Ok - I admit it - I need help with downloading!

[pastoralguy]

I’ve held out with downloading music until now. This has been partly due to entrenched views that if I’m going to buy music I want something to hold in my sweaty hand and the fact that I’m fortunate enough to live in a city that has an abundance of good charity shops selling cds at ridiculous prices.

However, I recently took out a subscription to Amazon music, principally so I could download music of a popular genre on my ‘phone to exercise to at the gym. HOWEVER, having explored the classical selections I found I could listen to the new releases that I read about in Gramophone. Usually, these would be added to my Amazon ‘wish list’ which could languish there for a long time depending on my financial situation.

So I was amazed that I could download the new Schiff/Brahms pc discs, Fischer/BFO/Brahms 3 and almost all the discs I’d think I’d like to hear but wouldn’t actually buy. All for £9.99 a month with three months free!

So, my question is, what do I need to buy to stream through my Hi-Fi? Just now I listen through my ‘phone with my BOSE headphones which is fine. However, my neighbours needn’t miss out.

Any help much appreciated!

[Joseph K]

I attach my computer to the audio in my Hi-fi with an auxiliary cable.

[Ein Heldenleben]

[QUOTE=pastoralguy;852257]I’ve held out with downloading music until now. This has been partly due to entrenched views that if I’m going to buy music I want something to hold in my sweaty hand and the fact that I’m fortunate enough to live in a city that has an abundance of good charity shops selling cds at ridiculous prices.

However, I recently took out a subscription to Amazon music, principally so I could download music of a popular genre on my ‘phone to exercise to at the gym. HOWEVER, having explored the classical selections I found I could listen to the new releases that I read about in Gramophone. Usually, these would be added to my Amazon ‘wish list’ which could languish there for a long time depending on my financial situation.

So I was amazed that I could download the new Schiff/Brahms pc discs, Fischer/BFO/Brahms 3 and almost all the discs I’d think I’d like to hear but wouldn’t actually buy. All for £9.99 a month with three months free!

So, my question is, what do I need to buy to stream through my Hi-Fi? Just now I listen through my ‘phone with my BOSE headphones which is fine. However, my neighbours needn’t miss out.
.

Any help much appreciated![/QUOTE

The cheapest option is to buy a lead with a mini-jack (headphone ) and one end and phono connector (amp input) at the other . A sound upgrade would mean getting small dac converter which plugs into your phone charging point and has a mini-jack you can plug the same lead into. A much higher grade option and more expensive is to get a bespoke music streamer . That will offer you better sound and a whole range of streaming options . Cambridge are a reliable brand ..

[Petrushka]

I attach my computer to the audio in my Hi-fi with an auxiliary cable.

That's what I do too except that I have a small XU09 headphone amplifier that connects into the headphone socket on my laptop. The headphone amplifier red/white aux cable then connects into the relevant sockets on the hi-fi amplifier.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/XU09-Portable-Hi-Fi-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B085PYNSXX/ref=sr_1_5?crid=20S2S402RYR19&dchild=1&keywords=xu09+headphone+amplifier&qid=1624394318&sprefix=XU09%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-5

The actual one I got isn't available any longer but it came with the necessary cables so worth checking first though they are easily available. It's good enough for me but would be interested in anything better.

[gradus]

I use 2 Chromecast Audios for streaming sound to hifi gear, it works well and cost £29 although it was discontinued by Google for some unknown reason but is still available on the Net. The quality is excellent on both my systems one of which is Quad throughout and revealing of audio shortcomings if they exist.

[jayne lee wilson]

If you insist on Amazon (rather than Tidal, Qobuz etc) then - given what I recall of your excellent system - make sure you have Amazon HD (£13-£14 pcm). Otherwise you are not even hearing the music in CD quality; at best, 320 kbps. What would be the point with your level of hifi componentry?

The first base, though, for Computer Audio has to be: an external DAC. Just buy the best you can afford after researching connectivity, SQ, and matching it to your patterns of usage; but include some future-proofing too.

Starting modestly? Go for the Audioquest Range of Dragonflies (DACs, three models) and Jitterbugs (just reissued in FMJ form, USB filters on the computer output); these plug into each other for a better sound; and they work - I have 2 AQ Jitterbugs in parallel on the Mac Pro outputs, and the improved sound is clear even through a much more expensive DAC. (The MacPro is my dedicated music streamer/server here, with all unused functions disabled, connected via Kimber USB to the DAC, with an Uptone Audio USB Regenerator at the DAC input, as well as the Jitterbugs).
.
Buy from somewhere like Amazon, where you get the home trial; if you think it could be better, compared to, say the quality you are used to off of CD - send it back and move on up....which could be something like the Cambridge DACMAGIC. Using a familiar CD on your usual CD player to assess the quality you are hearing from streams/downloads is an excellent way to tell where you've go to. If your stream falls below the SQ level of your discs, you won't bother with it much, save as aural wallpaper, a pleasing sonic ambience...

HiFi Streamers, from Cambridge to Linn, are basically just a receiver (for wireless or wired connection to your router, NAS (network-attached storage) etc, ) with a DAC built in (& some include SSD/HD for downloads too); various extra filters, regenerating circuits and sundry other sonically-beneficial sophistications may be included as well. Quality depends as ever, on the individual design. Price - whatever you like, really....

***

I'm slightly confused by your comments re. streaming/downloading. If you stream, you can listen to any of the music on your chosen server at any time for your monthly sub, as you seem be doing on Amazon for your £10 pcm. But if you download, you buy the music outright, own it and have to store it on an HD or SSD drive somewhere with booklet notes etc.

Currently I stream off Qobuz for £15 pcm in hi-res or lossless (i.e CD), using the Audirvana+ media player. Most such players are purchased with a one-off licence, thereafter you can choose whether take the usually free software upgrades (usually a good thing). Audirvana+ (the best sounding such player I've tried) is now moving to a monthly sub itself, though current versions still work. But its useful to keep up with such developments, whichever streaming service or media server you choose. Things can change quickly in this corner of the musical universe.

[Sir Velo]

Firstly, you need to decide whether it is downloading or streaming you want to do. Downloading will take up more space on your device's hard drive, whereas streaming (provided you periodically clean the cache) won't.

If streaming, I would echo those who have already posted to recommend Qobuz (you can also download from them). With a studio subscription you can have access to the whole gamut of recordings practically ever made (with the exception of one or two labels who don't do streaming - Hyperion comes to mind) for little more than the price of a CD per month!

I would then recommend hooking up a PC (can be an old one, should have a minimum of 4MB of RAM ideally) and then link that to your AMP/DAC and your pretty good to go. If you have windows, I would download the Qobuz for desktop software (free to use with a subscription). NB the web player should be avoided though. You don't need to bother with any third party software,

At the beginning stage, I would definitely keep it simple. You can always explore more all singing, all dancing; bells and whistles once you have decided that downloading/streaming works for you.

[Bryn]

A word of warning re jlw's mention of Cambridge Dacmagic. The mains powered models are very fine but the little Dacmagic XS USB headphones DAC, while very handy for use with headphones, can be plagued by electromagnetic artefacts if used to feed a hifi amplifier. This may be equipment specific but the Dacmagic XS (whether version 1 or 2) is best restricted to headphones use.

[Dave2002]

I use 2 Chromecast Audios for streaming sound to hifi gear, it works well and cost £29 although it was discontinued by Google for some unknown reason but is still available on the Net. The quality is excellent on both my systems one of which is Quad throughout and revealing of audio shortcomings if they exist.

Do the Chromecast Audios work with the Qobuz and Tidal systems which have been discussed in this thread?

I actually have two of the devices, but don't currently use them. They were around or less than £30 each when I bought them. Now I notice that some chancers are offering them at much higher prices on ebay, though if they do what is required they might still be worthwhile. One issue is that I don't think Google kept the software which drives these compatible and up to date - though they might work with the Chrome browser. It's been a while since I checked.

The gadgets do indeed give a good quality output as you indicate - if the software is still compatible, though might also work better with an additional external DAC - which IIRC is what I also tried.

See https://www.google.com/search?client...romecast+audio

I don't think these are necessarily any better than using a direct wired connection to a DAC - but for some users they do provide another way to get audio to a hi-fi set up.

Something like a MacMini (an old one would do) with optical out could drive a DAC well enough - typical cost around £200 for the (second hand) computer + whatever you wanted to pay for a DAC.

[mikealdren]

Hi PG,
with your Hifi, you will be looking for high quality sound so, as others have said, a computer feed through a good DAC is an excellent way forward. I now use mine for all my music with Internet radio and all my CDs downloaded to a computer jukebox. It sounds at least as good as any of the CD players I have tried. I have found that DACs do sound different and the best ones are superb.

Another alternative is to buy one of the many streaming boxes now available from Hifi retailers but that is potentially an expensive solution.

[Dave2002]

Hi PG,
with your Hifi, you will be looking for high quality sound so, as others have said, a computer feed through a good DAC is an excellent way forward. I now use mine for all my music with Internet radio and all my CDs downloaded to a computer jukebox. It sounds at least as good as any of the CD players I have tried. I have found that DACs do sound different and the best ones are superb.

Another alternative is to buy one of the many streaming boxes now available from Hifi retailers but that is potentially an expensive solution.

I agree with the use of computers as a way to stream, but note that many computers do not come with an obvious digital out. Most WinPCs do not, AFAIK, and would require additional or external hardware. Many Apple devices do have an optical digital out - for stereo - but not all do. Few devices have surround sound outputs - for that you'd need to go to cinema style AV kit - though most streaming audio services are currently stereo only.

Quite a number of computers now have HDMI outputs, but I'm not sure if that allows an easy connection to a high quality audio system - though that can be done with an AV unit. I get the feeling that PG doesn't want to get too technical - and I have a lot of sympathy with that. Devices such as the Chromecast Audio - there are other similar devices - should work with wireless connections - which might avoid some connectivity issues, but on the other hand many keen audio enthusiasts suggest that one should treat wireless connections like an infectous and dangerous disease - avoid! A lot will depend on how much effort is required in setting up a system which works, and which delivers the required quality and at a price which is not outrageously inflated.

[Richard Barrett]

note that many computers do not come with an obvious digital out

I believe it's called a USB port.

Even if a computer does have a digital audio output you would need a stereo system with the right kind of input in order to make use of it. You're just confusing the issue here. As others have pointed out, PG can start off with just a cable from his headphone output to any input on his stereo system, and eventually if desired go from there to using a DAC, that's all that needs to be said really.

[gurnemanz]

All the FLACs and mp3s I have downloaded are copied to an amazingly tiny 256gb usb stick which stays plugged into my streamer/tuner, producing good sound via amp and main speakers. A duplicate is attached to my Roberts 93i in the bedroom.

That process is simple and quick. In a probably slightly anorakish way, I spend more time tidying up the metadata and file structure of these downloads, which tends to be random, inconsistent and sometimes erroneous, in order to make them more usable and rationally cataloguable on my database.

[MickyD]

I am ashamed to say that I am only 62 years of age and totally bewildered by all of this. I daresay that if I had someone by my side to demonstrate it all, I might become interested, but if I am truthful, I think I just don't have the patience! My loss, of course.

[gradus]

I agree with the use of computers as a way to stream, but note that many computers do not come with an obvious digital out. Most WinPCs do not, AFAIK, and would require additional or external hardware. Many Apple devices do have an optical digital out - for stereo - but not all do. Few devices have surround sound outputs - for that you'd need to go to cinema style AV kit - though most streaming audio services are currently stereo only.

Quite a number of computers now have HDMI outputs, but I'm not sure if that allows an easy connection to a high quality audio system - though that can be done with an AV unit. I get the feeling that PG doesn't want to get too technical - and I have a lot of sympathy with that. Devices such as the Chromecast Audio - there are other similar devices - should work with wireless connections - which might avoid some connectivity issues, but on the other hand many keen audio enthusiasts suggest that one should treat wireless connections like an infectous and dangerous disease - avoid! A lot will depend on how much effort is required in setting up a system which works, and which delivers the required quality and at a price which is not outrageously inflated.

Chromecast is very simple, sounds good, was/is(?) cheap and effective. It worked fine with Qobuz and (ref RB's comments) imv wireless is a positive advantage getting rid of yet more cabling.