Apple music + decent hifi

[Teddy Lop]

What are my options for a hardwired device that acts as a simple to use front end/source for a decent old school style hifi system, with the best possible sound quality?

[craigjm]

Well it depends on how much you want to spend…. A few notes to get a Bluetooth adaptor to plug into one of your amp inputs up to a full on integrated receiver to replace your current amp. Look at something like an ifi zen blue v2 first

Edited by craigjm on Monday 25th December 19:00

[Seasonal Hero]

Something like a Bluesound Node?

[mikef]

If you can find one (old model), a Yamaha WXAD-10 compact streaming box, then Airplay or Bluetooth from your phone or Mac

[Uncle boshy]

Easiest is just get get Apple TV box. Connect into an av amp via hdmi

[dvs_dave]

Uncle boshy said:

Easiest is just get get Apple TV box. Connect into an av amp via hdmi

This. Apple Lossless and spatial formats available then too.

[mikef]

I was assuming that

Teddy Lop said:

old school style hifi system

implied no HDMI inputs, hence the Yamaha suggestion (RCA stereo and optical outputs)

[dxg]

dvs_dave said:

Uncle boshy said:

Easiest is just get get Apple TV box. Connect into an av amp via hdmi

This. Apple Lossless and spatial formats available then too.

Try to get an older Apple TV box off ebay. They have an optical audio out, whereas the current ones just have HDMI - so you'd need an HDMI audio splitter as well if you buy something new.

[Teddy Lop]

Thanks guys, I guess what I'd like is something self contained without streaming/casting etc, but with a means to select and change tracks without the faff of firing up the tv, so control via android phone would be good.

Current setup is old school as in a pile of black boxes, we do have new fangled hdmis. A Yamaha RX-V775 receiver strung to a pair of celestion A3s. We have shield TV and a minux android boxes but they both seem flakey when casting etc hence wanting to move away from that.

Seasonal Hero said:

Something like a Bluesound Node?

Might be what I'm looking for, will have a look thanks.

[GravelBen]

Does the RXV-775 not have Yamaha MusicCast integrated? If it has MusicCast it should be airplay etc compatible and you can control it directly from your phone with the MusicCast app.

[psi310398]

I don’t know if it counts in answering the question directly but, for my shed, I’ve just repurposed a WiiM Mini puck thingy, feeding out through a toslink optical cable into a not so old, but surplus, Sony AV sound bar and subwoofer that I had sitting around. The bar is on the wall and the sub hidden under the bench, with the remote handy on the worksurface. Music selection is through my iPhone or iPad. As well as Wi-Fi, the WiiM is AirPlay compatible, so phone or pad can cast that way.

I now have Qobuz and Radio 4 competing with the drills and sanders. Perfectly acceptable sound quality in that use case and completely sunk costs.

A Chromecast Audio, if there’s one knocking about, would probably work, too, as I think that has a mini-Toslink capability, too. I have one of these working into an old school 80s HiFi of mine elsewhere but with a spare DAC attached as well, although a mini-jack could be pressed into service instead.

[craigjm]

The Yamaha amp you have has a port for one of these to directly solve your issue

https://www.hifix.co.uk/yamaha-yba-11-bluetooth-ad...

[dxg]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o2Pb42-nGI

Would be good to have an idea of budget...

[RowntreesCabana]

esinkin bluetooth receiver from Amazon for £25 will do the job.

[Teddy Lop]

dvs_dave said:

Uncle boshy said:

Easiest is just get get Apple TV box. Connect into an av amp via hdmi

This. Apple Lossless and spatial formats available then too.

We have no apple devices in the house; is it possible to control the apple music on apple tv from an android device, as in selecting music etc (I know basic remote control functions are possible via apps) without using a TV, ie using the android screen? I'd rather not have to fire up the plasma just to twiddle with the music tracks.

[OMITN]

Teddy Lop said:

We have no apple devices in the house; is it possible to control the apple music on apple tv from an android device, as in selecting music etc (I know basic remote control functions are possible via apps) without using a TV, ie using the android screen? I'd rather not have to fire up the plasma just to twiddle with the music tracks.

Without wishing to be rude, how do you currently access your Apple Music subscription if you don’t have any Apple devices?

[Teddy Lop]

OMITN said:

Teddy Lop said:

We have no apple devices in the house; is it possible to control the apple music on apple tv from an android device, as in selecting music etc (I know basic remote control functions are possible via apps) without using a TV, ie using the android screen? I'd rather not have to fire up the plasma just to twiddle with the music tracks.

Without wishing to be rude, how do you currently access your Apple Music subscription if you don’t have any Apple devices?

On an android phone. Which is fine for bluetoothing to the van or speaker thingy on site.

[funinhounslow]

Teddy Lop said:

We have no apple devices in the house; is it possible to control the apple music on apple tv from an android device, as in selecting music etc (I know basic remote control functions are possible via apps) without using a TV, ie using the android screen? I'd rather not have to fire up the plasma just to twiddle with the music tracks.

There is a (basic) remote control app on iOS so I assume there is for Android too.

You can also give Apple TV voice commands via the physical remote control- there’s a button on the side for this.

TBH it’s no hardship to turn the telly on to use Apple Music- it’s my preferred way of accessing it. The Music app on Apple TV is pretty well done with cover art, lyrics etc.

[AlexC1981]

If you want a wired connection, can't you use the headphone socket on an old mobile phone or tablet and plug into the amp with a phono to 3.5mm jack adapter cable?

[Teddy Lop]

Apple TV q again - can I use airdroid to use an android tablet thing as the TV screen component?