computerilliterate

Thank you, Bob. Can you tell me: 1) What design limitations are you speaking of? Is the audio quality degraded in some way or is it matters of convenience? 2) Is Apple Airplay (1 or 2) easy to implement? I was hoping to find some way to have a streamer hooked up to my DAC by usb. Then, I'm told that if I use my ipad to control it through Airplay, I can stream Idagio losslessly.

Oh, and where does the streamer come in? Does it connect by usb to my dac? Or does my Ipad act as a streamer?

Hello DuckToller: Yes, I have an Ipad2017 (I think version 5???). So, you're saying that my wifi would send the Idagio signal in 24/192 or whatever to my Ipad and it would volley it on to my DAC? It will do this in bit perfect transfer through that little Ipad? Seems hard to imagine it would sound any good. And it sounds like I'd have to find some way to wire the Ipad to my DAC through maybe a USB connection since my DAC doesn't have any kind of through the air reception ... only coax, usb, etc. Oh well. Back to the drawing board.

A lot of talk here about something called Apple Airplay. The good folks at Idagio tell me that, if a streamer has Apple Airplay, it can play in a form called "gapless." As you can tell, I have ZERO idea what this Apple Airplay thing is or how it affects ANYTHING. The Idagio people could have just as well said that eating a chicken sandwich can make your stereo sound better. Can someone explain ... ... what is Apple Airplay? ... how does Apple Airplay relate to streaming? ... does Apple Airplay degrade sound when one is set up for something called "bit perfect"? ... why would it have any effect on whether streamed audio can play "gapless"? Maybe there's an explanation already on Audiophile Style but, searching doesn't lead me to anything but numerous entries with random references to apple airplay but no explanation. Any assistance would be much appreciated.

Hi. Me again. My I ask why bit perfect would ever not be desired? Seems from what I've read that bit perfect is the holy grail of computer audio. What am I missing?

Regarding Innuos, I emailed them and it appears they are going for a full dedicated package instead of a straightforward step into streaming. And pricy - ouch! They seemed nice and professional in their response (though they seem to think that brick and mortar stores still exist in America). Thank you for your suggestion nonetheless.

Thanks again, elan120. This might help me: There are so many strong opinions here like "computer audio is noisy! You have to do all this stuff or your computer audio isn't worth trying!" So, here's the question: Let's say the worst one can do is what you outlined. How much better can one get with all the extras davide256 suggests? Is it like going from a Bose Wave Radio to top of the line Wilson loudspeakers? How much would I be missing? Is it worth worrying about?

No, I haven't had time to breath. And I have also TRIED to understand some of the other suggestions. I think yours is the one I'm going to try first. Though davide256 says that computers are noisy and shouldn't be used. I don't know if he's exagerating or what?

WOW! That's much appreciated but way beyond my knowledge. I've never streamed anything. Qobuz was a thought because I've read that it has a good quantity of Jazz. But I've never taken a look at it. I'll try to digest what you so kindly took the time to write. But, your dealing with a guy who chose "Computer Illiterate" as a name because it is an accurate assessment of my knowledge. I'm hoping streaming gets as simple as vinyl playback and cds are currently.

I'll look into this. Thanks for the suggestion. I found the email for "Innuos" and asked them how much InnuOS 2.0 is and where I can buy one. I looked on the back of my DAC and found that the available inputs are USB, Optical, BNC and AES/EBU. It also has Coaxial but that's being used by my CD player. Hopefully InnuOS 2.0 can connect into one of my available inputs.

I'll take a look at it. I was looking at my DAC and found that I have these digital inputs available ... USB Optical Coaxial (not available since my cd transport uses that) BNC AES/EBU So, hopefully sonus can use one of the available ones.

Thanks again. I guess it will be more obvious once I fire it up. Funny how the "in the know" terminology goes. It can throw a new guy off. For example, you said "... a cable coupling the audio output from the Idagio device (iPad or laptop PC) to the DAC." My first response was "Oh, wow! An Idagio device! They're going to send me an iPad or laptop PC!" A few minutes later I came to the conclusion that the "Idagio device" you were speaking of was MY iPad or laptop PC. I guess that means I need to use one of those things to control the Bluesound device and it doesn't have a control panel of some sort. I think I have that straight.

I have WiFi and also a long cord (I guess that's Ethernet?) that I can hook up to. Why didn't the "Bluesound Node" device come up earlier in the conversation? Does it have undesirable limitations I should be aware of?

I thank you all for helping me. I hope this becomes a standard post for future cases. I cannot imagine that I am the first person trying to break his way into streaming. The Bluesound device is, I guess, the best start for most every beginner? In any event, I'll give it a try. I have no idea how it works or what kind of controls it has for searching for music (I assume it has a control panel of some sort) but maybe I can call the company and see what they tell me. Maybe I can give my experience here on the forums. Thanks again.

Ok. So we're both speaking Greek to each other. Here's what I want to do. I want to play Idagio. I want gapless playback. I don't want anything done to the sound; I want it just like it was released by the production company as if I bought the CD. I want a stream that won't go crazy as I send it to my Eastern Electric Minimax DAC. I'm willing to spend $1,000 to set it up and then whatever the streaming company Qobuz charges (I prefer Idagio but nobody like classical to any degree these day, I guess). How do I do this? What do I buy?