I provided you with a lot of links. You might want to look this one over again -
NEW: Yamaha RN602 Network Receiver!!!
There are other separate Streaming Devices, not every thing has to be built into the amp. The
Pioneer Network Players seem to be well liked.
Denon makes a Network Player that is pretty reasonably priced. Of course, as with all things, you get what you pay for.
Here are some examples -
Denon DNPF109 Networked Audio Player with Internet Radio - Superfi
Denon DNP730AE Wireless Networked Audio Player - Superfi
Pioneer N50A Networked Music Server - Superfi
Arcam CDS27 CD Player and Streamer - Superfi
The
Pioneer N50A is pretty popular. There is also a lower cost N30 Model -
Pioneer N30 Network Audio Streamer
Though difficult to know in advance, what really makes a Network Streaming Device is not so much the device itself as it is the
Control App that comes with it. It is the
Control App that you will be interacting with and the smoothness of that App, and the features it has completely determine your experience. But as I said, it is hard to know the details of the Control App before you install it.
However, there is good news, most of these
Control Apps are available on-line for FREE.
Just as a illustration, nothing more, here is a video of the
Cambridge Audio Control App. There are a couple others on the Cambridge YouTube Channel.
Again, that is just to illustrate the nature of the Control Apps in general.
Probably the best Streaming Device would be the
Bluesound NODE 2 (£429), which has Hi-Res file capability.
Bluesound NODE 2 Hi-Res Wireless Music Streamer
Less well known in the UK, but very popular in the USA.
In quality amps with Streaming built in,
NAIM makes very high quality amps, but count on paying a pretty penny for them.
Shop for Digital Streamers at Frank Harvey Hi Fi Excellence
NAIM are at the bottom of the first page, and the top of the next. As well, you can see all the Streaming Devices offered by
HIFIX.
NAIM Unitlite All-In-One - 50w/ch, Streaming - £1995 -
Naim UnitiLite All in One Audio System
If we assume a maximum budget of £1200, and subtract £430 for the
Bluesound Node 2, that leaves £770 for a replacement Amp.
If you can stretch that a bit, the
Yamaha AS1100 is £900 + £430 for the
Bluesound Node, for a total of
£1330.
In more of a Network Player, the
Pioneer N30 (£310) and more so the
Pioneer N50 (£449) would be good alternatives.
If you really want to trim you budget for Streaming back, the most certainly check into the
Denon DNP-720AE Player (£320).
Even if you get the
Arcam FMJ-A29 (£999), with the
Pioneer N30 or the
Deon DNP-720, you are at about
£1320 total. Over budget, but not by a massive amount.
Rotel does make Streaming Devices, I have no direct experience, but indications are that they are not the smoothest out there. So, a bit low on my radar. However, the
Rotel RA-12 Integrated, 60w/ch, with DAC (£599) would be worth considering, and would leave you plenty of money for a Streaming Device like the
Bluesound Node 2 (£430). That would take you a trace over £1000.
The
Pioneer A70 and the newer
Pioneer A70DA (with USB DAC) look nice and I'm sure they sound great, but the power is on the low side. The
Pioneer A70 and the
A70DA are rated at 90w/ch, but that is to 4 ohms.
To a standard 8 ohms, the the
Pioneer A70/A70DA are rated at -
65 W + 65 W (20 Hz-20 kHz, THD 0.5 %, 8 ohms)
That's not bad, but at £800, I would be inclined to expect more. Still, not bad, a reasonable amount of power, and I would expect the Pioneer to sound good. Though I bought it decades ago, the best sounding amp I ever had was a Pioneer ... for whatever that might be worth today.
An
Pioneer A70 amp at £800 + the
N50 Streamer £450, we have a total of
£1250. Whether that represents a standard of quality and value that suits you, only you can determine.
Streaming Device vs Network Player -
That is a tough one. I think at its core, a Network Player is simply styled more like common Audio equipment. Though they tend to be higher priced ... for some reason.
As an alternative,
Cambridge Audio has introduced the
new CX line to replace the old
AZUR line of amps, cds, and streaming device. The price is a bit high on these though. I will present them simply as an option.
Cambridge CXA60 Integrated amp, 60w/ch, DAC - £500 -
CAMBRIDGE CXA60Black Stereo Amplifier
Cambridge CXA80 Integrated amp, 80w/ch, DAC - £750 -
CAMBRIDGE CXA80Black Stereo Amplifier
Cambridge CXN Network Music Player - £700 -
CAMBRIDGE CXNBlack Network Music Player
Generally, Cambridge has made very good Streaming Devices, the previous StreamMagic 6 was highly praised, and the StreamMagic 6 can probably still be found, though getting extremely rare now.
Here are the links to specs on the
Cambridge Website.
CX Series
CXA60
CXA80
CXN
Amps that combine quality amps, with digital features like DACs, and then add Streaming capability are rare in today's market, however, I think they are going to become more common in the future, though that doesn't do you much good.
I think for the most reliable system, the amp of your choice combined with the
Bluesound Node 2 would produce the best results, though you can certainly spend a bit less on the Streaming aspect and still come out with a good system.
However, in amps with Streaming built in, your choices are very limited.
I can only run through the possibilities, it is up to you to assess your budget and priorities and work out which is the best solution for you.
In Streaming, if the device streams and the Control App is decent, then the sound quality of your system is really going to come from the Amp and Speakers. So, in my personal opinion, don't get too obsessed with the quality of the Streaming device. That is, no need to spend thousands when hundreds will do. In quality, you want reliability and ease of use; I think the sound quality will take care of itself.
Hopefully we have given you some ideas on what is possible.
Though I would most certainly recommend that you try to hear it first. They £1400
Yamaha AS1100 at £900 is a pretty fantastic deal, combined with the
Bluesound Node 2 at £430, takes your budget up to (£900 + £430) a bit on the high side, but
workable £1330.
Too my knowledge,
Sevenoaks is the only retailer with the
Bluesound products.
But then ... that's just my opinion.
Steve/bluewizard