What to buy to stream music from NAS to high-end audio system

[JohnL]

Hi,

I would like to stream music stored as flac & mp3 on a NAS in another room to my stereo that includes a pre-amp with balanced and unbalanced inputs. I was thinking:
old laptop with wireless NIC by stereo would receive streaming signal.
USB out to a high quality D/A converter.
D/A converter to balanced or unbalanced (standard RCA plugs) input.

Is there Linn equipment that fits between the laptop and preamp and allows me to control the music?
or
is there a high quality D/A converter that can sit between laptop & stereo? Presumably, I would then have to control music via laptop.

Can't figure out from Linn descriptions if anything fits the bill.

[pdcman]

(2011-06-20 16:32)JohnL Wrote:  Hi,

I would like to stream music stored as flac & mp3 on a NAS in another room to my stereo that includes a pre-amp with balanced and unbalanced inputs. I was thinking:
old laptop with wireless NIC by stereo would receive streaming signal.
USB out to a high quality D/A converter.
D/A converter to balanced or unbalanced (standard RCA plugs) input.

Is there Linn equipment that fits between the laptop and preamp and allows me to control the music?
or
is there a high quality D/A converter that can sit between laptop & stereo? Presumably, I would then have to control music via laptop.

Can't figure out from Linn descriptions if anything fits the bill.

There isn't a single product that will do all; ie. DAC, Control, Balanced connections, preamp.

You could use a Sneaky DS that would talk to the NAS and retrieve FLAC and MP3 files. The control point could be your lap top. The Sneaky can attenuate its own output signal via two unbalanced RCA phonos, or you could use the internal power amplifier and plug in some speakers.

The other product would be the Sekrit DSI, which would add the facility of a pre-amp for a limited number of extra inputs.

The daddy would be the Majik DSI which again includes power amplification, but no balanced connections.

Hope this helps.

Phil

[bassato]

think that ds-system is an answer to your question - not going the pc-way though. maybe you find first information in great detail on linns doc-pages: http://docs.linn.co.uk/wiki/index.php/Products

manfred

[JohnL]

Thanks; will weigh pros & cons of DS vs. PC-based system with good D/A converter.

[linnrd]

(2011-06-23 20:27)JohnL Wrote:  Thanks; will weigh pros & cons of DS vs. PC-based system with good D/A converter.

For what little it's worth, I did the same a while ago (and re-evaluate it periodically). My conclusions were, and continue to be (despite the control point woes, and occasional aggro), that the DS is the most elegant and musical solution. I have reached this conclusion with the Majik DS feeding a digital signal out; I am sure that a Klimax would tip the scales quite further in the same direction.

[JohnL]

(2011-06-23 21:50)linnrd Wrote:  

(2011-06-23 20:27)JohnL Wrote:  Thanks; will weigh pros & cons of DS vs. PC-based system with good D/A converter.

For what little it's worth, I did the same a while ago (and re-evaluate it periodically). My conclusions were, and continue to be (despite the control point woes, and occasional aggro), that the DS is the most elegant and musical solution. I have reached this conclusion with the Majik DS feeding a digital signal out; I am sure that a Klimax would tip the scales quite further in the same direction.

I think you're right; a PC-based solution seems cumbersome. Majik looks like the way to go. I've done a lot of reading. Many people are using a Logitech Squeezebox either alone or with an external DAC. Any idea how the quality would compare to a Majik?

[linnrd]

(2011-06-25 00:02)JohnL Wrote:  I think you're right; a PC-based solution seems cumbersome. Majik looks like the way to go. I've done a lot of reading. Many people are using a Logitech Squeezebox either alone or with an external DAC. Any idea how the quality would compare to a Majik?

I started out with a Squeezebox to wade into the world of streaming. I used its digital out into the processor; the Majik pretty much obliterates it. If you are unsure about streaming, the Squeezebox is an affordable way to see if that is the way you want to listen to music. On the other hand if you are sure about wanting to stream, then I would recommend skipping that rung and moving up to at least a Majik.

[thedevilsbuilder]

(2011-06-25 00:02)JohnL Wrote:  Many people are using a Logitech Squeezebox either alone or with an external DAC. Any idea how the quality would compare to a Majik?

Are you in for a treat or what? Book yourself a demo of the DS range and take your little plastic friend with you

Oh, and welcome to the forum by the way.

Cheers
Paul

[Notsorich]

Welcome to the forum John,
You don't mention what makes up your system but I strongly recommend a listen to the DS range, it gets better and better.
As Paul said, you are in for a treat.

Steve

[JohnL]

(2011-06-25 00:34)notsorich Wrote:  Welcome to the forum John,
You don't mention what makes up your system but I strongly recommend a listen to the DS range, it gets better and better.
As Paul said, you are in for a treat.

Steve

I have:
Spica TC-50 speakers + B&W 600 Sub-Woofer
Audio Design 10A 100W solid-state amplifier (now defunct Canadian company created this high-quality amp.
BAT VK-3i pre-amp
Pro-Ject Debut III turntable
Cambridge Audio Azur 640C CD player

I"m trying out a Logitech squeezebox to stream my flac files from my NAS. It's pretty impressive. I'm sure it doesn't compare with the Linn stuff but I wonder if I would be spending thousands for what might be an audible but small difference as opposed to a difference that would really knock my socks off.
It has digital out so many people are using it as a streamer and hooking it up to an external high-quality app.
Also, the logitech interface is very good and there is an iphone app. How is the control interface for Linn stuff?

The nearest dealer to me is thousands of km. away so I would have to buy online without hearing whether or not it is a small or a big jump over the Logitech.

Any thoughts on my dilemma?