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My desire is a wifi or ethernet connected device in my stereo rack with either an onboard dac with stereo RCA out (or mini-stereo if need be) and/or a digital out (coax or optical or usb-c). The device itself would be seen on the network by Windows computers as an audio device to which they could direct their audio output playing locally stored audio files (or any other source they can access) via vlc or whatever media player.
What I don't want is a solution that is app (phone/tablet driven) and organized around commercial streaming services and spybot Alexa/Siri/HeyGoogle devices.
I've looked at a lot of streaming appliances that don't really seem to be what I want although I have been keeping my focus at the lower end price wise.
Maybe it is a fool's errand without looking at prohibitively expensive devices or just figuring out a diy raspberry pi based solution.
Don't forget Diretta as well which is gaining more popularity in the Computer streaming as well due to needing just an RPi streamer with Gentooplayer and activate Diretta and voila you're using Diretta already through Roon or HQPlayer
My desire is a wifi or ethernet connected device in my stereo rack with either an onboard dac with stereo RCA out (or mini-stereo if need be) and/or a digital out (coax or optical or usb-c). The device itself would be seen on the network by Windows computers as an audio device to which they could direct their audio output playing locally stored audio files (or any other source they can access) via vlc or whatever media player.
What I don't want is a solution that is app (phone/tablet driven) and organized around commercial streaming services and spybot Alexa/Siri/HeyGoogle devices.
I've looked at a lot of streaming appliances that don't really seem to be what I want although I have been keeping my focus at the lower end price wise.
Maybe it is a fool's errand without looking at prohibitively expensive devices or just figuring out a diy raspberry pi based solution.
A wiim ultra streamer is all you need. You can cast Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Deezer Connect etc. straight from your PC. No need for Wiim app whatsoever
Use the Chrome browser to cast what's playing on your computer to your speakers. To get started, make sure you're fully set up to use Chromecast Audio with Chrome. Set up casting from Chrome If y
A wiim ultra streamer is all you need. You can cast Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Deezer Connect etc. straight from your PC. No need for Wiim app whatsoever
Hmm...I'm feeling my lazy hat kicking in. I may just set up a retired laptop proximate to the rack and connect it to an aux input on the preamp and rdp into it from the other side of room to play files from it.
Hmm...I'm feeling my lazy hat kicking in. I may just set up a retired laptop proximate to the rack and connect it to an aux input on the preamp and rdp into it from the other side of room to play files from it.
Daphile is an audiophile class music server & player OS – targeted to dedicated headless PC. It manages the bitperfect and gapless playback of common audio formats including the high resolution files.
Unless I am mis-reading the requirement (I see "a digital out coax or optical or usb-c") surely this is well within the LMS domain:
- any small form factor PC endpoint (PI or otherwise) running squeezelite which would output via USB to a DAC
- LMS (both server and web client) running on one windows system to browse music collection/control volume etc
- supports local file and remote services (qobuz, tidal etc) playback
- Nice interface via the Material skin (and others)
- can browse/control on other devices as well should that become a requirement
It's a robust, low cost solution that you can DIY or buy any number of pre-built endpoints (some of which do come with onboard coax SP/DIF options if needed). Some DIY needed to install server/client on windows PC but its very easy (literally three mouse clicks and a bit of typing)
Huge community of end users on various forums to provide support (I can help to get you started if needed)
If the ability to send any audio from your PC is the main requirement, I would suggest casting the desktop audio using Chrome (or Edge Chromium) as above (which I just tested to my Wiim Pro).
I have also found this which I haven't tested yet to send PC audio to a Chromecast device.
Mirror and stream from Windows and macOS to Apple TV, HomePod, AirPlay-enabled speakers, Chromecast and more. Wirelessly connect your computer to any TV or computer and stream movies, photos or music!
@audioholic63 - I haven't played around with Daphile for a while as I settled on headless PlexAmp on a RPi for streaming from my Plex server. However, I do run LMS at home, primarily for listing to internet radio. I also have a Dell Wyse 5070 thin client sitting around that i've been meaning to have a play with. So, this morning I wiped the 5070 and installed Daphile on it. It took me about 5 minutes to get it installed on the 5070's 16GB eMMC drive and get it streaming from my LMS server (i'd plugged in my Sound Blaster X4 as a DAC for testing purposes).
The Wyse 5070 is passively cooled and you can pick a used one up on eBay for under $50. Just make sure you get one with the original PSU as they are not the standard laptop/mini PC ones. More about the 5070 here: https://www.parkytowers.me.uk/thin/wyse/5070/
If you put a decent size M.2 SATA drive in the 5070, it could be your LMS server and music library as well.
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