[blueisthecolour]

Hi,

I'm currently listening to most of my music by plugging my laptop into the amp via a phono to stereo jack cable and streaming tracks via googleplay. I'm finding this a bit cumbersome and was after a more advanced solution.

Want I want is something that I can fully control via my mobile phone (or other remote), so all I have to do is open an app and select a song and it will start playing on my system. Can someone suggest the best way to achieve that? I'd rather not buy a new amp if it can be helped.

Thanks

[gomezz]

I was asking about something similar a while back and didn't really get anywhere. I do have a nettop permanently connected to my music system which has a wireless keyboard and mouse so maybe getting a wireless keyboard / mouse for your laptop is one possible solution - comes with a Bluetooth adaptor to plug into a spare USB port on the laptop.

The other thing I do is have an Internet radio plugged into my music system which also supports Bluetooth input so I can stream content wirelessly from my mobile or tablet via the radio to my music system.. That said, the copy of my music on the mobile is in a lower quality MP3 format rather than the lossless FLAC format I have on the nettop.

[AlanO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueisthecolour

Hi,

I'm currently listening to most of my music by plugging my laptop into the amp via a phono to stereo jack cable and streaming tracks via googleplay. I'm finding this a bit cumbersome and was after a more advanced solution.

Want I want is something that I can fully control via my mobile phone (or other remote), so all I have to do is open an app and select a song and it will start playing on my system. Can someone suggest the best way to achieve that? I'd rather not buy a new amp if it can be helped.

Thanks

Unless I've misunderstood what you're trying to do, it sounds like the new Chromecast audio is what you're after http://www.whathifi.com/google/chromecast-audio/review

Plugs into an existing hifi amp (assuming it's got line inputs) and is controlled by your mobile phone.

[gomezz]

As I understand it the OP want to control content delivered from their laptop using an app on their mobile. While Chromecast Audio controls and delivers content from the same device.

[blueisthecolour]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomezz

I was asking about something similar a while back and didn't really get anywhere. I do have a nettop permanently connected to my music system which has a wireless keyboard and mouse so maybe getting a wireless keyboard / mouse for your laptop is one possible solution - comes with a Bluetooth adaptor to plug into a spare USB port on the laptop.

The other thing I do is have an Internet radio plugged into my music system which also supports Bluetooth input so I can stream content wirelessly from my mobile or tablet via the radio to my music system.. That said, the copy of my music on the mobile is in a lower quality MP3 format rather than the lossless FLAC format I have on the nettop.

Thanks for the tips.

Though what I'm after is something that is basically as easy to use as a CD player. I don't want to have to tie up my laptop or phone in order to play music, and I don't want to have to browse a screen on the tv to choose songs.

[blueisthecolour]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanO

Unless I've misunderstood what you're trying to do, it sounds like the new Chromecast audio is what you're after http://www.whathifi.com/google/chromecast-audio/review

Plugs into an existing hifi amp (assuming it's got line inputs) and is controlled by your mobile phone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomezz

As I understand it the OP want to control content delivered from their laptop using an app on their mobile. While Chromecast Audio controls and delivers content from the same device.

This is pretty much exactly what I want. Thanks.

I can just 'load' all of my MP3 into googleplay and stream directly so there's no need to stream content from the laptop.

Audiophile question - what kind of quality compromises am i making here over a standard CD separate?

[AlanO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueisthecolour

This is pretty much exactly what I want. Thanks.

I can just 'load' all of my MP3 into googleplay and stream directly so there's no need to stream content from the laptop.

Audiophile question - what kind of quality compromises am i making here over a standard CD separate?

Well, MP3 is a compressed format - whereas there are other formats which claim to be 'lossless'.

It depends on the quality of your set up as to how much you notice the compression of MP3 - and I think that's a personal taste thing in any case.

For £ 30, if the Chromecast audio functionally does what you want, it's probably worth trying and seeing how you get on with it. If you find it's not to your taste, then you'll need to look for another solution - but you'll be doing it from a position of knowing what you don't like.

[blueisthecolour]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanO

Well, MP3 is a compressed format - whereas there are other formats which claim to be 'lossless'.

It depends on the quality of your set up as to how much you notice the compression of MP3 - and I think that's a personal taste thing in any case.

For £ 30, if the Chromecast audio functionally does what you want, it's probably worth trying and seeing how you get on with it. If you find it's not to your taste, then you'll need to look for another solution - but you'll be doing it from a position of knowing what you don't like.

Chromecast Audio has been ordered. Picking up tomorrow.

I was more thinking about what the difference is between having a £100 CD separate feeding the amp via a phono lead and a £30 Chromecast Audio feeding it via a 3.5mm lead.

[AlanO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueisthecolour

Chromecast Audio has been ordered. Picking up tomorrow.

I was more thinking about what the difference is between having a £100 CD separate feeding the amp via a phono lead and a £30 Chromecast Audio feeding it via a 3.5mm lead.

OK - the reality is there's probably little difference other than the format led element. The quality of cables is likely to be similar - I thought the Chromecast came with both 3.5mm leads and phono?

[AlanO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanO

OK - the reality is there's probably little difference other than the format led element. The quality of cables is likely to be similar - I thought the Chromecast came with both 3.5mm leads and phono?

Actually just checked and it is only 3.5mm jack lead. However a 3.5mm - phono lead is easily obtainable.

If I were connecting I'd prefer phono as it's a bit more durable, but many mini / micro systems only offer phono - presumably the reason Google have gone that route.

[SnrDev]

If you want to throw some money at it & buy a nice toy to do the job the Cambridge Stream Magic 6 is very good, as is Naim's equivalent (but that's a bit pricier tho). Other streamers are available.

Both CA & Naim have associated apps for Android & IOS that allow you to direct the streamer to the source and play music files from the NAS or server; the phone / tablet is redundant other than as a means of selecting & queuing (and cueing) tracks.

Quality wise you'll struggle to notice any real difference on MP3s ripped at 192k & higher; by 320k there really is very little obvious difference. Or you can buy Hi-Res files sampled at higher bit rates & sample depths and end up with streams that sound better than CD.

[AlanO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnrDev

If you want to throw some money at it & buy a nice toy to do the job the Cambridge Stream Magic 6 is very good, as is Naim's equivalent (but that's a bit pricier tho). Other streamers are available.

Both CA & Naim have associated apps for Android & IOS that allow you to direct the streamer to the source and play music files from the NAS or server; the phone / tablet is redundant other than as a means of selecting & queuing (and cueing) tracks.

Quality wise you'll struggle to notice any real difference on MP3s ripped at 192k & higher; by 320k there really is very little obvious difference. Or you can buy Hi-Res files sampled at higher bit rates & sample depths and end up with streams that sound better than CD.

Throw some money at it being the operative term - those are at least 20 times more expensive than the Chromecast.......

[SnrDev]

They're good though. OP asked about quality; it seemed sensible to show that there are ways to get decent quality via streamed files.

[gomezz]

I have always got lost investigating these systems: Do I need a streamer like the Cambridge *and* a NAS?

[SnrDev]

Any source configured as a media server will do, so a NAS, PC, other Win server if configured, Mac; and a streamer e.g CA Stream Magic. Plus a device to operate it from, unless you want to be on your hands & knees in front of it to play tracks through it.

[gomezz]

Thanks.

[chrisjr]

Looks like the Cambridge unit mentioned above can also play from a USB hard drive plugged into it.

Though having all your media files on a NAS does make it easier to add and delete stuff and share the content between several devices if you have a need for that.

[gomezz]

I noticed the USB hard drive input and it just happens I got myself one as a means to have an offsite backup of my ripped music so if I could use that I may have to start massaging my boy's toys budget.

[chrisjr]

Another option, though costly, is something like this

http://www.richersounds.com/product/...cock-audio-x30

has a built in hard drive for primary storage and you can rip CDs directly to the hard drive. Can also stream from other sources. Plus plug a pair of speakers into it and you have a self contained music system.

[blueisthecolour]

I've got the chromecast audio up and running - it's working well so far.