a decent Wi-Fi extender from TP-Link, etc. and run a short Ethernet or CAT7 cable from it to your streamer, do another Qobuz trial, and you’ll really hear what streaming can do. |
@soix : I believe that! I didn’t realize it was such a big deal until I tried the Radio Paradise. I was like.. what the hell! I’m definitely going to try Qobuz again. I’ll get used to the OS. If the sound quality is good, I’ll make it work. Lol. I’m willing to get a better streamer and DAC, but I want to optimize what I have first. My LPs sound A LOT better, but I want to give streaming a chance, because it really opens up a whole world of music discovery! |
@krelldreams +1000!!! Hi-quality music discovery has been the biggest innovation in audio in the last 100 years IMHO. I rarely play my own music anymore. First, most of it is available on Qobuz anyway, and some of it in hi-res that I don’t have, and second why would you wanna play the same stuff over and over when there are literally thousands of new and exciting songs to be heard? Definitely invest in at least a decent streamer and DAC that melds with your sonic tastes, because just like with vinyl and as I’m sure you well know, EVERYTHING MATTERS, and matters a lot especially with streaming. Go for it! If you’re at all like me, who was also a relatively late adopter of streaming, my ONLY regret was not getting into streaming sooner. It’s, literally, a whole new world and has re-awakened my audiophile spirit. I’ve never enjoyed listening to music more. It’s like being a kid in a candy shop all over again. |
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