JoeThePop
Known member
Apologies for the extremely long winded post to follow, and if I posted in the wrong thread.
I just signed up for an account here because I like what I see in this forum and will be looking for advice on possible upgrades to my humble, little system. But first a little background. About a year ago I decided to kick my AV receiver to the curb and free myself from the tangle of cords, wires, and ugly black box speakers that inhabited my living room (I don’t have a dedicated listening room). I had decided to go back to my first love, stereo music. So I got my over 30-year-old stereo receiver (Yamaha RX-700U bought new in 1987) out of its box, and keeping the 20-year-old Paradigm Titans (bought new in 1997) from my 5.1 system, I went back to listening to 2 channel music. I have added a Google Chromecast Audio connected to one of the receiver’s analog inputs for streaming music from Spotify, and am currently using a barely working CD player for my collection of CDs (the tray decides when it wants to work).
I fully realize I might not fit the profile of a typical audiophile. Everything I read about Roon and Network Attached Storage seems overly complicated to me for music listening. I despise maintaining computers and the thought of setting up a network, a file storage system, and backups has absolutely no appeal to me. It may be far simpler than I believe, but I sit behind computer screens all day at work and the last thing I want to do at home during my leisure time is wrestle with any type of networking/distribution issues. At work I can just call IT when I have problem; not an option at home. Not to mention I don’t have a spare computer laying around to dedicate to music listening. I’m not saying having a network with ripped files is a bad thing, and after the initial set-up I’m sure that things become simpler, it’s just not my cup of tea.
Anyway, when I moved back to a 2 channel set-up I began perusing all the audio-centric websites in an attempt to learn about the latest developments to help me decide on future upgrades to my aging system. And I have come away more confused than when I started. So many questions.
Like why do music streamers cost so much? I know the Chromecast Audio is not the last word in technology, but come on, it was $35, and it works beautifully. And if I’m so inclined I can add a “better” DAC to its output.
What is the real difference sonically between a $300 CD player and a $3,000 player?
Is there any reason why I should replace a perfectly functioning 30-year-old receiver with a new integrated amplifier?
I want to replace my Paradigm Titans with something newer and more visually appealing, while keeping the cost under $500 for the pair. So many choices. What will be the best choice for the type of sonic character I like?
Maybe I shouldn’t replace my CD player and look for a different, non-computer based streaming system instead?
I know, lots of questions. So I will start with just one, with the hope people are still reading this long winded introduction.
In all my research for an economical streaming system that could be used for both streaming a subscription service and FLAC files saved to a storage device I have landed on the possibility of using an Android based DAP. For instance, the FiiO M6 looks like it might just do all I need for just $150. Stream Spotify or some other music subscription service? Check. Stream FLAC files? Check.
So the question is, can I use the M6 to easily stream FLAC files stored on micro-SD to the Chromecast Audio? Looking at the information on FiiOs website is a little confusing on this.
And if not the Chromecast, I was thinking I could go with the iFi Audio ZEN DAC, using the USB out of the M6 to the DAC and my phone as a simple remote.
Or maybe even the iFi ZEN Blue to stream from the M6 using one of the latest Bluetooth codecs.
Sorry , this really has gotten long. Just looking for opinions on plus/minus of using a DAP for streaming.
P.S.
With saving for retirement, a teenager looking to go to college, and all the regular household expenses I am restricting myself to a tight budget. So that’s why I’m looking to keep solutions below $500.
I just signed up for an account here because I like what I see in this forum and will be looking for advice on possible upgrades to my humble, little system. But first a little background. About a year ago I decided to kick my AV receiver to the curb and free myself from the tangle of cords, wires, and ugly black box speakers that inhabited my living room (I don’t have a dedicated listening room). I had decided to go back to my first love, stereo music. So I got my over 30-year-old stereo receiver (Yamaha RX-700U bought new in 1987) out of its box, and keeping the 20-year-old Paradigm Titans (bought new in 1997) from my 5.1 system, I went back to listening to 2 channel music. I have added a Google Chromecast Audio connected to one of the receiver’s analog inputs for streaming music from Spotify, and am currently using a barely working CD player for my collection of CDs (the tray decides when it wants to work).
I fully realize I might not fit the profile of a typical audiophile. Everything I read about Roon and Network Attached Storage seems overly complicated to me for music listening. I despise maintaining computers and the thought of setting up a network, a file storage system, and backups has absolutely no appeal to me. It may be far simpler than I believe, but I sit behind computer screens all day at work and the last thing I want to do at home during my leisure time is wrestle with any type of networking/distribution issues. At work I can just call IT when I have problem; not an option at home. Not to mention I don’t have a spare computer laying around to dedicate to music listening. I’m not saying having a network with ripped files is a bad thing, and after the initial set-up I’m sure that things become simpler, it’s just not my cup of tea.
Anyway, when I moved back to a 2 channel set-up I began perusing all the audio-centric websites in an attempt to learn about the latest developments to help me decide on future upgrades to my aging system. And I have come away more confused than when I started. So many questions.
Like why do music streamers cost so much? I know the Chromecast Audio is not the last word in technology, but come on, it was $35, and it works beautifully. And if I’m so inclined I can add a “better” DAC to its output.
What is the real difference sonically between a $300 CD player and a $3,000 player?
Is there any reason why I should replace a perfectly functioning 30-year-old receiver with a new integrated amplifier?
I want to replace my Paradigm Titans with something newer and more visually appealing, while keeping the cost under $500 for the pair. So many choices. What will be the best choice for the type of sonic character I like?
Maybe I shouldn’t replace my CD player and look for a different, non-computer based streaming system instead?
I know, lots of questions. So I will start with just one, with the hope people are still reading this long winded introduction.
In all my research for an economical streaming system that could be used for both streaming a subscription service and FLAC files saved to a storage device I have landed on the possibility of using an Android based DAP. For instance, the FiiO M6 looks like it might just do all I need for just $150. Stream Spotify or some other music subscription service? Check. Stream FLAC files? Check.
So the question is, can I use the M6 to easily stream FLAC files stored on micro-SD to the Chromecast Audio? Looking at the information on FiiOs website is a little confusing on this.
And if not the Chromecast, I was thinking I could go with the iFi Audio ZEN DAC, using the USB out of the M6 to the DAC and my phone as a simple remote.
Or maybe even the iFi ZEN Blue to stream from the M6 using one of the latest Bluetooth codecs.
Sorry , this really has gotten long. Just looking for opinions on plus/minus of using a DAP for streaming.
P.S.
With saving for retirement, a teenager looking to go to college, and all the regular household expenses I am restricting myself to a tight budget. So that’s why I’m looking to keep solutions below $500.