Streamer versus Computer?

[JeffS7444]

1. Most streamers don't support audio resolution above 192kHz and many offer even lower limits.

Don't care. Even 24/96 is more than generous IMO.

2. Most streamers don't allow you to plug your USB hi-res library directly into the steamer.

It's pretty common.

3. Most streamers don't start playing your desired music as soon as they boot.

Don't want.

4. Most streamers are limited to RCA or optical out.

What's wrong with TOSLINK? It has plenty of bandwidth for 2-channel 24/96 PCM.

5. Some streamers claim airplay compatibility and remove it later in updates.

It's an Apple proprietary standard, maybe dedicate an old Airport or AppleTV to this task?

 

[Gorgonzola]

You won't find a streamer, which is not a computer. It is called streamer, because of peripherals and software it is using.
If you run headless Windows computer, dedicated to play music, then it is player or streamer, depending on network use.

Let's not descend into desultory polemic, (to quote Paul Simon)

I say it's a computer if it can be (re)configured to purposes other than being a music server and player. The would apply to all Windows, Mac, Linux, and RPi, and even Chromebook, Android, and Amazon Fire devices in general.

... OK, I suppose one might be argued that some streamers such as WiiM Ultra or Eversolo A6/8 are Android-based and .apk files could side-loaded to, say, get a weather forecast. Hands up folks who have done that.

 

[antcollinet]

IMO that is, what you get on Raspberry. And why not, what's the difference between stripped and full system behind streamer soft?

Whether, as it is configured, you can (and do) use it for other stuff - browsing, docs etc. If it can only be used as a streamer - then that is what it is (Just IMO - feel free to define it how you like)

 

[Timcognito]

A lot semantics going on here: if I play a CD it's not streaming if I save it to my computer is it streaming? I watch a live event on a device it's definitely streaming but saving to watch later after I download it, is that streaming? I view the act of playing music with files you have not downloaded as streaming. Streamers can access downloaded content as can computers and both can stream content from the internet on demand that is on someone else's server. But maybe that's just my view. So playing your own content from a computer or accessing with your streamer app because you like the mobility or the GUI app is just playback without using physical media.

 

[Chromatischism]

I already have a 2nd computer at my desk, a nice Lenovo laptop. So it is my new NAS, running Plex, housing my music and video library.

I have a WiiM Pro connected to my Denon AVR in the theater room. It can access all the music.

My phone can also access all of the music. As can my desktop PC when I am working there simply via Windows.

All of these devices can also access my music streaming service for things I don't have.

The laptop gets backed up weekly to an external drive.

So, my solution is the most flexible.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

1. Most streamers don't support audio resolution above 192kHz and many offer even lower limits.
2. Most streamers don't allow you to plug your USB hi-res library directly into the steamer.
3. Most streamers don't start playing your desired music as soon as they boot.
4. Most streamers are limited to RCA or optical out.
5. Some streamers claim airplay compatibility and remove it later in updates.

If this is the definition of "just work", I would guess the user may not understand what's actually possible with Moode.

1 - The vast majority of really have no need for anything above 192.
2 - My WiiM Ultra does
3 - Does you PC read your mind?
4 - As I only need RCA and optical out, it’s difficult to see this as a problem.
5 - Much discussed, but no Airplay isn’t needed by many.

I do just press one button to be up and running though, far faster than my PC.

 

[Keith_W]

3 - Does you PC read your mind?

No. But it knows my bank details, what websites I browse, where I live, my political views, my taxable income, and what I searched for last night (lots of vacuum mop ads on my browser today).

Oh wait, maybe those aren't good things

 

[Sokel]

You realize that this whole thread's core is about defending each ones habits?

Does it really matter where the computer is located and what OS is running if we have it absolutely, to the last detail configure it to our needs???

(lots of vacuum mop ads on my browser today).

(for me is granite tiles today, and porcelain texture tile joint )

 

[DanielT]

I suspect this has already been said in the thread but I'll mention it anyway:

For me it's about convenience and plug and play PEQ. Sure, for example, a laptop min Win, REW and APO are more precise and better than WiiM RoomFit, but for me WiiM Mini's RoomFit is enough.
Even less plug and play: Raspberry Pi, Camilla DSP and similar products, solutions are for those who like to tinker with DIY.

WiiM, just turn on the system. Spotify connect. No desktop computer needed. All music via mobile phone or tablet. Cost for WiiM Mini around $100. Plus preferably an external DAC (which I already had).
Also, the UMIK-1 measurement microphone was super easy to get started with WiiM's RoomFit.

A tip for those using WiiM's RoomFit.
When boosting the signal, how to set the volume to avoid digital clipping:

Guide for Managing Volume and Headroom on the WiiM Mini (Measurements)

This is a small excursion into volume and EQ headroom on the WiiM Mini (and by extension, likely other WiiM products). WiiM Mini Firmware: 4.6.805929 WiiM Home Version: 3.5.1 For all tests, I used a -1dBFS Measurement Sweep, exported from REW and played back directly via the WiiM Home App...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Even cheaper around $60, FiiO BR13 Hi-Res Bluetooth receiver and I don't think you can hear the difference between Bluethoot with LDAC coced vs lossless streamed via cable
Plus FiiO BR13 has PEQ.
A nice solution together with a mobile phone that has LDAC transmitter capabilities. This provides good signal strength between the devices.

 

[antcollinet]

(lots of vacuum mop ads on my browser today).

(for me is granite tiles today, and porcelain texture tile joint )

You guys need to be using more privacy focussed browsers - and an ad blocker.

 

[popej]

On your starting post:

edit] "Computer" includes not only Windows PC and Mac but also, e.g., Raspberry Pi which supports , PiCoreplayer based on LMS, Spotify, Tidal, Qobus, Roon Bridge, Volumio, etc.

You don't mean "PC versus streamer" but "DIY versus commercial"?

 

[Berwhale]

You may say I'm a streamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

With apologies to John Winston Lennon.

 

[Gorgonzola]

On your starting post:

You don't mean "PC versus streamer" but "DIY versus commercial"?

... If you prefer to think of it that way.

 

[Tom C]

My media PC is in my home theater. I loaded Lyrion on to it, so I can easily use piCorePlayer on RPi in different rooms of the house, controlled by tablet

 

[Leporello]

I live in a small studio apartment. Laptop, big display, active speakers and headphones. No need for separate music only system.

 

[Ype]

I suspect this has already been said in the thread but I'll mention it anyway:

For me it's about convenience and plug and play PEQ. Sure, for example, a laptop min Win, REW and APO are more precise and better than WiiM RoomFit, but for me WiiM Mini's RoomFit is enough.
Even less plug and play: Raspberry Pi, Camilla DSP and similar products, solutions are for those who like to tinker with DIY.

WiiM, just turn on the system. Spotify connect. No desktop computer needed. All music via mobile phone or tablet. Cost for WiiM Mini around $100. Plus preferably an external DAC (which I already had).
Also, the UMIK-1 measurement microphone was super easy to get started with WiiM's RoomFit.

A tip for those using WiiM's RoomFit.
When boosting the signal, how to set the volume to avoid digital clipping:

Guide for Managing Volume and Headroom on the WiiM Mini (Measurements)

This is a small excursion into volume and EQ headroom on the WiiM Mini (and by extension, likely other WiiM products). WiiM Mini Firmware: 4.6.805929 WiiM Home Version: 3.5.1 For all tests, I used a -1dBFS Measurement Sweep, exported from REW and played back directly via the WiiM Home App...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Even cheaper around $60, FiiO BR13 Hi-Res Bluetooth receiver and I don't think you can hear the difference between Bluethoot with LDAC coced vs lossless streamed via cable
Plus FiiO BR13 has PEQ.
A nice solution together with a mobile phone that has LDAC transmitter capabilities. This provides good signal strength between the devices.

Something like that does sound ideal, yes!
I am very happy that we have streamers and stereo DACs with proper PEQ function.
Sadly surround sound has become even more of a headache over the years with the different codecs so once I have a place where 5.2/4 or more is needed I'll go down a rabbit hole again. Most music still seems to be mixed in stereo with all the up and downsides that come with that and it does not seem to be changing anytime soon so it would be for watching movies and playing videogames.


For now, I am using computers as my main entertainment systems and I still have passively cooled laptops laying around that are more then capable and will do what I need them to do while consuming less then 5W when I am not using the screen.

They are used for both audio and video, I even have a Blu-Ray/HD DVD dual layer burner in my old PC that is connected to my TV.
I also listen to MIDI at times that either go through a Roland or Yamaha VST.

As for audio processing, I use global PEQ and room EQ for my speakers.
For my headphones I use PEQ and crossfeed for stereo recordings.
For surround sound I downmix 7.1 to virtual surround over headphones, sometimes after up mixing 5.1 to 7.1, which works surprisingly well!

In the past I also used soundcards for things like active crossovers but this is no longer needed.
It's simply what I know and using the tools I already have laying around.

 

[CD2]

If you wnt to use qobuz what are your streaming box constraints? I see reports it is broken on Kodi.

 

[DanielT]

Something like that does sound ideal, yes!
I am very happy that we have streamers and stereo DACs with proper PEQ function.
Sadly surround sound has become even more of a headache over the years with the different codecs so once I have a place where 5.2/4 or more is needed I'll go down a rabbit hole again. Most music still seems to be mixed in stereo with all the up and downsides that come with that and it does not seem to be changing anytime soon so it would be for watching movies and playing videogames.


For now, I am using computers as my main entertainment systems and I still have passively cooled laptops laying around that are more then capable and will do what I need them to do while consuming less then 5W when I am not using the screen.

They are used for both audio and video, I even have a Blu-Ray/HD DVD dual layer burner in my old PC that is connected to my TV.
I also listen to MIDI at times that either go through a Roland or Yamaha VST.

As for audio processing, I use global PEQ and room EQ for my speakers.
For my headphones I use PEQ and crossfeed for stereo recordings.
For surround sound I downmix 7.1 to virtual surround over headphones, sometimes after up mixing 5.1 to 7.1, which works surprisingly well!

In the past I also used soundcards for things like active crossovers but this is no longer needed.
It's simply what I know and using the tools I already have laying around.

Home theater seems to be a hornet's nest so I won't get into that. But ok, it would really be fun to hear some Atmos recorded music on a good Atmos home theater.

In any case. Desktop solution, when you sit at the table with your laptop and listen to your desktop speakers. In that case, I see no advantage in having a separate streamer. On the contrary, just unnecessary. Apart from that, what I said in my previous post stands. For me, that is, others can of course do exactly as they want.

That said. It was hard to avoid the WiiM hype and test a WiiM Mini. The temptation was too big. I bought it when I found out that WiiM offered PEQ as a function in the Mini.
If WiiM hadn't added PEQ funcionality ...well I don't know.

 

[Mort]

it would really be fun to hear some Atmos recorded music on a good Atmos home theater.

It's worth it. Much more envelopment and excitement.

 

[DanielT]

It's worth it. Much more envelopment and excitement.

And of course Spotify doesn't offer any Atmos Recordings:

However, there seem to be quite a few, if you want to use Apple Music or Tidal:

Browse 100,000+ Dolby Atmos Albums | Hello Atmos

Browse the world's largest Dolby Atmos library. Filter by genre, Grammy-winning mix engineers, and platform to discover the best immersive audio.

www.helloatmos.app