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CONNECT internet music souce to hi-end

I have just finished my cost no object listening room, and set up my main 2-channel system. I finally decided to buy a tuner again (MR88), because I wanted to listen to our local smooth jazz station in the room. TWO FRICKIN WEEKS, then format change! NO more jazz in the area.

I was introduced to "Pandora" on the internet, and think its a great idea.

But, how do I get High Quality connection to my main stereo?

Internet provider is Roadrunner/Time Warner cable.

My tuner is the McIntosh MR88, and my pre-amp has single end connectors and balanced inputs.

Can I hard wire? Is that the best connection?
trirotor
peter_s
1,335 posts
 
Do you have a digital source? Do you have a DAC? If you have a DAC, and can get internet into your listening room (wirelessly or via CAT5), you can get a squeezebox device and stream whatever radio stations you like (and Pandora). The Squeezebox Touch is a new product that is supposed to have a good built in DAC - I'm sure it's fine for streaming internet radio (in fact that may be true for all their internal DACs - it's just if you want to stream 16/44 CD quality or better that you may need a better DAC.
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,677 posts
 
If you want to hard-wire, get a USB-DAC to connect the output of the computer to the Mac. I use a HRT in my office for this purpose.

Squeezebox Touch is the first choice for wireless.

Either way, the quality limitation will be the streaming source, not the hardware.

Kal
aldoallen
29 posts
 
If you want to continue to use your tuner you can get a Whole House fm transmitter and connect it to the audio out on your computer or go from your computer to a DAC to the fm transmitter. I have had one for a few months and it works great. However as Kal said the limitation is the streaming source so it won't sound as good as a quality uncompressed fm signal.

Al
trirotor OP
1 posts
 
I never looked into a stand alone DAC. My player is a Moon Andromeda. Any recommendations?

Are all computer signals "compressed"?

Kal: Can you be more specific? Model #'s, and where on the tuner do I hook into? What is HRT?

Thanks for all of your input.
-Mark
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,677 posts
 
The player is irrelevant here as we are only speaking of a USB source from your PC. And here, I would definitely not go from PC to DAC to any transmitter, FM or otherwise. If you need to go wireless, use the Squeezebox Touch (which I am planning to do) or transmit the USB and convert at the music system.

The computer signals vary widely depending on the source. Some are terrible and some can be beautifully lossless. It is your burden to find what works for you.

Here's a review of one of the HRTs: http://www.stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/hrt_music_streamer_usb_da_converter/

Kal
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