Wireless speakers

[Anastasius]

.... but I'm bringing back the record and cassette players so it will probably end up as old analogue connected to wireless speakers - nuts as that sounds.
...

Doesn't sound nuts to me.

[Dave2002]

Doesn't sound nuts to me.

Are there streamers which will do that - take an analogue input and then do the digital thing for dissemination purposes? I think some of the more expensive models may do that.

Otherwise it'd have to be a DIY job, using ADC converters. There could still be an audible loss in quality compared with sticking with analogue and wires - sorry - but that's how it is - depends how fussy one is.

However, we are using devices such as Chromecast, Chromecast Audio etc. more and more with computers and tablets, and there is a not inconsiderable convenience in being able to select music or films on a tablet, and then stream the selection to a TV or hi-fi system. Quality may then depend on whether the streaming is from a good source (e.g. a ripped CD - which is of course now illegal again in the UK ....), where the data is actually stored - could be on the tablet, but might also be a remote server, or a local file store, and whether a wireless link used for audio uses compression or not, and lastly whether the wireless link is actually used for the audio. It's possible to use tablets etc. to wirelessly control audio and video which can still be sent via a wired (e.g ethernet) system discretely hidden and built into the environment, thus getting the benefits of mobility, but also minimising issues of loss of sound quality.

[Cockney Sparrow]

After Gradus' reply we now know that Spotify and R3 are used quite a lot via the PC, he is looking to replace speakers somewhat larger than a bookshelf speaker and also wants to connect vinyl record and cassette decks to the potential new system. No shame in using any source material you want, from record deck to streaming services such as Spotify - we are so luck today to have the choice.

A one (relatively small) wireless speaker Gradus has heard didn't compete on quality - which is to be expected. (BTW I've seen favourable comment for the Sonos Play speakers for use in Kitchens etc so they are likely good enough in these compromised locations).

I'm trying to think how Gradus' room and system is used, because there are solutions suited to different layouts, and it would be good to narrow it down. I'd like to know:

• whether the room is mainly a sitting room - so listening is mainly from a sitting room chair (armchair, sofa)
• whether the PC used is a laptop
• Or whether the PC used is a desktop, so in a fixed position.
• If the PC is a desktop - whether most listening takes place whilst working at a desk or some such?

(If it is the latter, then the cassette and vinyl could be placed near the desk/PC and connected into the speakers, and R3/Spotify from the PC could be wireless or wired. The amp can be eliminated as you desire, if you replace it with active speakers, with amps in the cabinets. The AVI active speakers I use have that, multiple TOS link digital inputs and one input (left, right, phono sockets) for analogue (so here a switch unit would be needed between cassette and vinyl deck. Even when options are narrowed down, it gets complicated, doesn't it?)) .

[richardfinegold]

Are there streamers which will do that - take an analogue input and then do the digital thing for dissemination purposes?.

There are streamers that have analogue inputs, but they are meant to compete, or perhaps function, as pre amps. Streamers usually output a digital feed into a pre or power amp.

[Sir Velo]

I have recently purchased the B&W T7 wireless Bluetooth speaker. I would recommend purchase not least for the benefit of the free subscription to the Society of Sound, from which I have downloaded more than fifteen 24-bit FLAC recordings, worth well over two hundred quid in total. Not bad.

[Dave2002]

These Wharfedale speakers, currently just under £1k, seem to use a particular form of Bluetooth technology/compression - https://www.aptx.com/
There will almost certainly be some form of digital compression in the wireless link, though whether that compromises the SQ I can't say - http://www.richersounds.com/product/...ar-diam-a2-blk

Also, I don't know whether speakers of this type, or similar, can also be run in wired modes, if anyone wanted to do that.

These particular ones can take a "wired' digital input, using the internal DAC and amp, but analogue - driven from a power amp?

There are also these slightly cheaper Dali Zensor models - http://www.richersounds.com/product/...-zens-5-ax-blk
- a brand I've not heard of before.

These also have some "wired" capability

With an optical digital input you can connect up your TV or CD player, too. Finally, with a 3.5mm input your MP3 player or other source can easily be hooked up as well.

[Dave2002]

Querying on hi-fi sites suggests that apt-X is better than "original" Bluetooth, and that it's useful for people who want to be able to share tracks "when their mates come round", but that on identical FLAC tracks it gets blown away by the output from a Squeezebox Touch. One quote is:

bluetooth is compromised by its bandwidth, aptx just improves upon its mediocrity

Although the SB Touch is a good device, some people might prefer other DACs, and if the output of those is fed into wired systems presumably the results would easily outclass speakers operating wirelessly using Bluetooth+apt-X. Of course it's possible that some wireless speakers, if connected using cables, might actually be capable of very good results, if driven by better equipment than either the DAC and or the amps inside the cabinets.

Convenience does seem to be an issue for some. One question might still be - "does one really want to spend up to £1k for convenience if the speakers are going to sound 'merely OK' when perhaps better speakers could be obtained for less?"

For convenience there are gadgets such as Chromecast Audio which can do that without having to spend a fortune, or there's a QED device currently on sale at Richer for around £20 which might just do the basics.
https://www.richersounds.com/product...-u-play-stream Reviews are from 1 - 5 stars - both extremes!

Some reviews also at Am.uk - where currently it costs more - https://www.amazon.co.uk/QED-uPlay-S...d+uplay+stream

[gradus]

A postscript.
Being frugal (ahem), I eventually bought the Chromecsast Audio and it does more or less what I want although it wouldn't connect to my PC using the Chromecast setup, as my wireless router wouldn't/didn't detect the Chromecast (or is that vice versa?). Anyway I seemed to get it to work by connecting Chromecast to my android phone which for some mysterious reason given that the router and Chromecast were apparently ignoring each other, managed to get Chromecast on to the computer so that I can stream music files via iTunes and listen to Spotify and R3. I find the whole thing baffling but it works, but why?? Analogue was so straightforward.

[MrGongGong]

I did a lot of research into wireless multichannel systems a while ago thinking that it should be possible to send 8 or 16 channels to speakers for an installation i'm doing.
It technically IS but would cost so much I spent the money on 9 Genelecs and a 16 channel player instead. I did experiment with the Chromecast but it didn't work for me at all. So half a day of climbing ladders and trying to hide cables in a big church awaits ......