Proud audiophiles, i have a situation that i can’t seem to find a proper solution for.
My setup:
Speakers: KEF Q900 flourstanders; Amplifier: Audiolab 6000A; Loudspeaker cables: Monster (yeah yeah, i know); TV: Sony Bravia XR-55X93K.
I found out that the optical connection on the tv only supports 16-bit/44.1kHz, while the connection on the audiolab supports 24-bit/192kHz. Now i know that let’s say Spotify doesn’t supports Hi-Res, but i do have a usb-stick that has albums on it that do.
From my perspective there are a couple of options:
- A Google Chromecast audio, which supports up to 24-bit/96kHz (that’s fine by me, still sounds great). Problem: that’s REALLY hard to get here in The Netherlands
- A dedicated network streamer, such as the Argon Audio Solo
- A HDMI (e)Arc extractor.
Does anybody have experience with one of the above or maybe another solution? Would like to hear your advice!
Many ways to skin this cat.
Wired
You can get a USB to SPDIF converters https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/phiree-u2s-2019-douk-audio-u2-review-and-measurements-digital-usb-to-s-pdif-interfaces.29765/ at a decent price tag. You store the audio on a PC and connect to the Audiolab over SPDIF using the converter.
Wireless
You connect a WiiM mini to your amp using SPDIF (Toslink). Store your audio on any UPnP/DLNA compatible device in your home network. This might be Windows (win media sharing = DLNA) but your router or NAS might do the job as well.
First, get rid of the Monster Cable and try some 10 or 12ga wire from Home Depot. Seriously.
Second, the Chromecast Audio sounds like shit, even digital out. A Wiim isn’t the best sounding streamer in the world, though it’s absolutely decent, but it’s far better than the Chromecast.
Finally, I have an LG OLED, optical out, into a Benchmark DAC2 HGC. Using it for music, it sounds like shit. Do a real streamer.
A Raspberry Pi should do the job if you don’t mind a little setup.
44.1/16 and 96/24 is the same in the sense that it’s impossible to hear any difference. So don’t worry about that part.
Get a Wiim Pro Plus Streamer. It’s amazing at $220 and comes with an outstanding AKM DAC if you want to use a line input on the Audiolab, or if you have a digital coax input on the Audiolab, the Wiim Pro for $150.
I have been using a Wiim Pro since last New Years Eve. I have it connected to my Denafrips Hermes DDC feeding a Pontus II DAC via i2s and it sounds glorious and the Wiim app is a joy to use. Wiim issues updates to features and bug fixes weekly. I auditioned streamers up to $2500 and the streamer that I liked the best was the Wiim Pro. Sure it doesn’t have a big pretty screen on the front of it, but the Wiim app on a 10 inch tablet beats the little screens in the front of far more expensive streamers and I can take the tablet wherever I’m sitting.
In all fairness, I have my Wiim Pro connected via coax to a Denafrips Hermes DDC hooked to a Denafrips Pontus II DAC via i2s. With the admittedly $1400 Hermes DDC I already own, the Wiim rocks listening to streaming services. I don’t use the Wiim for my NAS drive 12TB audio collection. For that, I use a Core i7 player/server running JRiver Media Center.