Hi All. "First time long time."
I'd like to get suggestions and input from the group on options for putting together the audio chain I'm looking to build.
What I am trying to do:
Path 1 (Tidal and Spotify):
Sincerely,
-Shaun
I'd like to get suggestions and input from the group on options for putting together the audio chain I'm looking to build.
What I am trying to do:
- I want to bring the experience of high quality music to my whole family in a convenient way for them by using what they already do today.
- I want to use my FireTV cube as my main single UI and streamer for Tidal, Plex, and Spotify. This platform has great support from the music service providers with native apps and is very convenient for my whole family to use and enjoy.
- I want to add a modern DAC with MQA and 24/192 support and improve the quality of all my music on my larger home stereo (CD quality from Tidal and Plex, streaming OggVorbis from Spotify, MQA from Tidal, Hi-Res 24bit FLAC from my Plex library). I enjoy the Tidal Master quality audio on my PC (dragonfly Red) and want to support these MQA files on my larger home stereo. I also have a collection of 24 bit FLAC files on my home media server I access through Plex.
- Budget is around $400-$500.
Path 1 (Tidal and Spotify):
- wired ethernet->FireTV cube HDMI->TV
- Panasonic TC-L55WT60 Optical-> OnkyoTXDS-787 (AVR)
- wired ethernet->Raspberry Pi 3B+ I2S -> Hifiberry Dac+Pro
- Rasplex OS
- Hifiberry DAC+Pro RCA out-> Onkyo TXDS-787 (AVR)
- Installing Volumio on my raspberry pi and USB out to a DAC. I can experiment with my Dragonfly Red but have concerns about the data rate and quality as the USB and ethernet share the same bus on the Raspberry Pi 3B+. I also don't want to use Volumio UI. It forces me to use UPnP on my smartphone as the interface and I want something the whole family can enjoy via the FireTV UI and native streaming service apps.
- I am considering purchasing SMSL M500 as it has all the DAC features I am looking for in the price range, is recommended on this site, and is in the upper quartile performance range on this site. The gap is MQA on SMSL M500 is only supported via USB and I can only get Optical or HDMI ARC out from Panasonic TV. So it doesn't appear I have the interface I need.
- Audioquest Dragonfly Red
- Chromecast Audio
- LGV10 unlocked smartphone
- I am avoiding using HDMI as an audio interface. In my experience FireTV HDMI output of music sounds compressed and terrible.
- I am avoiding discussions about whether or not MQA or 24bit audio is good or bad. I have it, I like it, I want to support full unfolding of MQA and full 24/192 in my audio chain.
- I'm not ready to make the Roon jump yet. I know it's a powerful option but I want to find a solution that works for the whole family through the existing Fire TV UI they already know and use.
- Suggestions and ideas on addressing my interface mis-match for SMSL M500. How could I get USB audio out of FireTV?
- Suggestions on an alternative DAC that supports MQA and 24/192 in my budget.
- Suggestions on Raspberry Pi solution that would support native Tidal, Spotify, and Plex apps. I could hook it to the TV via HDMI for video and USB out to DAC for audio.
- Other ideas?
Sincerely,
-Shaun