wytco0
Established Member
I am still hunting for a quality streaming options, Currently I have rejected the Sonos solution as it lacks HD Audio capabilities and I have rejected Squeezebox as its range has been reduced and its future seems uncertain.
I am looking for 3-4 streaming devices, 3 for use in bedrooms and kitchen and one for my mail Hi-Fi system, a major requirement for me is the ability to synchronise across multiple players (which both Sonos and Squeezebox do very well).
I have all my music stored a flac files on my NAS and I will also be using streaming from the internet (radio and possibly spotify).
My main System has a DAC already so I don't really need a streamer with a DAC for that system. This started me thinking that another approach would be to use active speakers with a built in DAC? and the control the whole lot via software control. This raises 3 questions:
1) are there any reasonably priced active speaker with a built in DAC.
2) What coudl I use to take the stream from a central server to feed it into the DAC?
3) Is there a software only solution to multi-room?
Well for Q1 the answer is yes, I have found at least one the "AVI ADM9", this has a DAC that can handle 96Khz, I would prefer 192Khz capability but that's not essential, if I can handle the complete streaming solution with software.
Q2 I know that I could use a small media PC with a Digital outpout sound option, but would something like the new Dune players or Apple mini or TV be an option?
However for question 3 I don't know and I am not sure what to search for as I don't know enough about the streaming control software options, something open source and community supported would be great.
The ability to synchronise multiple players is essential as I like having the same music playing round the house.
Appreciate any thoughts comments and suggestions on the practicality of this and possible solutions.
I am looking for 3-4 streaming devices, 3 for use in bedrooms and kitchen and one for my mail Hi-Fi system, a major requirement for me is the ability to synchronise across multiple players (which both Sonos and Squeezebox do very well).
I have all my music stored a flac files on my NAS and I will also be using streaming from the internet (radio and possibly spotify).
My main System has a DAC already so I don't really need a streamer with a DAC for that system. This started me thinking that another approach would be to use active speakers with a built in DAC? and the control the whole lot via software control. This raises 3 questions:
1) are there any reasonably priced active speaker with a built in DAC.
2) What coudl I use to take the stream from a central server to feed it into the DAC?
3) Is there a software only solution to multi-room?
Well for Q1 the answer is yes, I have found at least one the "AVI ADM9", this has a DAC that can handle 96Khz, I would prefer 192Khz capability but that's not essential, if I can handle the complete streaming solution with software.
Q2 I know that I could use a small media PC with a Digital outpout sound option, but would something like the new Dune players or Apple mini or TV be an option?
However for question 3 I don't know and I am not sure what to search for as I don't know enough about the streaming control software options, something open source and community supported would be great.
The ability to synchronise multiple players is essential as I like having the same music playing round the house.
Appreciate any thoughts comments and suggestions on the practicality of this and possible solutions.
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