Integrating the modern world with the vintage world

[Paul-H]

Hi all

Not sure if this is the correct section to ask this but

My Hi-Fi system is over 30 years old but still sounds good for vinyl and CD's but I have a huge music collection on my PC which I either play through Active Speakers attached to the PC or through the Old Hi-Fi amp via a low quality WiFi dongle from Maplin, sound is OK but connection is not stable, with signal dropout if i do things like check my e.mails or even walk between the PC and Amp which are about 20 feet apart.

In the modern music world what are you all using to play your digital collections though your Hi-Fi gear.

Thanks for any help with this

Paul

[Theadmans]

I have a Logitech Squeezebox Touch which I bought several years ago on Amazon sale for £129 in my main lounge system. Works well with my 20 / 30 year old Hi-Fi Rig. A mixture of old fashioned Creek integrated amplifier, old school AVI Neuton IV speakers, Pioneer Stable Platter CD Player, 1990s Music Fidelity X10D Valve buffer - with state of the art now DAC (Beresford Caiman II on battery power).

Sadly a few years ago Logitech (in their wisdom) decided to discontinue this excellent product.....

...consequently you now see it regularly up for sale secondhand for £300+ !!!

When I wanted a second Squeezebox for my bedroom system - rather than pay these stupid prices I built a clone using a mini Raspberry Pi computer and a push on Wolfson Audio Card. Depends how techy you are but I didn't find it difficult to build this in it's owns custom case (no soldering required). Cost me less that £70 all told. This was a couple of years ago - there are now myriad Pi clones of the Squeezebox to choose from - just Google it !

[aniki]

In the modern music world what are you all using to play your digital collections though your Hi-Fi gear.

SSD equipped MacBook Pro > WiFi to Airport Express > Optical cable to DAC / HiFi etc.

[pgarrish]

Logitech media server (free) on your PC . Streamcast plugin (install into Logitech media server software for nowt) and a chromecast into the Hifi (via a DAC or not) (£30 + £5 cable). Works very well

[Gazjam]

Hi Paul, good question!
Lots of different ways to get there, the Rasberry Pi is a popular option in these parts.

For myself:

Optimised for audio Windows Pc with digital files > Roonserver https://roonlabs.com > ethernet cable to Logitech Transporter > balanced XLR digital cable to my Dac.

Music accessed by Roon remote on Ipad, looks like this: