New Poll - CD, Streaming from PC/NAS, Streaming from Web only?

[Richard]

A New Poll for digital users - Are you mainly CD, Streaming from PC/NAS, or Streaming from the Web?

A follow on from the earlier poll 8 years ago! Lots of folk were starting streaming back then but how has it worked out? Is the PC or NAS good, has the web taken over, or have we gone back to CD?

Good to hear about your experiences and the gear too

[pre65]

I'm mainly 1 and 2 (equal amounts) with a bit of 3 for internet radio.

[bob orbell]

I download and buy CD that I burn on the laptop, it costs about half price and the quality is very good, of course, all I get is the disc, but I can download the sleeve, but that costs extra. BOB

[colin.hepburn]

Yep still with CD mostly But do have some Stuff on my Network Drive

[Richard]

Yes I'm still on CD despite looking into streaming a time or two.

Recently I ripped a load of albums to FLAC but had a disastrous first go with a CDp/Streamer. Poor CD quality and hopeless network connectivity with slow remote. It was a borrowed shop demo unit so no problem taking it back.

Now I've just bought a used Squeezebox Touch and am very impressed by the ease of use and good sound. Wireless set-up in 5 mins using a desktop PC as server in another room.

Anyone else use a Squeezebox? Any tips, a better psu perhaps, or is an external dac the route to go? Any dac recommendations etc?

[pre65]

I also use a Squeezebox touch for streaming.Mine is LAN connected.

The PSU has been changed for a linear one, but I'm told the difference between that and the supplied wall wart is not great on the digital (to DAC) output, but is more so on the analogue outputs.

I now use a Beresford Bushmaster 2 DAC, which has 4 inputs, 2 SPDIF and 2 toslink. That makes it good for CD and Squeezebox (SPDIF) and also the Sky box and TV (toslink).It also has a headphone output.

[FreddieT]

I have 2 NAS, one for audio and one for video and photos both running Twonky and the audio one is also running Squeezeserver.

I can stream to the Linn Sneaky DSM in the kitchen or the Linn Akurate DS in the lounge and I can also stream internet radio. My daughter has borrowed my Squeezebox Touch and uses it in her room. In my opinion the great thing about streaming (apart from the convenience) is that it sounds better even with ripped CDs. Now I have started digitizing vinyl to 24/176 I have most of the quality of my turntable set up (and WD Phono 3 of course) around the house.

I'm also experimenting with DSD recordings of my LPs since I do subscribe to the notion that SACD was a great medium that largely passed us by and that DSD has a more analogue quality when played back.

The CD/SACD collection has been archived in the garage, along with many DVDs which are now on the video NAS. Less clutter, except for the garage!

Pretty well connected, but I still prefer playing records! They have not been abandoned to the garage and spiders.

F.

[Richard]

Many thanks for all the replies.

Freddie, thanks, I can now see how easy it would be to expand around the house with a wireless network.

I've heard good things about the Beresford DAC so have ordered one. Partly as I hope it will be an improvement on the SBT alone, but partly as it has 2 coax SPDIF inputs, as Philip says, and will let me A/B streaming against the CDp more easily.

What digital DAC interconnect do you guys use? It needs to be 75 ohm and not too short I gather - most manufacturers will test their gear with typical 1m cables I suppose. Will TV coax be OK or is it worth buying a commercial cable?

[colin.hepburn]

Hi Richard
I use 75 ohm Sat TV coax I made up from CT100 and can’t tell the difference between a £30 IXOS 1051 75ohm Silver Cable I have
I also use a 5meter length of same cable from my HDTV with on notable single loss all works and sounds just fine
I believe that the CT 100 is now updater to WF100
Hope that help some
Colin
http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/cable.htm

[Richard]

Excellent thanks Colin got some of that