Help needed with audio streaming basics

[pjon05]

I'm fairly new to audio streaming but having discovered how much better Amazon UHD tracks sound and not having room for my CD collection, decided to pursue this route last year. A smart Denon unit was quickly followed by a Quad Vena 2 Play and now I have a pair of Q Acoustics Active 400s.

I'm using Qobuz to stream, as Amazon appears to have limitations when casting, but I find that my source devices all sound different, which I don't understand as I thought it was the Active 400 hub doing the streaming and the device was just a controller, however despite my phone, tablet and laptop all showing 24 bit 96khz, they seem to have different characteristics. Although it can accept higher resolutions than this, the hub sends the signal to the speakers at this quality, so I don't think there's any point getting a better resolution source than this, but what can I use to get the best possible sound (assuming I'm not imagining things and all 3 of my devices are already as good as it can get)? At the moment I think the laptop sounds best (B&O sound which seems quite good) - I also want a higher spec Mac to use with Garageband, so could use it for both, but have heard that Apple's casting is not as good as Chrome's and a laptop is not very convenient. I saw someone recommending an ARYLIC S50 Pro which I thought I may be able to connect to the hub using WiFi. Or optical? Is there anything else relatively cheap that would give me the best possible sound and be easy to use?

I've been googling for weeks, so if anyone could gently explain and recommend anything, or point me to an existing thread (I did find a very good one on here once), I'd be very grateful

Thanks very much

Jon

 

[garn63]

Some kind person will be along to help & advise. Perhaps then choose the idea you like best ?
Enjoy yourself & try not to sweat (too much ) about hifi.
It's a slippery slope..

 

[rdale]

I'm fairly new to audio streaming but having discovered how much better Amazon UHD tracks sound and not having room for my CD collection, decided to pursue this route last year. A smart Denon unit was quickly followed by a Quad Vena 2 Play and now I have a pair of Q Acoustics Active 400s.

I'm using Qobuz to stream, as Amazon appears to have limitations when casting, but I find that my source devices all sound different, which I don't understand as I thought it was the Active 400 hub doing the streaming and the device was just a controller, however despite my phone, tablet and laptop all showing 24 bit 96khz, they seem to have different characteristics. Although it can accept higher resolutions than this, the hub sends the signal to the speakers at this quality, so I don't think there's any point getting a better resolution source than this, but what can I use to get the best possible sound (assuming I'm not imagining things and all 3 of my devices are already as good as it can get)? At the moment I think the laptop sounds best (B&O sound which seems quite good) - I also want a higher spec Mac to use with Garageband, so could use it for both, but have heard that Apple's casting is not as good as Chrome's and a laptop is not very convenient. I saw someone recommending an ARYLIC S50 Pro which I thought I may be able to connect to the hub using WiFi. Or optical? Is there anything else relatively cheap that would give me the best possible sound and be easy to use?

I've been googling for weeks, so if anyone could gently explain and recommend anything, or point me to an existing thread (I did find a very good one on here once), I'd be very grateful

Thanks very much

Jon

If you use Chromecast the music comes from the controlling device, but if you use UPnP/DLNA the controlling device tells the renderer where to get the music from and doesn’t have to actually send the music itself. The 400 hub supports both ways of streaming and so you need to find out which of the two methods your phone, laptop and tablet are using.

 

[bencat]

For a simple one box solution that would be much better than a PC or MAC (both very noisy environments and not ideal , someone will disagree in a minute) try this which has been used by a few on here and is often given the thumbs up .

Amazon product

Many on here have gone down the Raspberry Pi route which gets you in to the Logitech Media Server world which is both good to use and sounds excellent . However this requires a little more effort as you need to construct your server and load up your choice of software . There is also the issue of a huge shortage of Raspberry Pi units as well .

 

[Lawrence001]

If you use Chromecast the music comes from the controlling device, but if you use UPnP/DLNA the controlling device tells the renderer where to get the music from and doesn’t have to actually send the music itself. The 400 hub supports both ways of streaming and so you need to find out which of the two methods your phone, laptop and tablet are using.

I thought casting told the renderer where to get the music from too? I'm sure I've cast an album from my phone and closed the app after to test this and the music carried on.

 

[rdale]

I thought casting told the renderer where to get the music from too? I'm sure I've cast an album from my phone and closed the app after to test this and the music carried on.

I've just done some googling and I think you're right. Chromecast does both types of streaming, but in the case of music streaming I get the impression that it gets the stream directly from the internet. I think sound quality differences between sources might be to do with unwanted resampling perhaps.

 

[Lawrence001]

I'm fairly new to audio streaming but having discovered how much better Amazon UHD tracks sound and not having room for my CD collection, decided to pursue this route last year. A smart Denon unit was quickly followed by a Quad Vena 2 Play and now I have a pair of Q Acoustics Active 400s.

I'm using Qobuz to stream, as Amazon appears to have limitations when casting, but I find that my source devices all sound different, which I don't understand as I thought it was the Active 400 hub doing the streaming and the device was just a controller, however despite my phone, tablet and laptop all showing 24 bit 96khz, they seem to have different characteristics. Although it can accept higher resolutions than this, the hub sends the signal to the speakers at this quality, so I don't think there's any point getting a better resolution source than this, but what can I use to get the best possible sound (assuming I'm not imagining things and all 3 of my devices are already as good as it can get)? At the moment I think the laptop sounds best (B&O sound which seems quite good) - I also want a higher spec Mac to use with Garageband, so could use it for both, but have heard that Apple's casting is not as good as Chrome's and a laptop is not very convenient. I saw someone recommending an ARYLIC S50 Pro which I thought I may be able to connect to the hub using WiFi. Or optical? Is there anything else relatively cheap that would give me the best possible sound and be easy to use?

I've been googling for weeks, so if anyone could gently explain and recommend anything, or point me to an existing thread (I did find a very good one on here once), I'd be very grateful

Thanks very much

Jon

Can you explain how you connect the phone, tablet and laptop as this is key?

 

[pjon05]

Can you explain how you connect the phone, tablet and laptop as this is key?

Hi Lawrence - I'm using Chromecast I believe, Qobuz appears to use this route on all three? And mine also seems to continue even if you shut down the source, but I swear each sound different...

 

[pjon05]

For a simple one box solution that would be much better than a PC or MAC (both very noisy environments and not ideal , someone will disagree in a minute) try this which has been used by a few on here and is often given the thumbs up .

Amazon product

Many on here have gone down the Raspberry Pi route which gets you in to the Logitech Media Server world which is both good to use and sounds excellent . However this requires a little more effort as you need to construct your server and load up your choice of software . There is also the issue of a huge shortage of Raspberry Pi units as well .

Thank you Ben - I've ordered one of these to give it a go... looks exactly what I need.

 

[pjon05]

Some kind person will be along to help & advise. Perhaps then choose the idea you like best ?
Enjoy yourself & try not to sweat (too much ) about hifi.
It's a slippery slope..

Everything hifi related seems to be - I thought streaming was supposed be simple compared to the old days of trying to isolate your turntable etc!

 

[bencat]

Trust me nothing about streaming is easy or obvious . As to getting better music quality that is a rabbit hole you need to avoid . I know I am still stuck in it and trying to get out .

 

[garn63]

Everything hifi related seems to be - I thought streaming was supposed be simple compared to the old days of trying to isolate your turntable etc!

It's as complicated as you want to make it Jon. Just look at your phone or tablet as a sophisticated remote ? They have cracked this streaming thing now so it is reliable and relatively simple..unless you bring a computer into the equation. Good luck. Your in good hands.

 

[Lawrence001]

Hi Lawrence - I'm using Chromecast I believe, Qobuz appears to use this route on all three? And mine also seems to continue even if you shut down the source, but I swear each sound different...

I think you should explain how you play a song one step at a time as the review I read says this and I'm not familiar with Play-Fi.

Crucially, DTS Play-Fi feels good enough as an interface to make you want to explore the Quad’s performance and can comfortably hold its own via the spread of available streaming services. In a perfect world, the inclusion of AirPlay or Chromecast would be a welcome final addition, but the Bluetooth connection is good enough to handle most of these requirements.

If you are using Bluetooth that would explain the difference.

 

[StingRay]

Streaming can be easy. I just use a Bluesound Node 2. Connect to router with ethernet cable, control with my ipad. BluOs is the software. It does not play via my ipad. Ive has very few problem.

Chromecast I heard is not great. Does it do gapless playback yet?

The Wiim suggestion is good from what Ive heard about it, there is even a cheaper version around £80. If you buy online you can try it out.

 

[Man in a van]

Trust me nothing about streaming is easy or obvious . As to getting better music quality that is a rabbit hole you need to avoid . I know I am still stuck in it and trying to get out .

It's obvs!

Your taking the wrong pill

ronnie

 

[pjon05]

For a simple one box solution that would be much better than a PC or MAC (both very noisy environments and not ideal , someone will disagree in a minute) try this which has been used by a few on here and is often given the thumbs up .

Amazon product

Many on here have gone down the Raspberry Pi route which gets you in to the Logitech Media Server world which is both good to use and sounds excellent . However this requires a little more effort as you need to construct your server and load up your choice of software . There is also the issue of a huge shortage of Raspberry Pi units as well .

Wow - I cant believe the difference it makes! It's transformed the sound, possibly 20-30% better. I can't believe that the general advice from the manufacturer of a £2300 item is "just connect your phone" - it took me weeks to find out that this could be improved on.

Of course, now I'm wondering if £150 gets you this quality, what are the steps up from this? Not so much a server, but a more expensive one box solution?

And I'm using the optical output which I assume is the best one?

thanks very much for helping me, all of you

 

[bencat]

Look I know that getting improvements is great and then you start on the road of what if ? My advice of you can take it is sit on your hands for as long as you can enjoy the music and be happy that things sound better. With regard to the output of the unit has an RCA SPDIF out as well use that if you can in most cases the sound is better with that connection .

 

[pjon05]

The interface is also the best I've used!

Look I know that getting improvements is great and then you start on the road of what if ? My advice of you can take it is sit on your hands for as long as you can enjoy the music and be happy that things sound better. With regard to the output of the unit has an RCA SPDIF out as well use that if you can in most cases the sound is better with that connection .

Thanks Ben - wise advice - not usually successful at that but, I'll give it a go!

 

[bencat]

Bencat is my forum name on most forums but is just a nickname as noted in my details my name is Andrew .

 

[rocky raccoon]

Wow - I cant believe the difference it makes! It's transformed the sound, possibly 20-30% better. I can't believe that the general advice from the manufacturer of a £2300 item is "just connect your phone" - it took me weeks to find out that this could be improved on.

Of course, now I'm wondering if £150 gets you this quality, what are the steps up from this? Not so much a server, but a more expensive one box solution?

And I'm using the optical output which I assume is the best one?

thanks very much for helping me, all of you

Hi PJon. I have been reading this thread with interest as I am considering getting started with streaming. Can you tell me exactly what your set up consists of, how you made it work and got the quality you now enjoy ? Assume I know absolutely nothing {this is actually the case) except that it involved getting a Wim and plugging it into a router.
Any help gratefully recieved.