Why do streaming audio players seem to be useless and overpriced bling to me?

[Chr1]

I rate EQ ing the room important enough to want to do it properly. Basic EQ is fine but why not quickly measure the room with a cheap UMIK-1. Takes 10 minutes and cheap hardware. The software is free. Win win.

I use Hifi Cast for Android so after initial setup the keyboard is optional too...

 

[Chromatischism]

PS Agree that Chromecast Audio is a great budget option too. Shame they stopped making them really.

I was actually talking about the HDMI version, still in production. But yeah I have one of those too NIB in case I ever need it.

 

[Multicore]

The more I think about this about this, the more I feel it's something to do with keyboards not looking "right" in a furnished family room. Everyone has come to accept passive screens (legacy TVs) or touch screens in their lives, but keyboards in a relaxing family room looks wrong somehow. They should be banished to an office or workshop.

Obviously I'm aware that quite a few members only experience quality playback in a desktop settings, where the obvious answer is a computer and DAC.

I came to the same conclusion years ago. I'm not going to install a KVM to play music in the living room. And I don't want a desktop GUI for that either.

Nor do I want anything that needs a display on the steamer box itself because I want remote control.

Nor do I want anything with a ten foot UI, because I don't want the big screen turned on to play music.

Control should be using your phone or a tablet you leave lying around.

 

[popej]

I point out how I've been casting with Chromecast since 2009 but I'm usually ignored. I guess people will keep buying useless and overpriced bling...*shrug*

I guess you mostly listen to playlists? I have CCA too, but it doesn't work for me, since I listen to albums. I unconsciously hold my breath, whenever Chromecast makes a pause, when it shouldn't. It is stressing to listen to non-gapless playback.

 

[Deleted member 48726]

I guess you mostly listen to playlists? I have CCA too, but it doesn't work for me, since I listen to albums. I unconsciously hold my breath, whenever Chromecast makes a pause, when it shouldn't. It is stressing to listen to non-gapless playback.

Huh? Sounds like spotty wifi to me if you have cut outs.

 

[popej]

Sounds like spotty wifi to me if you have cut outs.

Not cut outs, but pauses between tracks. Have you tried to listen to any live concert album cast to Chromecast? Or something like "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd?

 

[Deleted member 48726]

Not cut outs, but pauses between tracks. Have you tried to listen to any live concert album cast to Chromecast? Or something like "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd?

I know it doesn't support gapless playback. Not something I value.

 

[popej]

Not something I value.

I started with "it doesn't work for me". There is no contradiction

 

[jooc]

I mean, every time this comes up I point out how I've been casting with Chromecast since 2009 but I'm usually ignored. I guess people will keep buying useless and overpriced bling...*shrug*

It's not that you're ignored, it's that Google stopped making those wonderful things. The WiiM Mini is really just a re-animation of that great idea.

 

[Ron Texas]

@mhardy6647 what do you use for music playback on your Linux computer?

 

[somebodyelse]

I guess you mostly listen to playlists? I have CCA too, but it doesn't work for me, since I listen to albums. I unconsciously hold my breath, whenever Chromecast makes a pause, when it shouldn't. It is stressing to listen to non-gapless playback.

I gather gapless works if you use the CCA as the endpoint for LMS

 

[mhardy6647]

@mhardy6647 what do you use for music playback on your Linux computer?

Just the music player s/w that comes with the (Synology) NAS.
"Audio Station"

... hooked to the hifi via a Topping D10 that was the kind "karma" gift from a fellow at the Polk forums.

(feel free to ignore the Yamaha components - or at least not to wonder about the presence of the tuner - in the photo in this context!)

Apparently the "app" used to have an EQ built into it, but Synology deleted it on a (relatively) recent update.

Old Synology NAS > Ancient Stereo Amp

It's been an ordeal (lasted much longer than my last couple of questions in the other thread)! IMPORTANT: Don't update the NAS!!! - this is where I'd like to start because it all comes to this later on. Version 7.2 changed and different steps may be required IF it can be done at all. It's...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[popej]

I gather gapless works if you use the CCA as the endpoint for LMS

If you stop casting directly from network services, then you can join tracks in 3-rd party application working in the middle. That configuration can use DLNA or Airplay too.

 

[Daverz]

I can't wrap my head around why anyone would buy a streamer.
[snip]
Why are audio components for accessing streaming services costing several thousands of dollars seemingly popular?

Because you can't nap on a Raspberry Pi

 

[Purité Audio]

Expensive cat basket.
Keith

 

[HoweSound]

@mhardy6647 what do you use for music playback on your Linux computer?

I used Kodi for music on my Linux setup and was happy with it. I'm sure there are a myriad of other choices.

 

[deweydm]

Have an old 5th gen iPad repurposed as our “streamer”. Connected to the DAC with an Apple CCK USB dongle. I think there’s a way to control it remotely now with newer iOS releases too, but have an old AppleTV 3 connected to the DAC via optical, so just switch it to that and airplay instead. Nice having the iPad display for anyone to use without connecting their phone though.

 

[Chrispy]

The more I think about this about this, the more I feel it's something to do with keyboards not looking "right" in a furnished family room. Everyone has come to accept passive screens (legacy TVs) or touch screens in their lives, but keyboards in a relaxing family room looks wrong somehow. They should be banished to an office or workshop.

Obviously I'm aware that quite a few members only experience quality playback in a desktop settings, where the obvious answer is a computer and DAC.

On a phone or tablet the keyboard isn't much to consider. On my laptop I just close it up when am not using the keyboard, but in my comfy room I do often use the laptop for this (perusing of fora) and listening to music simultaneously anyways....what I don't want is a desktop machine.

 

[Chromatischism]

I guess you mostly listen to playlists? I have CCA too, but it doesn't work for me, since I listen to albums. I unconsciously hold my breath, whenever Chromecast makes a pause, when it shouldn't. It is stressing to listen to non-gapless playback.

Yes, gapless is a problem, but it's not entirely the fault of the CC. It's just not possible unless you're streaming directly from a control device (phone with BubbleUPNP, for example). It can't do gapless from network UPNP/DLNA sources or I think also internet streaming sources if you're just using the phone as a remote. It's the phone software that has the workaround, but it costs you battery life. Most apps can't do it, but a few can, such as the one previously mentioned.

BTW I use CC HDMI into my AVR.

 

[popej]

BTW I use CC HDMI into my AVR.

I use AVR. I have CCwGTV connected to AVR, but only for streaming video.