Help Streaming to Powered Iloud Speakers

[APerfectSquirrel]

I bought some IK Iloud MKII speakers that I use for recording and mixing, and they work great. I would also like to occasionally use them to stream AppleMusic but don’t want to have to fire up my UAD Audio Interface every time. Is there a smaller and fairly inexpensive streamer that would allow me to plug my 1/4” (I assume unbalanced?) cables in so I could use these speakers for casual listening as well?

Btw, I also have a Chord Mojo 2 that I use primarily as a headphone amp but have also used it as a DAC with a small stereo power amp I used to have to run passive speakers. So, I guess I wouldn’t technically need a DAC but just a streamer that has 1/4” or XLR outs?
Thanks all
J

 

[staticV3]

Hi @APerfectSquirrel! Welcome to ASR.

The MTM MKII having just a single analog input complicates things.

If you want to connect two analog sources (streamer+audio interface), then you'd have to either switch the cables around, or get a source selector like the Nobsound MC103.

If your interface had a SPDIF input, then you could buy a WiiM Mini, plug that into the Interface, and then stream your music via AirPlay->WiiM->SPDIF->Interface->1/4"->iLoud, without starting up your PC.

 

[APerfectSquirrel]

Good point on the SPDIF. My Audio interface only has hi-z (direct 1/4” instrument) and thunderbolt inputs.

 

[AnalogSteph]

If you want to connect two analog sources (streamer+audio interface), then you'd have to either switch the cables around, or get a source selector like the Nobsound MC103.

Or plan C, use a mixer.

 

[Berwhale]

My (mk1) MTMs are connected to my Topping EX5 DAC/AMP via Presonus Sub8 (all balanced XLR/TRS connections). I haven't tried this, but in theory I think I could connect a 2nd source to the RCA inputs on the Sub8 and drive the MTMs through it. The newer version of the Sub8 (Sub8BT) also has Bluetooth input and is designed exactly for the use case you mention.

*edit* - yeah it will work on my Sub8...

 

[EERecordist]

I think Belkin makes a Lightning adaptor with an unbalanced headphone out and a charging passthrough. That could be used with an inexpensive pad or phone as your music source. Imagine there would be similar USB C adaptors.

 

[staticV3]

Since you can't make use of the interface's DAC without first booting your PC, you'll have to use some other DAC for streaming duties.

A very good streamer+DAC is the WiiM Pro Plus, which can be plugged into the iLoud or MC103 via an RCA->XLR cable.

 

[APerfectSquirrel]

Since you can't make use of the interface's DAC without first booting your PC, you'll have to use some other DAC for streaming duties.

A very good streamer+DAC is the WiiM Pro Plus, which can be plugged into the iLoud or MC103 via an RCA->XLR cable.

To be clear, I can just use the WiiM pro Plus (the plus is preferred over the regular pro?) and use RCA cables that convert to XLR to input into the Ilouds, and done?

 

[staticV3]

To be clear, I can just use the WiiM pro Plus (the plus is preferred over the regular pro?) and use RCA cables that convert to XLR to input into the Ilouds, and done?

Yes, but that will take up the iLoud's only audio input and you'll have to plug out the streamer and plug in the interface whenever you want to switch.

 

[Berwhale]

To be clear, I can just use the WiiM pro Plus (the plus is preferred over the regular pro?) and use RCA cables that convert to XLR to input into the Ilouds, and done?

If you unplug a balanced source (your interface) and connect an unbalanced source (a streamer) then you are likely to need to change the sensitivity on the back of both MTMs as well.

 

[APerfectSquirrel]

Are there streamers that use balanced outs?

 

[Berwhale]

Are there streamers that use balanced outs?

Yes, but I think they all cost at least as much as the MTMs, unless you build something with a RaspberryPi and balanced HAT (https://thepihut.com/products/hifiberry-dac2-pro-xlr). You could then use something like the MC103 that @staticV3 mentioned to switch between sources.

Nobsound 3-IN-1-OUT XLR Audio Switch Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Nobsound MC-103 Pro 3-IN-1-OUT XLR Audio Switcher. The unit I have came with the brand Douk on it so that is what I used in my notations below. I suspect multiple companies put their name on it. I purchased it a few days ago from Amazon. The...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[APerfectSquirrel]

My Mojo2 into a Schiit Saga 2 into the MC103?
Cumbersome but possible?
https://www.schiit.com/products/saga_2

 

[AnalogSteph]

Possible but hardly economical. I would start with a Behringer HD400 and associated cabling (1 pc. 1/8" stereo to 2x 1/4" TS, 2 pcs. 1/4" TRS to either TRS or XLR male).