Hello
I am looking for an all in one wifi/ethernet media player that includes an amplifier but without speakers. Of course there are numerous digital media players around, but so far I just didn't find what I'm looking for.
It should
- be a low-budget, no-frills, simple device that does nothing more and nothing less than what I am using it for
- receive a digital audio stream from the network (ethernet or wifi, no bluetooth)
- do some "decent quality" digital-analog-conversion
- amplify the analog signal "as much as possible" (ev. tripath...)
- be fully integrated in one box and be as small as possible
The closest solution that I could find so far, would be to use either an Apple "AirPort Express" or a Logitec "SqueezeBox Duet" (has reached end of product life-cycle though (?)) and connect a Trends Audio "TA-10 Class-T Stereo Audio Amplifier". BUT, I would *really* prefer not having to buy two separate devices.
It would be really nice if the device had an internal PSU.
The device should, IMHO not cost much more than $200 - maybe $300. Should be possible, shouldn't it? But I would be ready to pay up to $500 for a super duper future proof device.
It is hard to believe something like this doesn't already exist. I would like to build one myself but am a bit overwhelmed with the amount of (ARM) SoC's available and am hesitant.
The problem I'm confronted with is that I put my bulky old amplifier and the CD Player as well as the CD's (that copied to my hard-drive, in flac format) away some years back because I just don't have the space available in my flat. But I still have those nice tall Quadral Speakers that always served me well. I would like to hang them up in the air and just have that little device somewhere in the shelf to power them.
What I would be trying to do is something like a combination of those two projects.
http://lampizator.eu/LAMPIZATOR/Squeezebox/squeezebox.html
http://lampizator.eu/AMPLIFIERS/CHINA/Miniamplifier.html
But this is actually beyond my capabilities. If somebody could guide me a little, I would try, but then again I don't have much time in the coming months. So, to be clear: I don't really want to do it myself, I would prefer to find a product. DIY would just be a last resort solution if there really is no product available.
I already googled for 100's of keyword combinations like "digital audio amplifier" "dlna dmr" "digital media player" "wlan dac" etc, etc...
Many thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Patrick