Hifi digital radio options

[cornwallnick]

Hi

I have just moved somewhere where there is no hope of getting radio through an aerial - a very deep valley! So I would like to add digital radio to my system - predominantly for listening to Radio 3. The rest of the system is Quad 99 monoblocks and preamp, Quad ESL 63s, (and Garrard 301/SME 3012/Dynavector 10x5 - for interest!). Can I ask what people would recommend? There seems to be two ways to go - one is to buy a streamer (like Bluesound Node 2i) - but I don't need any of the multi-room or streaming functionality. Other is to buy a DAC and connect this to my computer via USB. Budget is about £500.

Any guidance or suggestions would be very welcome!

Nick

[Dave2002]

https://www.mymemory.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=chromecast%20audio

This might be worth a try - very low outlay - under £30. I think there might be some problems with software support, but you should be able to get it working. Quality is good, and should feed into your system, possibly with an interface connector. You can also feed the output into another DAC, and if you go that way the sky could be the limit. You can get reasonable results for a few hundred pounds, but if you’re very picky you might find yourself hankering after kit costing many £thousands.

I should add that for streaming R3 the Chromecast audio is more than good enough IMO.

[jayne lee wilson]

Personally I'd go for the Computer + DAC option, which I've used myself for several years now to listen to Radio 3 AAC streams, as well as hi-res downloads and streaming. Do ensure you have fast stable internet first though.
So long as you get the datastream out of the computer to a DAC preferably via USB asynchronous (this puts the DAC in control), you should have good sound, all the benefits of listening choice and a large display, with few of the drawbacks which can arise from Computers used as hifi sources.
Be careful about USB outputs - if there are two of them, they can sound different even on the same computer. Go for the one with the least functions feeding off of it. If this isn't clear in the computer system report just listen carefully to each...

Quite a choice up to £500... from Chord Qutest, Audiolab M-Dac+ and Cambridge DacMagic+, so have a good read online to see what options/connections etc they offer to make sure they have what you need. If you go down the USB path, make sure they do the USB asynch aforementioned. Try to seek out an audition at a dealer or preferably at home. Later you could consider USB filters etc, like the Audioquest Jitterbug; or go really mad and get one of those cute little USB regenerators from iFi or Uptone...! (I do both...mea culpa...).

Down the line this would also open up the possibility of high-quality streaming services like Qobuz...you may like the idea later on.... so think about future-proofing in your choices...

BTW Nick - that's a great system you got there. Not into vinyl myself, but I know the 301's legendary reputation from friends & magazines, and the dedicated restoration efforts they receive. Those plinths! (I got to know classical music from Radio 3 and.... a Garrard SP25.....(I know, I know......the mistracking really annoyed me... so I saved up for a Pioneer PL12D...start of a long journey...but all digital now.)

You have any digital disc playback at all?

[richardfinegold]

I am listening to Radio Venice as I type, using Apple TV in my surround sound system. It sounds very good but is slightly bested by the Bluesound Node 2 in the same system. With the Node2 I can also access all the files on my NAS, including High Resolution downloads. With the ATV I would be limited to my iTunes files, and as I now record in FLAC, that is very limiting. ATV has a lot more jitter, but this is due to it’s HDMI interface, perhaps the TosLink output has less.
With respect to Internet Radio, the two gizmos off the same choices, as they have the identical search engine. The Bluesound app, however, is much better than anything that Apple offers, making it much easier to find stations and listing content that is being played. Bluesound also allow me to use streaming services such as Qobuz and doesn’t confine me to Apple Music.
Regarding the whole house issue, ATV can sync with the Apple Home Pod in my kitchen. I used to have a Bluesound unit for every system in the home, but that led to problems. If one of the units stutters and unsuccessfully adds an update, all of the units commit hari Kari in sympathy. It took me months of frustration and multiple service calls to realize this. Perusal of Audiophile Forums reveals that many others had the same issue.
My recommendation for the OP would be the Bluesound Node, because it offers the flexibility of streaming and being able to play computer files, so if the OP wants to go that direction in the future it won’t require the purchase of another component. Don’t bother with the whole house feature

[Stunsworth]

For several years I’ve used a computer attached to a DAC via USB. The R3 AAC stream is very good - though the experimental FLAC feed a couple of years ago was outstanding.

You don't need a fast internet connection, but obviously reliability is a must.

I recently upgraded to the latest Pro-ject DAC and it’s tremendous value for money (it replaced an Audiolab M-DAC)...

https://www.project-audio.com/en/product/pre-box-s2-digital/

[cmr_for3]

https://www.mymemory.co.uk/catalogse...mecast%20audio

This might be worth a try - very low outlay - under £30. I think there might be some problems with software support, but you should be able to get it working. Quality is good, and should feed into your system, possibly with an interface connector. You can also feed the output into another DAC, and if you go that way the sky could be the limit. You can get reasonable results for a few hundred pounds, but if you’re very picky you might find yourself hankering after kit costing many £thousands.

I should add that for streaming R3 the Chromecast audio is more than good enough IMO.

I second this (I have three of these around my home and not for multiroom) the internals make these good value and you can use optical/toslink to feed into your amp. up until recently If you are after a proper "tuner like" device then I would have recommend the below.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-DIT2010MBT-Digital-Internet-Bluetooth/dp/B01MTKEGXJ

But the internet portal has changed and you can't add your own stations.

I've also repurposed last years Android and have an an app on that called Hifi Cast that allows me to use it as a remote to cast music on my NAS to the Chromecast or indeed cast internet radio (I leave the phone on all the time and in aeroplane mode when not in use so I can do this speedily)

Hope that helps.

[cornwallnick]

Thanks everyone - all really useful advice. So I think I will go for the computer/DAC option - and start shopping around for DACs. I'll post again with an update when I get some results.

Jayne - goodness the SP25 and PL12D take me back - I had both at one time or another. Had a long break from vinyl and came back to it a few years ago - brilliant! Talking of early influences - I remember hearing my music teacher's Quad electrostatics as a teenager and thinking I would have some one day - took 40 years but got there in the end!

Thanks again