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Need suggestions for streaming files to my stereo

Hello everyone. I'm looking for a way to stream files (AAC, ALAC, FLAC) to my home stereo. The files are on my PC laptop, or on iTunes on my iPhone etc. I pretty much exhausted my budget on my power amp and speakers so Im looking for the best budget pieces I can afford to get the music flowing for now. I currently have Kef ks50s, a Red Dragon S500, a SMSL Sanskrit, and a Google Chromecast Audio.   I'll likely pick up a Schiit SYS preamp. 

With this current setup I can only pretty much stream Pamdora, since Itunes won't work with the CCA.   It's looking like the lowest cost option available is to use different software to handle the music files such as JRiver, or PowerDVD Ultra, but I'm unsure if this is the best way?  Any other ideas, software, hardware etc?  I have an insanely low budget of around $200 left to buy the rest, let's see what you guys can think of. 
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Subscribe to Tidal and Roon - both have a free trial so nothing to lose. Roon can be used to control everything (files on your PC as well as a Tidal) with Roon’s Amazing interface (use an android or iOS device to control and browse music) and with excellent artists info from All Music database. Roon handles every format I can think of and Roon can play bit perfect to your DAC and is clever enough to convert anything that your DAC can’t handle to PCM at a suitable sample rate.

I am so impressed by Roon’s interface - really high quality and definitely geared at audiophiles who want to control quality to the Nth degree. Downside is $100 or so annual subscription but from what I can tell you could be up and running with no hardware purchases....
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alexporubay
2 posts
 
I would also advise Bluesound Node 2. Of course, no one wants to give away $ 500, but management with your Android phone or your Iphone is priceless.
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
My Apple TV seems to use dual band wifi - thoughts, Eric?

be sure to get the Apple TV3 - newer ones lack the optical output port
- I also let it stream my photos to my TV, or watch Patti Smith on Youtube etc.

if you later want a $500 solution for some reason, then you are only out $40 for a refurbed one
willemj
1,036 posts
 
The Chromecast Audio that you have can be used to address a NAS using Bubble UPnP free software. I have not done this myself, but many have. Not sure how this would work with a laptop, but I am sure there must be ways. There is nothing wrong with the sound quality of the CCA, and certainly not if the budget is tight and you are using 16/44 source material.. I think it is the biggest audio bargain in the the market. If you ever have a bigger budget again, all you will have to do is add a good DAC with optical input, and you are all set for high end streaming with the service of your choice. Its current maximum is 24/96, which I think is more than good enough for audio perfection: http://archimago.blogspot.nl/2016/02/measurements-google-chromecast-audio_27.html
Alternatively, and short of just using a cable from the probably crappy analogue output of your laptop, you could use a Behringer UCA 202 usb DAC. It is not the world's best DAC, but it is cheap - very cheap, and great value fo rmoney: http://nwavguy.blogspot.nl/2011/02/behringer-uca202-review.html
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