Streamers with decent controller apps

[c6r]

I've got a Yamaha streamer - it was fairly cheap and does the job OK but the Android app for it is, um, not great to say the least. I've been looking to maybe upgrade to something not only better sound, but ideally with an app that is actually useable.

Should be easy right - there are dozens of brands and each one has a handful of streamers - but having a quick look through the playstore it seems almost every app from the usual audio brands are rated 2/5 or worse! Ironically the Yamaha app seems to be one of the better ones (which is a damning indictment of the others), the only app that has better reviews is the BluOS one which I think means NAD mainly, but their streamers themselves don't seem to have such good reviews - or at least QC seems to be an issue.

Can anyone recommend a streamer/brand that has a decent useable controller app? Or do they just not exist?

[Lucid_AV]

Have you had a look at the actual Bluesound product range? Yes, BlueOS is now integrated into NAD products, but there's a whole Bluesound product range to go at. Might be worth a look.

https://www.bluesound.com/

[blindspot]

Not exactly what you're asking, but nonetheless works as an answer - Roon is a cracking bit of software that can control any number of compatible end points. Those end points can be all-in-ones, or just streamers. There's an annual charge, but seems more than worth it to me. Wraps up the files you already own, radio, streaming services all through the one platform. Can do DSP and multi-room stuff too. End points available to suit all budgets. It does need a 'core' to run the software, but does not have to be a dedicated machine, or a machine dedicated to it. Runs finein the background on a laptop/desktop.

[BIRMA]

I've had an Auralic Aries G1 for about a year now and can't fault it. It uses an iPad for it's DS lightning, it even upscales the audio too. It's a part of my system I'll probably never replace.

Edited by BIRMA on Thursday 26th January 17:23

Edited by BIRMA on Thursday 26th January 18:24

[carlymart]

I have just bought an innuos zen mini and tried lots of streamers and apps etc and really fined the innuos sense app to be easy to use and navigate.

[carlymart]

I have just bought an innuos zen mini and tried lots of streamers and apps etc and really fined the innuos sense app to be easy to use and navigate.

[c6r]

Thanks - some good ideas there to look into

[rodericb]

There's a new streaming device from NAD coming out soon - the CS1:

https://nadelectronics.com/product/nad-cs1-network...

https://futureaudiophile.com/nad-announces-cs1-end...


NAD call it an affordable end point streamer. I think it's more a very expensive replacement for the Google Chromecast Audio but with more stuff packed in. It's one of the few devices for audio which supports Chromecast (or whatever they're calling in this week).

[StescoG66]

Yamaha is good kit.Before splashing out try a different control app. I have the misfortune of having a Play-Fi controlled streamer/amp. It’s pish, laggy, drops out, loses connection yada yada...... Bubble uPnP is far more stable.

[Harry Flashman]

I have a NAD C658. It is excellent. Had some initial issues with it, but seemed a software thing. Once I updated it, it worked beautifully. Sound quality is superb, features excellent, and the BluOS app is a joy. Mind you, there are cheaper streamers that use that excellent app, as others have said.

Cambridge Audio also do good streamers with an excellent app. I wanted the NAD as it has EQ software called DIRAC Live on board, but I now find I don't really use it. So were I to do it again, I'd probably go for the Cambridge.

That said, thinking of selling both it and my amp and just buying a NAD M33...

[TheInternet]

This is why it made more sense to me to just use the music service app (Spotify etc.) on a phone/tablet with a decent Bluetooth receiver. Those apps seem far better developed and is a solution that seems less likely to become obsolete.

Might not work for your application but if it does maybe give it consideration, though on another recent thread it was suggested iPhones weren't a good idea for this.

[VEX]

The NAD will almost be BluOS back office at the very least, I'd be supprised if it isnt front of house too being that they are stable mates of abigger parent.

Also have a look at WiiM, with the Pro due late Feb and the app being rather good. The other advantage is the WiiM app is compatible with almost all other linkplay based products, including OSD's XD and SRT's and Edifier's MS50a and S1000w

So almost buildong to a credible Sonos alternative using an open platform.

V.

[rodericb]

Hmm, the WiiM Pro looks interesting - does the same as the NAD I linked to but for one third the price. I notice the WiiM Pro has optical input - would it be able to have a CD player (with optical out) as an input?

[john_1983]

rodericb said:

There's a new streaming device from NAD coming out soon - the CS1:

https://nadelectronics.com/product/nad-cs1-network...

https://futureaudiophile.com/nad-announces-cs1-end...


NAD call it an affordable end point streamer. I think it's more a very expensive replacement for the Google Chromecast Audio but with more stuff packed in. It's one of the few devices for audio which supports Chromecast (or whatever they're calling in this week).

I saw this online - as a bit of a luddite, what will this give me over my current garage setup of a Logitech bluetooth receiver plugged into an old NAD C340? I currently use the Tidal app and stream that way - will the CS1 deliver higher quality audio?

I've also got an NAD C658 and it's excellent, the app is very intuitive. Links my Tidal account with music stored on my NAS

[NDA]

You could look at it from the Roon perspective - if your kit is 'Roon ready' and then use Roon for streaming Qobuz or Tidal as well as library management.

Spotify Connect is also better (in my view) than using the Bluesound interface.

[AC43]

TheInternet said:

This is why it made more sense to me to just use the music service app (Spotify etc.) on a phone/tablet with a decent Bluetooth receiver. Those apps seem far better developed and is a solution that seems less likely to become obsolete.

Might not work for your application but if it does maybe give it consideration, though on another recent thread it was suggested iPhones weren't a good idea for this.

This, but using a Google Chromecast Audio dongle to send the signal straight from the router to the CCA and into the amp via the optical in.

I stream Spotify, BBC Sounds, Pocket Casts, Audible and TuneIn radio. Other mainstream (and well-developed) apps are available.

[TheInternet]

john_1983 said:

I saw this online - as a bit of a luddite, what will this give me over my current garage setup of a Logitech bluetooth receiver plugged into an old NAD C340

If your phone supports decent codecs I'd just look at a better Bluetooth receiver for a fraction of the price.

[TheInternet]

AC43 said:

This, but using a Google Chromecast Audio dongle to send the signal straight from the router to the CCA and into the amp via the optical in.

I stream Spotify, BBC Sounds, Pocket Casts, Audible and TuneIn radio. Other mainstream (and well-developed) apps are available.

I've got two of those sitting in drawers somewhere. They were OKish when they worked but constantly going out of control and were infuriating. As far as I could tell not a widespread issue so maybe something to do with my network. The Bluetooth stuff tends to be massively more reliable for me. Should really eBay them.

[boxedin]

c6r said:

I've got a Yamaha streamer

What's the audio source? DLNA, SMB, something else?

[AC43]

TheInternet said:

AC43 said:

This, but using a Google Chromecast Audio dongle to send the signal straight from the router to the CCA and into the amp via the optical in.

I stream Spotify, BBC Sounds, Pocket Casts, Audible and TuneIn radio. Other mainstream (and well-developed) apps are available.

I've got two of those sitting in drawers somewhere. They were OKish when they worked but constantly going out of control and were infuriating. As far as I could tell not a widespread issue so maybe something to do with my network. The Bluetooth stuff tends to be massively more reliable for me. Should really eBay them.

I started with various BT dongles but I found that every time I walked out of range with my phone in pocket I lost the stream and/or someone else's phone would have auto-connected and I'd have to find put whose it was and disconnect that before I could connect.

The CCA's I have have none of those issues although once every few months one will drop/disappear. Nine times out of ten I just pop in to Google Home and manually re-connect it to the network. Once in a blue moon I'll have to do a hard reset.

Generally they're brilliant. You've just reminded me to buy a second spare one.

New old stock ones are now £80-£85, used ones £50-ish.

You can still get the functionality, sort of, in one of those stupid little speaker things but I'm not a fan of them and you lose the optical out.

I'm still baffled as to why the original concept was dropped. I just though they were an elegant and cheap way of keeping quality amps & speakers going, connected to all the best audio apps.