audio streamers

[RogerS]

I am missing something. Reading about this item in a Mac magazine - the Pioneer N-50 audio streamer - I found myself asking 'Why?". What does this do that a computer doesn't?

http://www.whathifi.com/review/pioneer-n-50

 

[petermillard]

From the review "Solid, and superbly finished, the unit more than justifies the £500 asking price..." :shock:
Not to me! No, I just don't get it either - but then my days as a hi-fi buff are long gone, like my hearing . I suppose it's a bit more 'living-room friendly' than a small form-factor computer, but then I wonder how many people really need or want all the connectivity something like the Pioneer offers; an Airport Express doesn't cost much more than the extra £70 Pioneer want for the wireless adapter for the N-50, and has all the connectivity I need <shrug>

Differ strokes for different folks, I guess; if someone's convinced they need something like this, then companies will provide a solution - clicking on the "see all our media streamer best buys" link on that What Hi-F page throws up some truly eye-watering prices for bits of kit like this. But, like the poor man walking through the market feeling positively rich looking at all the expensive things he couldn't afford but didn't need (Kipling??) - it's not for me, thanks. Phew - there's another 700 notes saved!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I read that - quickly, admittedly - and I still don't know what it's for.

 

[Eric The Viking]

I read that - quickly, admittedly - and I still don't know what it's for.

Ditto.

The snake-oil merchants' trade is booming now that HiFi is mainly digital.

Why do I keep my DAT drives working? Because they're NOT MP3*.

But hey, feel the width...

E. (ex- BBC Audio Supervisor)

*OK, FLAC would work, but I got DAT already - why waste it?

 

[RogerS]

.....
The snake-oil merchants' trade is booming now that HiFi is mainly digital.

....

And that is why you MUST have four-core multi-stranded mega-expensive speaker cable. So that the 1's can go down core 1 to the speaker and the 0's can go down core 2. The return from the speaker works the same way. :-"

 

[Eric The Viking]

They get very upset if you make them share.

It's the same with left and right-channel electrons. They're the audio equivalent of Millwall supporters.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

It's all very well until you get a square amp stuck in the wire.

 

[RogerP]

I use my Blackberry Playbook to wirelessly stream programmes from internet stations using my home broadband whilst connected via bluetooth to my Denon hi-fi. The results satisfy me but possibly not some audiophiles. I can also stream mp3 or FLAC from the music folders on the 64gb Playbook - of course it will also simultaneously do many other things.