paddydog Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Hello, I want to find a cheap and cheerful solution to be able to play music from various sources on my laptop (including Spotify) without a wired connection to my hifi. I'm not looking for top-end audiophile components. Maybe I have come to the worng place, but my hifi is a 20-odd year old collection of technics separates which still sounds fine. I just need something that works elegantly. I looked at something called the Chord Gem, but that is out of my price range. Can anyone suggest anythiing useful? Link to comment
Cnewport Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Do you have a Mac? If so you can use Airfoil to send audio from any application to an airport express, apple tv, or computer connected to your system: http://www.rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/mac/ I haven't used it personally but it sounds like what you are looking for. Corey[br]Apple TV[br]Peachtree Audio nova[br]PS Audio Trio A100[br]B&W 602 s2 Link to comment
Mr.C Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 As mentioned above, the cheapest I know of is the Airport Express. You can have multiple ones and use one or more at a time. If you don't use itunes, you will need to buy airfoil to use other programs. I think that airfoil works on PC too. $300: The next step up are the sqeezebox devices. They have their own software and some don't require a computer. Then Sonos is a little more expensive. Googling these names should give you some info. Link to comment
paddydog Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 I have a Vista (Windows 7 eventually) laptop. Link to comment
Cnewport Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 http://www.rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/windows/ Didn't even know this existed... Corey[br]Apple TV[br]Peachtree Audio nova[br]PS Audio Trio A100[br]B&W 602 s2 Link to comment
paddydog Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 which sounds like it would do the job. Only question now is how do I cable an Airport Express to my hifi (which I think only has RCA connections)? Thank you both for your input! Link to comment
Audio_ELF Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 A simple mini-jack to RCA cable will connect an AirPort Express to any amplifier. Next step (in terms of quality) is to add a separate DAC via optical conenction. If you use iTunes, you may want to consider the Apple TV as an alternative to the AirPort Express as you can then use that to listen to iTunes music (not Spotify, etc) independent of your computer. Eloise Eloise --- ...in my opinion / experience... While I agree "Everything may matter" working out what actually affects the sound is a trickier thing. And I agree "Trust your ears" but equally don't allow them to fool you - trust them with a bit of skepticism. keep your mind open... But mind your brain doesn't fall out. Link to comment
paddydog Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 Audio_ELF> which rules out the Apple TV (it is also a lot more expensive than the Airport Express). I don't have an iPod (Nokia N97 does the job for me). Your comment about a separate DAC via optical connection interests me though. Is this much better than the mini-jack to RCA? How does it work with the Airport Express? If I just opted for a wired USB DAC to RCA what sort of products are available that won't break my budget? Is there any way to isolate the sound source doing this so I only get the sound from, say Spotify or Windows Media, rather than all the computer's noises for email arriving, etc? The Airfoil product seemed to solve this. Link to comment
Cnewport Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 A separate DAC would sound much better but they cost a lot (relative to an airport express and $25 software). One of the cheaper ones I know of is the Musical Fidelity V series (http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MFVDAC). To connect it to the airport use a toslink cable and an adapter (http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=AQMINITO). A USB DAC will only work with a computer, it will not work with an airport express or apple tv. This is a real budget buster Corey[br]Apple TV[br]Peachtree Audio nova[br]PS Audio Trio A100[br]B&W 602 s2 Link to comment
akai Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I own the Dugood DAC3W, it is a wireless DAC, out from your computer through USB, it also has other connections as well. Please see link. It has AK4394VF DAC chips, unbelievable sound for the price. See the spec. http://cgi.ebay.com/DUGOOD-DAC3W-WIRELESS-DAC-PC-LINK-DAC-TO-CD-PLAYER_W0QQitemZ320420747524QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4a9a909904 mP Link to comment
pete the feet Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I currently have a laptop which is connected wireless to router, router is connected ethernet cable to Squeeze Duet receiver, which is connected to Dacmagic via coax, this in turn is connected via phono/Rca cables to pre amp. Spotify is streamed so is iTunes on laptop to hifi. I can also connect via a usb to dac and play You Tube audio only , is it possible to play You Tube etc wireless? Link to comment
Melvin Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 This is a fairly inexpensive and very easy solution. Tons of reviews around. Might just be what you are looking for. I recently upgraded but used the AW1 for a year or so. Nice. http://audioengineusa.com/w1_home.php Link to comment
paddydog Posted December 23, 2009 Author Share Posted December 23, 2009 Thanks Melvin, that looks like the sort of thing I am after. Will have to wait for after Christmas now, but that's OK. Link to comment
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