Internet radio receivers

[anotherbob]

Though infuriatingly the BBC won't allow me to listen to its radio stations over here in France, I am having fun discovering others.

Might you be able to connect a Bluetooth Audio Receiver to your Yamaha? You could then use the BBC iPlayer radio app. on a phone or tablet which, like your PC will receive BBC streams anywhere in the World. (Some content will be unavailable due to rights issues.)

[Dave2002]

Wait for your ears to adjust and for the units to warm up. Conflicting views on this, but I strongly believe in 'burn in'.

”Burn in” is a difficult thing to believe in. I bought a DAC and was told it would sound better after a while - and indeed I think it did. However it’s hard to know whether that is simply due to changes in hardware, or just a change in perception by the listener - me.

One person did assure me that there was a difference which could be noticed after a few days, but (a) he was the supplier/designer/manufacturer and (b) he was in a fairly unique position to do tests, both measurements and listening tests. It seems that he has over the years stored some models for a while - say a month or so, then compared the ones which were stored with the ones which were used and “burned in” immediately after installation. I do believe him, but there is an act of faith in this - and not all devices do behave in this way.

[Beef Oven!]

”Burn in” is a difficult thing to believe in.

I know, but I'm very bright. Don't give up - you'll get there

Jokes aside, I agree entirely with you. It is hardly scientific.

These days I lean a little more towards 'ear/brain adjustment' than 'unit warming' if you get what I mean.

[MickyD]

Well, it may be just that my ears have adjusted, but I'm sure that my new Yamaha sounds more 'open' and less constrained than when I first heard it....difficult to describe.

[MickyD]

Might you be able to connect a Bluetooth Audio Receiver to your Yamaha? You could then use the BBC iPlayer radio app. on a phone or tablet which, like your PC will receive BBC streams anywhere in the World. (Some content will be unavailable due to rights issues.)

Aha, what a good idea. In fact the new Yamaha does have Bluetooth, so that is well worth exploring. It will have to be my geek friend again, though, as such technology is beyond me! Thank you, anyway.

[anotherbob]

Aha, what a good idea. In fact the new Yamaha does have Bluetooth, so that is well worth exploring. It will have to be my geek friend again, though, as such technology is beyond me! Thank you, anyway.

I'm told by an "internet friend" who has a Yamaha R-N 500 receiver in the USA that his device can receive all BBC streams via its "net radio" function. It seems there is a web "portal" where you can search for, and "bookmark" stations on the receiver, and by way of the Yamaha remote phone app. I feel sure that if this is available on your Yamaha device there will be reference to it in the user manual. Other users of internet radios in the USA and Europe say that BBC streams should be available via the vTuner interface used by your Yamaha.
Perhaps your geek friend could explore the reasons for the lack of BBC stations on your device. If you are successful you will find that the streams available are of lesser quality than those in the UK, but much better than nothing.
Good luck.

[MickyD]

Thanks again for this advice...sounds promising...mind you, the display that comes up on the panel of the Yamaha says quite clearly 'Radio 3 UK only'. I'll have a look in the manual again - it is a somewhat weighty tome for this poor technophobe!

[anotherbob]

Thanks again for this advice...sounds promising...mind you, the display that comes up on the panel of the Yamaha says quite clearly 'Radio 3 UK only'. I'll have a look in the manual again - it is a somewhat weighty tome for this poor technophobe!

The high quality R3 stream is UK only but there is an MP3 stream which should be available.

[MickyD]

Ok, thanks once more for your trouble, anotherbob

[Dermot]

Thanks again for this advice...sounds promising...mind you, the display that comes up on the panel of the Yamaha says quite clearly 'Radio 3 UK only'. I'll have a look in the manual again - it is a somewhat weighty tome for this poor technophobe!

Hello,

As I also live outside the United Kingdom, am a fellow technophobe, and have a small Roberts internet radio on my kitchen table, perhaps I can clarify matters. Radio 3 can be received outside the UK on an internet radio. That is provided the radio has the appropriate format, pardon the non-technical term, to receive the broadcasting stream the BBC uses.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2015/mar/05/new-internet-radio-listen-bbc-stations

All Radio 3 programmes are available to overseas listeners, or I have not come across one that was not over several years of listening via the internet. Some BBC sports broadcasts are restricted to UK listeners due to rights restrictions. For example, association football commentaries on Radio 5 Live can not be received overseas. In such instances, a voice will announce, ''We are sorry, but due to rights restrictions this programme is not available in your area''.

When I first got my internet radio and did a search for Radio 3, before saving it as a preset, I was given two options,

BBC Radio 3
and
BBC Radio 3 HD-UK Only

The latter broadcasts in higher quality and is available to UK listeners only. If you click on it, the radio will try to connect to the station but fail and an error message will appear on the screen. This seems to be what is happening in your case. However, the ''BBC Radio 3'' option, on its own, is available worldwide.

Good luck with ploughing through the instruction manual.

[MickyD]

Hello,

As I also live outside the United Kingdom, am a fellow technophobe, and have a small Roberts internet radio on my kitchen table, perhaps I can clarify matters. Radio 3 can be received outside the UK on an internet radio. That is provided the radio has the appropriate format, pardon the non-technical term, to receive the broadcasting stream the BBC uses.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2015/mar/05/new-internet-radio-listen-bbc-stations

All Radio 3 programmes are available to overseas listeners, or I have not come across one that was not over several years of listening via the internet. Some BBC sports broadcasts are restricted to UK listeners due to rights restrictions. For example, association football commentaries on Radio 5 Live can not be received overseas. In such instances, a voice will announce, ''We are sorry, but due to rights restrictions this programme is not available in your area''.

When I first got my internet radio and did a search for Radio 3, before saving it as a preset, I was given two options,

BBC Radio 3
and
BBC Radio 3 HD-UK Only

The latter broadcasts in higher quality and is available to UK listeners only. If you click on it, the radio will try to connect to the station but fail and an error message will appear on the screen. This seems to be what is happening in your case. However, the ''BBC Radio 3'' option, on its own, is available worldwide.

Good luck with ploughing through the instruction manual.

Dermot....you are a genius! I followed your instructions and indeed, I had been pressing on the R3 HD site. I found the ordinary R3 station just before it and hey presto, the broadcast came through loud and clear!

A huge thank you for taking the trouble to let me know and explain it so clearly - once again, this goes to show how much I appreciate the lovely helpful kindred spirits on this site.

[Dermot]

Hi Micky,

I am interested in how you find the Yamaha after using it for several months. I am in the market for something similar and was wondering if the Yamaha might suit. Is the sound quality, both from internet radio and CD player, reasonably good? Also, is the internet radio facility easy to operate? A dealer has given me a quotation for a separates system which is for considerably more than the Yamaha costs. I live in an apartment and listen to music at reasonably quiet levels, I have lovely neighbours and do not wish to annoy them, so the dealer's choice might be overkill.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Dermot

[alycidon]

I find my little £25 Bluetooth soundsquare suitable for general use around the kitchen, but I have to emphasise that I wear a hearing aid and am therefore easily satisfied - you have to be as you get older! Living in a Scottish glen, there is no DAB and VHF can be rather questionable at times. The stuff that comes via my iPad is excellent.

[MickyD]

Hi Micky,

I am interested in how you find the Yamaha after using it for several months. I am in the market for something similar and was wondering if the Yamaha might suit. Is the sound quality, both from internet radio and CD player, reasonably good? Also, is the internet radio facility easy to operate? A dealer has given me a quotation for a separates system which is for considerably more than the Yamaha costs. I live in an apartment and listen to music at reasonably quiet levels, I have lovely neighbours and do not wish to annoy them, so the dealer's choice might be overkill.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Dermot

Hi there Dermot,

Sorry, only just saw your post. Yes, on the whole I am indeed very happy with the Yamaha system after living with it for a few months. Once I had set up the internet facility (and thanks again for the tips on the R3 site), I can say that it is pretty easy to use.

I find the sound quality of the internet radio better than that of the CD player. Reception of R3 and especially France Musique is very impressive. I sometimes find the CD quality a little - how can I put it? - confined and recessed at times, but then my old Technics amp and speakers were a tough act to follow. It is possible to raise or lower the treble and bass to your own taste, which is what I do from time to time.

I also live in a smallish house with neighbours next door, so don't often have the volume up loud very often. I have tried it on a loud setting and the speakers hold up pretty well.

So yes, for the price, sound quality and ease of use, I would recommend it to you. It would be interesting to hear from you about what other options you are considering.

[Dermot]

Many thanks, Micky.

A dealer in Dublin is offering me the following option:

Quad Vena amplifier
NAD 516 CD player
Bowers & Wilkins DM686 speakers
Speaker stands

A member of the dealer's staff will come to my home and set up the system. The total cost is €1,500. Richer Sounds in Belfast have the Yamaha for £699, which is roughly €850.

With the wealth of music available on internet radio stations and YouTube, I am currently gorging myself on Handel operas, I am listening to CDs less and less. The bottom line is that I can afford to accept the dealer's offer, but its theoretical superiority, I assume, might be wasted in my apartment living situation. I definitely, for the sake of my neighbours, do not want to bring the Vienna Philharmonic into my living room!