Streamer for Genelecs

[waynel]

Thanks! Which streaming service are you using if I may ask. I learnt it was Spotify from your older posts. Did you decide on comparison with other services like Tidal or Qobuz? If yes, Is there a big difference in SQ to Tidal or Qobuz and Spotify?

Currently I use Apple Music via Apple 4KTV fed into Yamaha AVR 775. Spotify & Apple has largest collection of Indian music compared to Tidal or Qobuz. So in my case, the best will be to go for a combination of both Spotify or Apple Music (Indian) and Tidal or Qobuz (non-Indian). The service will then have to work with new Yamaha WXC-50. I assume the WXC-50 with digital out for Spotify and Tidal or Qobuz will sound much better than the current Apple Music via Apple 4K TV to AVR Yamaha 775 via analogue output. I do not have any CD or FLAC collection though. Or do you see WXC

I use Spotify and asset as a local server for cd quality music stored locally. I tried Tidal a few years ago but became frustrated with the lack of gapless support for MusicCast.

 

[Sprint]

I use Spotify and asset as a local server for cd quality music stores locally. I tried Tidal a few years ago but became frustrated with the lack of gapless support for MusicCast.

Thanks! Is there a big difference in SQ between Tidal and Spotify? Is it audible?

 

[waynel]

Thanks! Is there a big difference in SQ between Tidal and Spotify? Is it audible?

I haven’t done an abx test but Spotify sounds fine and the UI is far superior, for stuff that I really like I buy and rip the cds but will likely stop doing this someday.

 

[Tonygeno]

I haven’t done an abx test but Spotify sounds fine and the UI is far superior, for stuff that I really like I buy and rip the cds but will likely stop doing this someday.

Given all the wonderful music available via streaming (in some cases hi res), why do folks continue to buy cds? I own about 2,000 and haven't played a single one in about three years. Also, streaming seems much greener to me.

 

[waynel]

Given all the wonderful music available via streaming (in some cases hi res), why do folks continue to buy cds? I own about 2,000 and haven't played a single one in about three years. Also, streaming seems much greener to me.

To support the artists, to have a permanent library, to make sure I have an uncompressed file, habit. Just to clear , I rip them then play off a server. Would rather be able to download cc’d quality.

 

[Tonygeno]

To support the artists, to have a permanent library, to make sure I have an uncompressed file, habit. Just to clear , I rip them then play off a server. Would rather be able to download cc’d quality.

I don't know the answer to this, but are artists not supported via streaming? Or do they give it away for free? I am currently listening to Beethoven Piano Sonatas in hi res from Amazon's streaming service, so I'm covered there. For me, not contributing to the production of all that plastic and aluminum is an additional, very important benefit of streaming. YMMV.

 

[waynel]

I don't know the answer to this, but are artists not supported via streaming? Or do they give it away for free? I am currently listening to Beethoven Piano Sonatas in hi res from Amazon's streaming service, so I'm covered there. For me, not contributing to the production of all that plastic and aluminum is an additional, very important benefit of streaming. YMMV.

The way streaming works is Taylor Swift gets all the money. Spotify will take the total pool of subscriber money and allocate a share based on overall plays. It’s not divided by subscriber.

 

[M234040]

I am in a similar situation as the OP.
this Yamaha-unit seems to be the only (reasonable) way to get into active speakers with AES/EBU with a volume control.
Been researching it for a couple of days, and can’t really see any downsides except an uncomfirmed comment somewhere about the unit downsampling everything to 44,1kHz om the Coaxial output.
This would be totally unacceptable, of course.
Anyone able to clear this rumor?

anyways: Streaming VS. CD.
A song would need to stream 10 000 times to give the artist the same money as a CD.
While I understand why someone wouldn’t want to deal with CDs, support your favourite artists through buying something from them!

 

[Tangband]

I have a Yamaha wxc 50 and Genelec 8340 .
Im using the digital out from Yamaha and Im using the volume control in Yamaha in ”pre amp” mode. It works fine, and the sound is slightly better with digital signal in to 8340, compared to analogue from Yamaha wxc50.

Yamaha aparently uses the inbuilt digital volume control in Yamahas wxc50:s dac chip SABRE ess 9006.
http://www.esstech.com/index.php/en...dacs/classic-sabre-8-channel-dacs/sabre9006a/
When using digital out in ”pre amp” configuration in Yamaha wxc50 , the sampling frequency output is 48 kHz 24 bit from digital out on ALL material.
Thats also the native sampling frequency at the digital input on Genelec 8340.
I have also tried Revel m106 , but the sound is clearly inferior compared to the Genelec. The bass performance is much better in 8340, all else ( mid, treble ) about equal.

 

[Sprint]

I have a Yamaha wxc 50 and Genelec 8340 .
Im using the digital out from Yamaha and Im using the volume control in Yamaha in ”pre amp” mode. It works fine, and the sound is slightly better with digital signal in to 8340, compared to analogue from Yamaha wxc50.

Yamaha aparently uses the inbuilt digital volume control in Yamahas wxc50:s dac chip SABRE ess 9006.
http://www.esstech.com/index.php/en...dacs/classic-sabre-8-channel-dacs/sabre9006a/
When using digital out in ”pre amp” configuration in Yamaha wxc50 , the sampling frequency output is 48 kHz 24 bit from digital out on ALL material.
Thats also the native sampling frequency at the digital input on Genelec 8340.
I have also tried Revel m106 , but the sound is clearly inferior compared to the Genelec. The bass performance is much better in 8340, all else ( mid, treble ) about equal.

@Tangband I have 8340 too and plan to go for Yamaha WXC-50. I want to use digital out from WXC50 to AES/EBU. Are you using coax out or Toslink out. Are you using subs as well? Reason being I am using 2 svs sb-12 nsd subs. Correction will be via minidsp 2x4HD. Question is how can I get get the digital out signal with one passing into Genelec and another into minidsp. The minidsp accepts either toslink or mini usb. Which streaming service are you using, if any? I will be using Tidal or Qobuz.

How is the WXC-50 Genelec combo? How far do you sit?

 

[Tangband]

@Tangband I have 8340 too and plan to go for Yamaha WXC-50. I want to use digital out from WXC50 to AES/EBU. Are you using coax out or Toslink out. Are you using subs as well? Reason being I am using 2 svs sb-12 nsd subs. Correction will be via minidsp 2x4HD. Question is how can I get get the digital out signal with one passing into Genelec and another into minidsp. The minidsp accepts either toslink or mini usb. Which streaming service are you using, if any? I will be using Tidal or Qobuz.

How is the WXC-50 Genelec combo? How far do you sit?

I use mainly FLAC from my NAS. No complaints whatsoever.
I cant comment on TIDAL for the Yamaha, I have not tried it.
spotify connect works flawless.

I use the rca spdif output from the Yamaha to Genelec . I use a 110 Ohm rca-xlr, 3 meters cable from Yamaha to one of the Genelecs . And 6 meter DMX cable xlr from one Genelec to the other. It works flawlessly. I havent tried subs, so cant comment on that.
My listening position is about 3,5 meters from the loudspeakers .

 

[Sprint]

I use mainly FLAC from my NAS. No complaints whatsoever.
I cant comment on TIDAL for the Yamaha, I have not tried it.
spotify connect works flawless.

I use the rca spdif output from the Yamaha to Genelec . I use a 110 Ohm rca-xlr, 3 meters cable from Yamaha to one of the Genelecs . And 6 meter DMX cable xlr from one Genelec to the other. It works flawlessly. I havent tried subs, so cant comment on that.
My listening position is about 3,5 meters from the loudspeakers .

@Tangband: Thanks a lot!

@waynel: Do you have any good suggestion on how can I split the digital signal to send to Genelecs (AES/EBU) and to my miniDSP s (TOSlink or miniusb). I can do SPDIF splitter and send one to Genelecs and then one to a SPDIF toslink convertor like this one. Do you use a sub by any chance.

Do you think will this work without degrade in sound quality?

 

[Tangband]

@Tangband: Thanks a lot!

@waynel: Do you have any good suggestion on how can I split the digital signal to send to Genelecs (AES/EBU) and to my miniDSP s (TOSlink or miniusb). I can do SPDIF splitter and send one to Genelecs and then one to a SPDIF toslink convertor like this one. Do you use a sub by any chance.

Do you think will this work without degrade in sound quality?

The Yamaha wxc50 has infact two digital output contacts , rca spdif and Toslink spdif. I guess that both contacts are active at the same time ( but I can be wrong ) , meaning that both rca spdif and Toslink spdif can change the volume at the same time when having Yamaha wxc50 in pre amp mode.
If thats the case, I havent tried it, - you can use the rca spdif from Yamaha to one of the Genelecs, then a DMX XLR cable between the two Genelecs, and a Toslink cable from the Yamaha Toslink output to minidsp , driving the subs.

 

[Sprint]

The Yamaha wxc50 has infact two digital output contacts , rca spdif and Toslink spdif. I guess that both contacts are active at the same time ( but I can be wrong ) , meaning that both rca spdif and Toslink spdif can change the volume at the same time when having Yamaha wxc50 in pre amp mode.
If thats the case, I havent tried it, - you can use the rca spdif from Yamaha to one of the Genelecs, then a DMX XLR cable between the two Genelecs, and a Toslink cable from the Yamaha Toslink output to minidsp , driving the subs.

@Tangband Thanks! That would be wonderful if both spdif and Toslink outputs the digital signals. I will download and read the manual to see if it works that way. If it does, then my problem is solved.