Looking to upgrade music streaming experience

[Blade06]

You can probably tell by my setup that i have been around the forum for a while. I am looking to upgrade my digital playback setup and need some recommendations for a new setup that prioritizes visuals!

Current Setup​

• Device: Khadas VIM3 + Tone Board
• OS: Android TV
• App: Amazon Music
• Issues:
  • Android TV limits audio output to 16-bit / 48kHz
  • Experiencing audio artifacts, especially when using my Harmony remote
  • Amazon Music UI is pretty weak, though I do like the album artwork
  • Not planning to stay with Amazon Music Unlimited – platform support is lacking

Streaming Goals​

• Looking to stream all music via a service (likely Qobuz, but open to suggestions)
• Don’t plan to play any local files (stopped downloading/maintaining years ago)
• Top priorities:
  1. Lossless audio quality above CD quality
  2. Visual experience on TV (album art, artist images, bios, related info, etc.)
     • Think Kodi from 20 years ago, but without the need for local media management
• Planning to pair the setup with a Topping D50 III DAC

Hardware​

• Raspberry Pi 5
  • Currently used occasionally for RetroPie and home automation scripting
  • Ideally would run music playback as an app, not as a standalone OS
  • Could dedicate another Pi if needed
• Apple TV and Fire TV
  • Available if there's a suitable app for either platform and can run audio through AVR to DAC

What I’m Looking For​

• A streaming setup that supports high-quality audio output
• Displays rich visuals on the TV during playback (artwork, info, etc.)
• Doesn’t require local file management or heavy customization
• Runs smoothly on existing hardware (ideally Pi 5), but open to buying new gear if needed

Any recommendations for:

• Best platform/app combo for Qobuz (or other hi-res services)?
• Pi-based music apps that focus on visuals?
• Alternatives to Android TV that don't limit audio output?
• Good integration with external DACs?

Thanks in advance for any insight!

 

[Power Pop 23]

Welcome to ASR,

Others will chime in with suggestions. Be advised that WiiM has developed a 'WiiM Home' app for the Apple TV OS. Maybe a WiiM streamer in your signal can help achieve your goal.

 

[waofner]

Qobuz:
I am using it for 2 years now- streaming itself stable. Some issues with "disappearing" titles in my playlists- i think due to licence cost reducing.
I did change from Spotify because of high-res ability, which itself works fine. But the high-res version of a title is often remastered, which, at least in my opinion,
is less appealing than the original not remastered 44.1 kHz version.
(I am able to seperate mp3 from 44.1 in a blind test >90% not so in case of 44.1 to high-res.)
Spotify uses superior algorithm for suggesting new music which you may like.

Topping D50III:
Purchased it a few weeks ago because my Yamaha RN2000A has issues with gapless playback. The D50III works perfect!

(all streaming done from standard Windows PC)

 

[Blade06]

Welcome to ASR,

Others will chime in with suggestions. Be advised that WiiM has developed a 'WiiM Home' app for the Apple TV OS. Maybe a WiiM streamer in your signal can help achieve your goal.

Thanks, I didn't know about WiiM Home does it display album info/art on the TV when playing music?

 

[DVDdoug]

I did change from Spotify because of high-res ability, which itself works fine. But the high-res version of a title is often remastered, which, at least in my opinion, is less appealing than the original not remastered 44.1 kHz version.

Right! The consensus is that the particular version of the recording-release (which you can't control) makes a bigger difference than the format.

Lossy compression can be very good and you generally have to listen very closely and A/B to hear a difference, if you can hear a difference at all. Dolby digital on DVDs is lossy but it can sound amazing!

Almost nobody can hear the difference between a high-resolution original and a copy down-sampled to "CD quality" in a proper blind ABX test. And without the ability to A/B you'd never identify it's "only" CD quality.

 

[westsail42]

My streaming services...

I gave up on Spotify and moved to Tidal. Specifically, because of higher quality streams and nice ROON integration.

Though, I notice Tidal a bit short of library coverage. Lacking some artists/titles I didn't expect as "obscure."

 

[Power Pop 23]

Thanks, I didn't know about WiiM Home does it display album info/art on the TV when playing music?

I haven't used it yet on my Apple TV but yes, it is my understanding from the forums at WiiM that it does support album artwork.

 

[DanielT]

Changes appear to be possible (in near?) future:

Quote from WiiM Admin:

Apr 14, 2025
#8
Hi everyone! Just bumping the old thread to let you know that we're testing out a WiiM Home app for Apple TV! Check it out in the Apple TV app store and let us know what you think!

WiiM app for Apple TV / tvOS

Question for the developers. For this moment I perforce using PLEX App for listening my music home library from the Apple TV through Wiim Pro Plus. This setup has some troubles like AirPlay2 quality limitations, changing external output before listening, problems with tracks rewind... etc. Do...

forum.wiimhome.com

 

[Nicoff]

You can probably tell by my setup that i have been around the forum for a while. I am looking to upgrade my digital playback setup and need some recommendations for a new setup that prioritizes visuals!

Current Setup​

• Device: Khadas VIM3 + Tone Board
• OS: Android TV
• App: Amazon Music
• Issues:
  • Android TV limits audio output to 16-bit / 48kHz
  • Experiencing audio artifacts, especially when using my Harmony remote
  • Amazon Music UI is pretty weak, though I do like the album artwork
  • Not planning to stay with Amazon Music Unlimited – platform support is lacking

Streaming Goals​

• Looking to stream all music via a service (likely Qobuz, but open to suggestions)
• Don’t plan to play any local files (stopped downloading/maintaining years ago)
• Top priorities:
  1. Lossless audio quality above CD quality
  2. Visual experience on TV (album art, artist images, bios, related info, etc.)
     • Think Kodi from 20 years ago, but without the need for local media management
• Planning to pair the setup with a Topping D50 III DAC

Hardware​

• Raspberry Pi 5
  • Currently used occasionally for RetroPie and home automation scripting
  • Ideally would run music playback as an app, not as a standalone OS
  • Could dedicate another Pi if needed
• Apple TV and Fire TV
  • Available if there's a suitable app for either platform and can run audio through AVR to DAC

What I’m Looking For​

• A streaming setup that supports high-quality audio output
• Displays rich visuals on the TV during playback (artwork, info, etc.)
• Doesn’t require local file management or heavy customization
• Runs smoothly on existing hardware (ideally Pi 5), but open to buying new gear if needed

Any recommendations for:

• Best platform/app combo for Qobuz (or other hi-res services)?
• Pi-based music apps that focus on visuals?
• Alternatives to Android TV that don't limit audio output?
• Good integration with external DACs?

Thanks in advance for any insight!

A WiiM device will do what you want. I used to run a RPi/Ropiie set up and replaced it with WiiM product.
Using the WiiM Home with Apple TV you can see the album cover and the queue as well.
WiiM devices also works with Qobuz Connect and can stream at hi-resolution if that’s what you want.
I much prefer WiiM for streaming instead of an RPi/software combo because I no longer have to mess with software or firmware updates. With WiiM updates happen in the background. No more waiting for some update before I can listen to music.
You can connect your Topping DAC to the WiiM.

 

[Timcognito]

If you are willing to have a computer on 24/7 Roon plus an endpoint (WiiM?), plus Qubuz, will give you the best magazine like GUI with access to liner notes, all related internet references, recommendations, Roon Radio based on your tastes and selections, and real DSP.