The Dark Side; Digital audio equipment recommendations and setup.

[sleeyvinyl]

I've been considering the Node for over a year....mainly to curb my vinyl addiction...my concern is sound quality, app integration, etc...and I am afraid I would just be spending money for nothing. I use AmazonHD/UltraHD for streaming music, but I also have a hard drive full of music/live shows, etc. On my infinite/unending quest on trying to convince myself to buy a Node, I saw someone mention the Andover. It looks very promising, has app support, and some say it sounds extremely close or the same as their Node. So now I've got to start going through all of the forum reviews, etc.

Songbird Music Streamer

The Songbird HiFi Streamer delivers internet streaming audio to any system, new or old, in plug-and-play box. Access and stream your favorite services including Spotify, Qobuz, TIDAL, and iHeartRadio over your WiFi network. Free app to control. DLNA and Airplay compatible.

www.andoveraudio.com

Amazon product ASIN B08LW2MCCD

 

[sleeyvinyl]

DiscogsToSpotify isn't hardware qua hardware but I thought it might of interest here

Have you used that link? Sounds like a very cool idea.

 

[Hollywood]

I've been considering the Node for over a year....mainly to curb my vinyl addiction...my concern is sound quality, app integration, etc...and I am afraid I would just be spending money for nothing. I use AmazonHD/UltraHD for streaming music, but I also have a hard drive full of music/live shows, etc. On my infinite/unending quest on trying to convince myself to buy a Node, I saw someone mention the Andover. It looks very promising, has app support, and some say it sounds extremely close or the same as their Node. So now I've got to start going through all of the forum reviews, etc.

Songbird Music Streamer

The Songbird HiFi Streamer delivers internet streaming audio to any system, new or old, in plug-and-play box. Access and stream your favorite services including Spotify, Qobuz, TIDAL, and iHeartRadio over your WiFi network. Free app to control. DLNA and Airplay compatible.

www.andoveraudio.com

Amazon product ASIN B08LW2MCCD

You can put all of your concern to rest as I can assure you that the Bluesound NODE's sound quality is excellent! No issues there whatsoever. As for the BluOS app it's not perfect by any means but it works and as long as you have Spotify Connect, Tidal etc. you're good to go, as you can bypass the main app which really only serves as a remote control.

 

[MikeH]

I've been considering the Node for over a year....mainly to curb my vinyl addiction...my concern is sound quality, app integration, etc...and I am afraid I would just be spending money for nothing. I use AmazonHD/UltraHD for streaming music, but I also have a hard drive full of music/live shows, etc. On my infinite/unending quest on trying to convince myself to buy a Node, I saw someone mention the Andover. It looks very promising, has app support, and some say it sounds extremely close or the same as their Node. So now I've got to start going through all of the forum reviews, etc.

Songbird Music Streamer

The Songbird HiFi Streamer delivers internet streaming audio to any system, new or old, in plug-and-play box. Access and stream your favorite services including Spotify, Qobuz, TIDAL, and iHeartRadio over your WiFi network. Free app to control. DLNA and Airplay compatible.

www.andoveraudio.com

Amazon product ASIN B08LW2MCCD

With the harddrive full of music, Roon might be worth a look. But unfortunately I don't know that it supports Amazon for streaming music...

 

[Joe Mac]

With the harddrive full of music, Roon might be worth a look. But unfortunately I don't know that it supports Amazon for streaming music...

It doesn’t. Just Qobuz and Tidal.

 

[yukbon]

Have you used that link? Sounds like a very cool idea.

I did, it got a lot of stuff but obviously not everything. Still. Better than nothing.

 

[HayesWeighsIn]

Wish the Qobuz app had "Qobuz Play," but I honestly don't mind having to use the BluOS for playback at all. I'll fire the album up on there, then head to the Qobuz app to see applicable info. BluOS also has a pretty nice display of the album art. So far, that minor inconvenience hasn't swayed me to pay $7 more a month for Tidal.

 

[jamieanderson1968]

I've been considering the Node for over a year....mainly to curb my vinyl addiction...my concern is sound quality, app integration, etc...and I am afraid I would just be spending money for nothing. I use AmazonHD/UltraHD for streaming music, but I also have a hard drive full of music/live shows, etc. On my infinite/unending quest on trying to convince myself to buy a Node, I saw someone mention the Andover. It looks very promising, has app support, and some say it sounds extremely close or the same as their Node. So now I've got to start going through all of the forum reviews, etc.

Songbird Music Streamer

The Songbird HiFi Streamer delivers internet streaming audio to any system, new or old, in plug-and-play box. Access and stream your favorite services including Spotify, Qobuz, TIDAL, and iHeartRadio over your WiFi network. Free app to control. DLNA and Airplay compatible.

www.andoveraudio.com

Amazon product ASIN B08LW2MCCD

This is unit is still EU only but is Roon ready and built in Chromecast so it should handle AmazonHD I think

Argon’s Solo streams Roon, Spotify, Chromecast for €249 | Darko.Audio

Move over Raspberry Pi and Bluesound NODE, there's a new sheriff in town.

darko.audio

 

[JohnnyCashFan]

Apple’s Eddy Cue Believes the Future of Music Isn’t Lossless — It’s Spatial Audio

Billboard spoke with Eddy Cue, Apple’s svp of internet software and services about lossless and what Spatial Audio may mean for the future of music consumption.

www.billboard.com

 

[yukbon]

Apple’s Eddy Cue Believes the Future of Music Isn’t Lossless — It’s Spatial Audio

Billboard spoke with Eddy Cue, Apple’s svp of internet software and services about lossless and what Spatial Audio may mean for the future of music consumption.

www.billboard.com

Apple's Eddy Cue: The future of music isn't lossless, it’s Spatial Audio

Apple Music launched a major update to its service Monday, rolling out a lossless service offering high-fidelity music, enabling Spatial Audio

macdailynews.com

Apples Eddy Cue Believes the Future of Music Isnt Lossless Its Spatial Audio

Apple's Eddy Cue Believes the Future of Music Isn't Lossless Its Spatial Audio

artistontherise.com

Apple's Eddy Cue says Spatial Audio is a 'game-changer' for music | AppleInsider

Apple services chief Eddy Cue says that Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos could be the "game-changer" that the music industry has been waiting for, while lossless audio will be a much more niche feature.

appleinsider.com

context for those without billboard subscriptions etc

 

[JohnnyCashFan]

Apple's Eddy Cue: The future of music isn't lossless, it’s Spatial Audio

Apple Music launched a major update to its service Monday, rolling out a lossless service offering high-fidelity music, enabling Spatial Audio

macdailynews.com

Apples Eddy Cue Believes the Future of Music Isnt Lossless Its Spatial Audio

Apple's Eddy Cue Believes the Future of Music Isn't Lossless Its Spatial Audio

artistontherise.com

Apple's Eddy Cue says Spatial Audio is a 'game-changer' for music | AppleInsider

Apple services chief Eddy Cue says that Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos could be the "game-changer" that the music industry has been waiting for, while lossless audio will be a much more niche feature.

appleinsider.com

context for those without billboard subscriptions etc

Apple always trying to wrestle control away from the consumer with marketing. Atmos and Spatial Audio are still very early in development and the recording industry is surely not on board with it yet for standard music.

 

[displayname]

Apple always trying to wrestle control away from the consumer with marketing. Atmos and Spatial Audio are still very early in development and the recording industry is surely not on board with it yet for standard music.

I haven't looked that much into Spatial, but it seems like a gimmick involving messing with a lot of phase timing, which could have some real impacts on tone. I'm sure it has a big initial "wow" factor for most people, but I don't see major labors, and especially not indie artist getting on board with it in large scale.

I'm sure it can be done right, but I don't think it'll be the new standard. That's my 2 cents.

 

[jamieanderson1968]

I think Quadraphonic Sound would like a little word with Apple

 

[sleeyvinyl]

Ok, I bought a Node 2i off of eBay and it should be here in a few days. I'm hoping that Amazon HD and Ultra HD sounds incredible. Guess I will find out!

 

[jamieanderson1968]

Could be an interesting little streamer for about $100 CDN. I think I might pick one up and try it out with my powered bookshelf speakers in place my Sonos.

The Wiim Mini is the streamer you’ve been waiting for | Darko.Audio

Add Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and Apple AirPlay 2 to any hifi system for one hundred bucks.

darko.audio

Amazon product ASIN B09HC5GRKY

 

[oldschoolkirby]

Could be an interesting little streamer for about $100 CDN. I think I might pick one up and try it out with my powered bookshelf speakers in place my Sonos.

The Wiim Mini is the streamer you’ve been waiting for | Darko.Audio

Add Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and Apple AirPlay 2 to any hifi system for one hundred bucks.

darko.audio

Amazon product ASIN B09HC5GRKY

I’ve been looking for an Airplay solution, as I’m considering moving from Spotify to Apple for streaming. Gonna look into this thing closely

 

[jamieanderson1968]

I’ve been looking for an Airplay solution, as I’m considering moving from Spotify to Apple for streaming. Gonna look into this thing closely

Watched a couple of video reviews last night and the consensus seems to be a good little unit for $100. Not as good as a Bluesound, but only 1/6th the cost.

 

[Joe Mac]

Watched a couple of video reviews last night and the consensus seems to be a good little unit for $100. Not as good as a Bluesound, but only 1/6th the cost.

Looking at it and reading a bit I’ll be sticking with my pi I think, for similar money to this it offers more in terms of sample rate and options I’m still shocked at how good it sounds!

 

[jamieanderson1968]

I think 2022 is going to see a lot of $100-$150 small puck units. The question is how good is the DAC inside.

 

[Joe Mac]

I think 2022 is going to see a lot of $100-$150 small puck units. The question is how good is the DAC inside.

I’m dubious within that kind of form factor but once it has a digital output that kind of negates the issue.