Wi-Fi and USB AUX adapter to plug into old Hi-Fi

[Jacobyte]

I have a generic Bluetooth music adapter plugged into the AUX input of my ageing B&0 5500 system. It's mostly for when I or friends want to play other music, so it streams from whatever device they've got with Spotify, Tidal, Amazon, etc.

It does the job, but the bluetooth compression spoils some good music.

Is there a Wi-Fi equivalent that I can get hold of to enjoy HD quality streaming?

I have no need for a Brennan B2 or ripper or apps-based streaming module as my target widget will mostly only use differing third party sources (phones, laptops, etc). And I want to keep the hifi as it's a piece of design nostalgia that still makes CDs, tapes and vinyl sound great.

[superpp]

go on ebay for a Chromecast Audio (they no longer sell them).

[Lucid_AV]

You haven't specified a budget so this might be a bit too much for you, but I can recommend the Escape Air M1.

It's a hi-res streamer in a tiny package. If you have more than one you can also do multiroom which is a nice touch. Audio out is via 3.5mm jack which does both analogue and optical audio. Price is £199.




https://www.escapespeakers.com/en/products/m1-air/

[TO73074E]

Could you replace it with an AptX Bluetooth to AUX adaptor or does your current adaptor already have AptX?

[OutInTheShed]

You could use one them old-fangled cable things....

I've got a couple of WiFi DACs somewhere.
There's various on ebay, search for Airplay and DLNA wifi


Seriously, I just plug the headphone socket to the aux in of the amp. with a £4 cable.
(and hope nobody phones me....)

[Jacobyte]

Thanks for the replies - I'll take a look at all those (even wired may not be so daft). Not heard of AptX, interesting.

[stevoknevo]

Jacobyte said:

Thanks for the replies - I'll take a look at all those (even wired may not be so daft). Not heard of AptX, interesting.

Wiim mini is £79 on Amazon today, does Spotify & Tidal Connect, Chromecast, Airplay 2 etc (it's at its best via the optical output but the analogue out will still be better than BT) www.amazon.co.uk/WiiM-Mini-Multi-room-Compatible-T...

[Mr E]

TO73074E said:

Could you replace it with an AptX Bluetooth to AUX adaptor or does your current adaptor already have AptX?

Indeed. A Bluetooth dongle with a decent codec would seem to be an easier solution.
Ensure that your source and sink support the same codec.

iPhones like AAC. Android is a bit more Wild West, but aptX, LHDC, LFHC (and AAC).
A modern dongle will support multiple.

https://www.soundguys.com/understanding-bluetooth-...

[VEX]

Funny this.

Been talking the the WiiM guys this week.

And Mr Darko seems a little in love with the Mini and incoming Pro models.

[grumbledoak]

OutInTheShed said:

You could use one them old-fangled cable things....

^^^ That.

I bought a Chromecast Audio for this, but it's a massive faff compared to a phono to 3.5mm cable, assuming your phone has a headphone socket.

[mikef]

Jacobyte said:

Is there a Wi-Fi equivalent that I can get hold of to enjoy HD quality streaming?

Yamaha WXAD-10. I paid a bit over £100

[sociopath]

I have an iFi Go blu BT dongle that isn't cheap but sounds very good.
Battery or Usb-c powered (rechargeable)

May be more than you want to spend but doesn't require anything modern on your amp, just an aux input

[Jambo85]

Another vote for the chromecast audio - I wonder why they stopped selling them?

[anonymous-user]

If they are using iPhones there’s a lot to be said for the old AirPort Express, I think some if those had an optical out and they use Wi-Fi rather than Bluetooth so better quality

[stevoknevo]

Jambo85 said:

Another vote for the chromecast audio - I wonder why they stopped selling them?

It's Google, anything good of theirs that people like and they'll bin it - they've got extensive history in doing so.

They go for silly money on the second hand market now, if see unopened versions asking for 3-4 times original price, I've seen a couple go recently for 40 odd quid (still almost +50% on new)

The Wiim mini is a better, more functional alternative nowadays though.

[stevoknevo]

VEX said:

Funny this.

Been talking the the WiiM guys this week.

And Mr Darko seems a little in love with the Mini and incoming Pro models.

It's come a long way in a year and they seem to be supporting it really, really well with updates (it originally wasn't bit-perfect over optical and they sorted that) software/app seems really good - if you don't need HDMI ARC input, I'd suggest it even makes the Bluesound Node seem somewhat overpriced now too...

[VEX]

stevoknevo said:

It's come a long way in a year and they seem to be supporting it really, really well with updates (it originally wasn't bit-perfect over optical and they sorted that) software/app seems really good - if you don't need HDMI ARC input, I'd suggest it even makes the Bluesound Node seem somewhat overpriced now too...

Agreed. I have access to a product that work on the linkplay app, so was talking to them this week, then they introduced to WiiM Mini and yesterday Mr Darko dropped his new WiiM Pro YT review.

WTS.