2. pc-audio
  3. 1422820604

Advice for streaming setup only

Hello there, wanted to get into streaming audio so I signed up for the new Classics Online HD streaming service, which promises 16/44 to 24/196 resolution. Mike Lavorgna wrote a quick thing on audio stream about it.

The quick takeaway after 3 days is that it's wonderful and indeed good sound quality - the bad part is I'm getting lots of dropouts and glitches, so I want to get something dedicated to streaming.

I think that the service is not quite ready for prime time but I'm hoping they'll get it squared away.

So my question is - with a budget of $400-800, what laptop should I get to use as a dedicated streaming device ? I'm running it via usb into the DAC of my Marantz SA8004. Classical/opera mostly. Dedicated room.

My current PC laptop is old and on its last legs.

Actually I'd love to use a something other than a laptop but my understanding is that every network streamer still requires a computer in addition to the streamer itself - if I'm wrong and there's a one-box streamer that would be great.

My requirements are- 16/44 and above sound- compatible with Classics HD (which requires downloading Orastream from Classics HD) -

I won't do much downloading so no need for backups or large storage. I will not be ripping any of my current CD collection.

I'm not computer savvy at all, so any creative solution would have to be pretty easy to set up and maintain.

Thanks everyone
eljack
arh
366 posts
 
I am using classicsonlinehd also and have had some similar problems. There 16/44 streaming works without any problems but higher rez like 24/96 or 24/192 has problems. They are working very hard to fix them and things are getting better. I am using on my main system a Lenova laptop into a Metrum Hex dac via USB. The laptop connects to the internet via a router using WiFi. This might be a source of the problem and they are looking into it. Actually if I were you I would wait a few months and let them sort it out.
Meanwhile I also use Spotify premium and it really sounds quite good and plays with no problems. They have a huge classical library
Alan
eljack OP
9 posts
 
I've been on computeraudiophile and frankly it's simply beyond my understanding. I'm really just looking for advice for model numbers that are quiet, have good Wi-Fi, have the required USB connections etc. I'm really not looking to learn anything about how it all works, just looking for some advice about models, setups, etc.
In other words I'm not looking to learn how to build a watch I'm just asking what time it is. Thanks everyone for your thoughts and appreciate any help
eljack OP
9 posts
 
Thanks Alan it did seem to get a little better late last night and the high resolution stuff was streaming better but was not showing up as high resolution at my DAC, which is strange.
Can I ask which model computer you use and whether the fan is quiet?

Also to the other posters I don't want to sound ungrateful so I do appreciate your responses but I have found that web searches do not help me because everyone talks about ripping their CD collection and listening to Pandora etc. and I don't want to do that. I have a very specific request and that is simply streaming this new high resolution service for classical thanks
eljack OP
9 posts
 
Thank you for the comment about the music vault business. I believe this is not what I'm looking for as it seems to be focused on enormous hard drives and ripping capability and is 5 times over my budget of $400-$800.
Thanks for taking the time to respond it does look like an interesting product but not what I'm looking for for this streaming service

Maybe I should have skipped all the information and just said that I am looking for a really quiet laptop for streaming in the 400-$800 range
mallen123
102 posts
 
Eljack, while the service may be having start up issues, if you are using WiFi, some of the drop out problems might be related to the speed and signal strength of your wifi router.

If you can, try hard wiring via Ethernet , to see if there is any reduction in drop outs.

I invested in NetGears N900 (their top of the line router a few years ago) and immediately had an improvement in all my wifi streaming services.
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