Best Value Media streaming device

[Rupert]

My Squeezebox is looking like its died. My Amp and speakers are still superb, but all my music is on my PC in the office, So I am on the market for a cheap solution. Anyone got any recommendations for device that is cheap and has reasonable quality?

I know I can do it with a tablet, or even a phone, but the sound quality is even too poor for my old ears. I could probably fire up an old computer, and use the sound card from that, but it seems in elegant.

Ideally, I want it controlled by tablet or phone, so I am thinknig of something like this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00I ... UTF8&psc=1
WiFi Audio Music Receiver Adapter - AirPlay Compatible - Turns any existing Speakers Docks & Sound Systems into Wireless Streaming Systems - DLNA Stream Stereo Bluetooth Speaker 3.5mm AirMusic

There seems to be an abundance of units that will play via bluetooth from your phone. I am a little suspicious of those, Is that reasonable?

But I feel confident that if there is a group of people that can point me in the right direction, this is the place to ask


hope you can help.

[Lowlander]

It's my understanding that Bluetooth audio is generally of poor quality (although the latest version improves on that). However as I understand audio won't be send lossless (if you have lossless), but compressed (thus quality loss will happen). However it is a convenient feature for any device to have as you can quickly send audio from a bluetooth device like phone/tablet.

For more quality you'd be looking at a DLNA capable (MediaMonkey supports this both as server and client) device that has good lossless support (preferably in the format you already use (think WAV, FLAC, WMA Lossless). Then you'd look at output options where digital would be preferred (like Toslink) and then you'd look at the internal audio components (the better quality the better your experience (and the lighter your wallet will be floating through audio nirvana)).

Audio quality is subjective (as double blind studies often conclude that mid quality MP3's can't be distinguished from higher quality formats) thus trying any solution would be the best advice. My primary concern would be format support (it is easiest if it supports the formats you already use, but MediaMonkey can auto-convert on the fly if needed) and connectivity (I'd prefer LAN and Toslink or HDMI to be available). That will likely limit the field enough to be able to decide.

Note, your device listing seems to have no mention of what file formats it will support over DLNA.

[Rupert]

Lowlander, cool thx

you have been on the forum for some years now haven't you? I always read your posts with interest. I am simple mp3, no lossless

My understanding is that unit on Amazon is wireless streaming, like my old Squeezebox. Trouble is pocket depth is quite shallw at the mo, so none of the high end items are an option. Having tried the phone/tablet option through the headphones, I have realized the importance of quality components as you point out.

It would be nice to be able to use the media monkey server and Android app to control it, do you think it will?

[Lowlander]

The Android App can't act as control point at this point, but developers have suggested they'll look into it. I use BubbleUPnP when I need to use my phone as control point.

[Rupert]

Ok thanks, I have bought one, see how it goes.

[ctbarker32]

My Squeezebox is looking like its died.

Why don't you build a Raspberry Pi Squeezebox replacement.

1. Buy a standard Raspberry Pi board $30
2. Buy a Wolfson DAC Pi Audio board $35. This will give you 192k/24bit support as well.
3. If you need wireless, get a $9 USB 802.11
4. Install either Squeezeplug (needed for Wolfson support) or PiCorePlayer

Control with an Android Squeezeplayer app free in Google Play store using Phone, Tablet, or just use web interface on a PC.

Sit back and enjoy!

[Rupert]

interesting idea, when I have the time I might well do that.

I think my next plan is to borrow a friends remote control to set up the Squeeze box again with a computer.

the adapter I bought, I hopeless compared with the squeezebox. it takes ages to find the music, there is no cache on the phone so it has to look up the lists each request. etc.

need my squeezebox back