Streaming BBC Sounds at 320kbs?

[on the rocks]

So BBC Sounds can stream at up to 320 kbs
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/about-bbc-sounds-and-our-policies/codecs-bitratesHowever there don’t appear to be any HiFi streamers on the market that support BBC Sounds directly, also TuneIn etc no longer have access to BBC Sounds

The work around suggested by BBC and others is to transmit BBC Sounds from a phone or tablet using Chromecast. But can this route support 320 kbs?

If not what is the point of the BBC’s 320 kbs?

Im still using my FM tuner for now

 

[Lawrence001]

I've been using BBC Sounds directly from a plug-in on my LMS based Liv Zen, it sounds good.

 

[on the rocks]

I've been using BBC Sounds directly from a plug-in on my LMS based Liv Zen, it sounds good.

Thanks, do you know what bit rate you’re getting?

 

[bobovox]

I listen live to the 320kbps MPEG-DASH streams, rather than through the Sounds app; I now do this using a Cambridge Audio CXN v2, which makes it very simple, but did so previously with a Raspberry Pi and a helper application running on a NAS drive called Minimstreamer (too many computers involved, hence the move to the simpler solution).

The sound quality using the 320kbps streams is better than on FM, although FM is still very enjoyable (BBC R3 at least). I get a strong signal through a loft aerial and have tried a number of tuners (Rotel RT-11, Denon TU-1800DAB & Technics ST-G70L).

I think if you want to use catch-up then you do have to use Chromecast or Airplay. Not sure of the bitrate - my DAC identified the PCM stream it was receiving as 16/48.

 

[on the rocks]

I listen live to the 320kbps MPEG-DASH streams, rather than through the Sounds app; I now do this using a Cambridge Audio CXN v2, which makes it very simple, but did so previously with a Raspberry Pi and a helper application running on a NAS drive called Minimstreamer (too many computers involved, hence the move to the simpler solution).

The sound quality using the 320kbps streams is better than on FM, although FM is still very enjoyable (BBC R3 at least). I get a strong signal through a loft aerial and have tried a number of tuners (Rotel RT-11, Denon TU-1800DAB & Technics ST-G70L).

I think if you want to use catch-up then you do have to use Chromecast or Airplay. Not sure of the bitrate - my DAC identified the PCM stream it was receiving as 16/48.

So how does that work exactly with the MPEG-Dash streams, what hardware and software do you use?

 

[Man in a van]

So how does that work exactly with the MPEG-Dash streams, what hardware and software do you use?

Logitech Media Server on PC, Windows and Mac OS LInux.

Small form computers are popular (raspberry pi or Dell Optiplex, NUC)



Output to whatever you want, onboard sound card, external DAC using SPDIF or USB, cast to otherstuff (I don't know much about Bluetooth, but DNLA is possible and Airplay (the latter a bit restricted)

ronnie

 

[lazycat]

I use Roon into a sotm sms200. I've also used LMS with this and both work well.

 

[Lawrence001]

Thanks, do you know what bit rate you’re getting?

Sorry I don't know how to tell maybe there's info online I'll check when I can.

 

[Man in a van]

One can, of course, dedicate any computer as a streamer by installing BBC Sounds, Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer Apps or Web Pages and playing them directly (or indirectly, headless) into ones playback system

 

[Man in a van]

Thanks, do you know what bit rate you’re getting?

 

[bobovox]

With the CXN it’s simply a matter of picking the BBC station from a list using the Cambridge Audio Stream Magic App. I use this on an iPad but there are versions for iPhone and Android. The app crashes occasionally but generally works well enough. Nothing else needed.

I don’t have one but I’m 99.9% sure the CA 851N will do the same thing in the same way. Someone else may be able to confirm.

When I was using the Pi I had a UPNP server called Minimserver and an add on package called Minimstreamer running on a Synology NAS. This transcodes the MPEG-DASH stream from the BBC to a PCM stream that in principle any UPNP streamer should be able to play. You create a playlist for the UPNP server with the web addresses of the BBC streams for each station.

Full details here:
https://minimstreamer.com/bbcradio.html
The streamer I used was a headless (no screen attached) Raspberry Pi running Raspberry PiOS. I added a uPNP renderer to the Pi - a bit of software called Media Player. I should point out that all of this requires as bit of command line work on the Pi so not a good solution for you if that’s not your thing.

https://github.com/PeteManchester/MediaPlayer
Upmpdci should work just as well (actually it’s probably an easier install).

https://www.lesbonscomptes.com/upmpdcli/
I used a Pi 3b with a Justboom Digihat with coaxial s/pdif into my DAC. If you have a USB DAC you could do without the HAT and use USB from a Pi 4.

The Linn App, Lumin App or mConnect App running on an iPad could be used to select the desired station from the playlist.

The CXN route is obviously at lot easier. I already had most of the pi / NAS software set-up for playing FLAC files on the NAS drive.

 

[t1no]

BBC Sounds .... on Squeeezlite

 

[wHIZZY]

To those with an Innuos server BBC Sounds can also be installed using the instruction available on their frequently asked questions page. Also, as already mentioned available via LMS based servers such as the Musical Fidelity Encore I use.

 

[glenhb]

Yep, same on 851N

 

[bigrod]

With the CXN it’s simply a matter of picking the BBC station from a list using the Cambridge Audio Stream Magic App. I use this on an iPad but there are versions for iPhone and Android. The app crashes occasionally but generally works well enough. Nothing else needed.

I don’t have one but I’m 99.9% sure the CA 851N will do the same thing in the same way. Someone else may be able to confirm.

My Cambridge Edge is basically the same on their stream magic app …

 

[Jules_S]

On Sonos the native BBC Sounds app apparently streams at 48-320kbps - how I can tell what I'm getting I wouldn't know. Presumably as I'm using an older model Connect I'm not getting the highest bitrates. I do know that Radio 2 sounds pretty awful, but I like the music (and Popmaster of course).

https://support.sonos.com/s/article/5090?language=en_US

 

[Jubal]

On Sonos the native BBC Sounds app apparently streams at 48-320kbps - how I can tell what I'm getting I wouldn't know. Presumably as I'm using an older model Connect I'm not getting the highest bitrates. I do know that Radio 2 sounds pretty awful, but I like the music (and Popmaster of course).

https://support.sonos.com/s/article/5090?language=en_US

I’m not sure where the limitation is on Sonos. I’m happy enough with Amazon music and Radio Paradise on my S2 Connect. But BBC, and other services are hit and miss. It’s frustrating that it would be trivial to have the bitstream reported in the app but they clearly choose not to. That must be deliberate, by either BBC or Sonos, but it puts me off buying the new Port (or Amp). I guess, even hifi guys who play at it like me aren’t their target market. None of us are - looking at the “lengths” people go to to feed the hires stream.

 

[jamesrfisher]

Getting 320kbs from my Prisma app on my Primare

 

[Man in a van]

Playing BBC Sounds Radio 6, via co-ax digital output from a Sonos Connect Mk1 into a Topping DX3 Pro, reports as 44.1 kHz sample rate

The same station via LMS, Squeezelite, rpi3b+ / Cirrus-Logic dac co-ax, reports 48.0 kHz

ronnie

 

[Jubal]

Playing BBC Sounds Radio 6, via co-ax digital output from a Sonos Connect Mk1 into a Topping DX3 Pro, reports as 44.1 kHz sample rate
The same station via LMS, Squeezelite, rpi3b+ / Cirrus-Logic dac co-ax, reports 48.0 kHz

That’ll be right. Sonos down samples to 44.1 on coax and optical. It partially answers the question I have though. Thanks.