+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Streaming System Advice and Recommendations Please

  1. #1
    Join Date: Apr 2011

    Location: London

    Posts: 4,419
    I'm Robert.

    Default Streaming System Advice and Recommendations Please

    My friend and work colleague is looking to have a nice streaming system in the large open plan area of his lounge and has been drawn to this https://www.whathifi.com/advice/best...-system-ps3300

    He's into his tunes and hifi and we often discuss music and gear.

    He knows I'm attached to the forum and has asked I seek advice and comment on his behalf, regarding the set up he's interested in ie:

    Is it a good set up ? (It does look good on paper).

    Will those speakers fill the room ? would floor standers be better ? and so on....

    He listens to a wide range of music - namely, soul, funk, reggae, 80's / 90's club music . Depeche Mode, Luther Vandross, George Michael, lots of classic reggae - Marley, Burning Spear.......

    He's after a full, detailed, weighty sound - good bass. No thin / weedy presentation please

    Room dimensions are, roughly speaking - 10.4 metres x 6.7 metres approx (see attached for exact measurements)
    Attached Images Attached Images
    My System:
    Amplification - Sansui AU-alpha 707 DR
    Turntable - Technics SP10 MK2-Technics EPA-250 Tonearm-Yannis Tome 423.5Plus tonearm cable-Eichmann KLEI Absolute Harmony plugs.
    Ortofon Cadenza Black moving coil cartridge-Fritz Gyger S re-tip. Panzerholz plinth.

    CDP - Pioneer PD-91
    Speakers - Spendor D7 on Soundcare SuperSpikes
    QED Silver Spiral speaker cable-airloc banana plugs
    Mains - Ultra Pure silver plated un-switched socket-Missing link EPS 500 silver plated plugs-Hi-Fi Tuning gold plated silver ceramic 13 amp fuses

  2. #2
    Join Date: Aug 2008

    Location: Suffolk, UK

    Posts: 1,473
    I'm Paul.

    Default

    I looked into loads of streaming options but just could not decide as nothing seemed to do everything I wanted. For my Birthday I asked the kids to get me a Raspberry Pi kit. I thought i could try it as a streamer and if doesnt work so well i can use it for something else anyway. They only cost around £50 - £60. I loaded the Volumio OS/ music server on and set the software tonconnect to my NAS drive and I was away. You need a tablet or smart phone to control the Volume software and a USB DAC unless you go for one of the inexpensive I2S dacs that fir directly to the Raspberry Pi.

    Really good piece of kit for so little money.
    ~Paul~

  3. #3
    Join Date: Mar 2011

    Location: Preston

    Posts: 197
    I'm Paul.

    Default

    He’ll have to buy stands for the ATCs which makes that an even more expensive system. I’d say forget the Cambridge and go for a pi or a chromecast and get some bigger speakers - if he likes reggae he needs bigger drivers in a room that size, or he needs a sub or two and saving over a grand on the front end will pay far bigger dividends if spent in speakers. No idea how capable the rega is so I’d leave that.

    Of course, 3.5k second hand would open up some amazing options...

    And I’d go for position 2 otherwise one speaker gets a lot more space to fill than the other
    SBT/Chromecast/TEAC T1 into TEAC D-T1 DAC or olde-worlde Rega Planar 2 controlled by Rotel RC850 into HH S500D or DACT Passive Pre into Mullard 5-20 monos. Then into Tannoy Cheviots and a Wharfdale sub. All connected by colourful cables.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Nov 2010

    Location: Coventry

    Posts: 3,039
    I'm Will.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by RobbieGong View Post
    My friend and work colleague is looking to have a nice streaming system in the large open plan area of his lounge and has been drawn to this https://www.whathifi.com/advice/best...-system-ps3300

    He's into his tunes and hifi and we often discuss music and gear.

    He knows I'm attached to the forum and has asked I seek advice and comment on his behalf, regarding the set up he's interested in ie:

    Is it a good set up ? (It does look good on paper).

    Will those speakers fill the room ? would floor standers be better ? and so on....

    He listens to a wide range of music - namely, soul, funk, reggae, 80's / 90's club music . Depeche Mode, Luther Vandross, George Michael, lots of classic reggae - Marley, Burning Spear.......

    He's after a full, detailed, weighty sound - good bass. No thin / weedy presentation please

    Room dimensions are, roughly speaking - 10.4 metres x 6.7 metres approx (see attached for exact measurements)
    I'd recommend keeping the streaming and hifi as separate issues, whatever he goes for he'll need a decent amp and speakers...

    The 'streamer' will ultimately plug into the amp, or DAC if he goes a more modular route

    What does he want to stream, his own files, subscription services, or both?

    Does he want the flexibility to expand to multiple rooms?

    And finally is he IT literate? enough to build a pi?
    Cheers, Will

  5. #5
    Join Date: Apr 2008

    Location: Warrington

    Posts: 3,451
    I'm Neil.

    Default

    Looks like very poor VFM, you can get A LOT for £3k that'll blow that system away.

    I would use a PC as a media server, and not get a dedicated 'HiFi' one, they're just too restricting.

    Off the top of my head I'd be looking at something like:

    Intel NUC computer with Windows to use as a media server, or just a laptop
    A DAC with a well-sorted USB input
    Integrated amp

    ...that room's pretty big, not your typical 2 up 2 down English living room, so I would be drawn towards a pair of floorstanders.
    Mana Acoustics Racks / Bright Star IsoNodes Decoupling >> Allo DigiOne Player >> Pedja Rogic's Audial Model S DAC + Pioneer PL-71 turntable / Vista Audio phono-1 mk II / Denon PCL-5 headshell / Reson Reca >> LFD DLS >> LFD PA2M (SE) >> Royd RR3s.

  6. #6
    Join Date: Nov 2013

    Location: N London

    Posts: 566
    I'm Steven.

    Default

    For the OP's mate and people like me who wouldn't know a NUC or a Pi it hit us in the face, and think Windows was invented to make life a living hell, I would suggest:

    The Rega Elex-R
    Auralic Aries Mini
    Neat Iota Alpha
    would be about £2,800 including cables.

    Aries is designed for idiots and 3 year olds and is just a brilliant streamer/server.
    The Neat Iota Alpha look good and gave really good bass at a pretty good price.

    For someone who is not an audio hobbyist, I would never suggest anything that cannot be bought new retail, preferably from Richer Sounds, or from a good dealer who can answer stupid questions and get it fixed if it goes wrong.
    Wilson, Devialet, Innuos, Puritan, Claro

  7. #7
    Join Date: Feb 2017

    Location: Essex-Herts border

    Posts: 141
    I'm Matt.

    Default

    I'd strongly suggest a Bluesound Powernode2 & some floormounted speakers to the audition list. Floormounted speakers, as his music taste seems to be quite bass/rhythm orientated & floor-standers will likely fill a room more successfully than standpoints. As an example, Sevenoaks are selling B&W cm9 s2 for £1400. Add a Powernode2 for £800 & you've got a very simple, clean system for £2200 or so. Add Tidal streaming & thats all you need.

  8. #8
    Join Date: Feb 2011

    Location: South Wales

    Posts: 7,487
    I'm the'greatunwashed'.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Manicatel View Post
    I'd strongly suggest a Bluesound Powernode2 & some floormounted speakers to the audition list. Floormounted speakers, as his music taste seems to be quite bass/rhythm orientated & floor-standers will likely fill a room more successfully than standpoints. As an example, Sevenoaks are selling B&W cm9 s2 for £1400. Add a Powernode2 for £800 & you've got a very simple, clean system for £2200 or so. Add Tidal streaming & thats all you need.
    Best suggestion so far IMO
    "People will hear what you tell them to hear" - Thomas Edison

+ Reply to Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •