BACK TO BASICS Part 2: Music servers & network streamers

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What does a network streamer do? What does a music server do? Let’s go back to basics.

Seen in this video:

Sonos Connect:

Sonos Connect modified by Wyred 4 Sound:

Sonos Desktop Controller:

AURALiC Aries Mini:

AURALiC Lightning DS:

Intel NUC:

Bluesound Node 2i:

** CORRECTION: the Node 2i doesn't use UPnP to stream from network servers but Samba/CIFS **

Raspberry Pi:

ALLO DigiOne:

PiCorePlayer:

INNUOS ZENith MKII SE:

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Further listening...

Why isn’t digital audio “just ones and zeroes”?

What is electrical noise and how does it affect your DAC?

#backtobasics #streaming #audiophile

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[lukehouge]

I’ve been using Apple TV’s as endpoints for our whole house setup. Might seem stupid, but works awesome for our family. All we stream is Apple Music, and these are cheaper than a Sonos and we can sync all them together with airplay 2. If you are all in apple ecosystem, this works good.

I'm a "beginner" and consider myself tech-savvy, and these videos were certainly useful. Of course I could grasp the "server-streamer" relationship beforehand, but I'm completely unaware of the different offerings in the market and the possible DIY configurations given readily available tech at home. I can't wait for part 3!! Also, subscribed.

[ptr]

Thank you. I’ve had Logitech servers/ slim server and Twonky on my NAS and I always thought that the player software pulled the music from the server, that is the app read a file from the NAS and and did the bits to sound stuff. You just can’t know it all. Fortunately, people like you exist to help. Thank you again.

[robbintories]

I recently bought the Innous Zen mk3 server which resides in my tv cabinet. It connects over wifi to my bluesound 2i in another room and I have to say I am very pleased with the results. I have the bluesound connected to my Rega amp and apart from the turntable, I can control the whole lot either on my phone or tablet using the bluesound app. No issues so far.

I was fortunate to have a demo in a room at Audio T and the system sounded far better than the system I originally had in mind. I think it pays to use your own ears and judge for yourself and not go off the latest What Hifi awards.

It's probably a step up from a beginner system and certainly not high end. I like to think of it as an "enthusiasts" set up.

Looking forward to part three. Good work as always.

[jimdudley]

Great video John. Can't wait for part 3. Timing is perfect as I'm making the plunge into digital audio. Keep the intel coming my friend!

[petervanderham]

Love the Node 2i that I recently bought! Great explanation :)

[jeromewhitmill]

I truly enjoy all you videos. Please keep it going and can't wait!

[guillermomorales]

Simple concepts explained the long and hard way. Nice.

[victorceban]

As a home server, I have a WiFi router with an USB port which supports external hard drives. It isn't an expensive router and my music is always on the net, as the router is always turned on. I love it, comparing to the days when I was was streaming from my PC and had to turn it on and off for each music session .

[davidbrittain]

Its all still a mystery to me, even after watching this vid?!! I'll have to watch it again a few times I thin...

[lazarosnikolaidis]

Thank you John. Very informative video.

[jeppemichaeljensen]

Yes also informativ. I recently bought a Zen m3 because of you ! Brilliant hardware. But I could not talk to my PSAudio Gain Cell wrong firmware. Now I have to change the mainboard in the DAC, no worries, its covered by the warranty. Thanks

[sandcat-maurice]

Thanks for your great videos!
Wrt Sonos app send music to the Sonos device: actually Sonos device pulls music from any of the indexed shares (computer, NAS). The app is only a remote (not a server) and does not need to be on the same device as where your music is stored. You can even remove the app all together and the music keeps playing.

[alexojeda]

I thought you were trying to keep it basic and simple for us newbies. Just kiddin' bro. Love your vids

[j.j.hunsecker]

Great and helpful. Thanks for putting this up!

[IvanMarjanovicLDN]

Another extremely useful video. Many thanks.

[noenken]

Just use some old android phone and connect it to a DAC. No need for some new device that is gonna get shut down eventually.
Have a nice amp and really good speakers and you're done.

[darrendackly]

It's a thumbs from me. I've had a bit of a go with the RPi but got the feeling I was missing something. It turns out I was missing a lot of thing's. Thank you for doing this and yes, I would love it if you did more.

[DarkoAudio]

Got a question? Please phrase it so that ANYONE can answer.

[markwilding]

I love how technology has made our lives so much easier