Think I mentioned in another thread that I would be adding a streaming box to my 15-yr-old Yamaha receiver, since it's working again. It arrived on Friday:
I'd been eyeing the Wiim boxes, but after watching a lot of EweTube reviews it sounded like the actual DAC in each got better as you went up in cost, and the Wiim Ultra sounded very good and included a video screen (and a bunch of other stuff) for $330. Then I learned the Wiim Mini, Pro, and Pro Plus all work with Apple Airplay, but the Ultra does not! That was very surprising to me (I think it has something to do with bit-depth). So, I kept looking, and this unit went on sale for $399 (from $499), all-metal construction, and Cambridge has been in business since the 80's, Wiim is a Chinese company who have a fantastic performance/price ratio but could be gone overnight. The apps by both companies were supposedly very good. The Cambridge also had digital outs, so I could use it just as a streamer and try different DACs (like the gorgeous Geshelli Labs J2:
...should I choose to, although that would leave an expensive DAC in the Cambridge unused (and after careers in explosives and bar bands, and two-tone tinnitus, would my 65-yr-old ears even hear a difference? I miss my early years/ears...).
Anyway, I got this installed in my rack and wired up, and spent wayyy too long trying to get it, my WIFI, computer and phone to all talk together. Finally did, and it sounds great. The CA app that comes with it is called StreamMagic, and it is very easy to use both on my phone, tablet and laptop. It also works with/routes many streaming services, like Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, and Roon, so I only need the one icon on my phone or Dock. I've played specific albums, and internet radio stations, from StreamMagic, and it works well.
I have an Apple service which combines Apple TV+ and Apple Music for $20/mo; I haven't really gotten into any of the programs offered on TV+ so will either drop to just Apple Music, or go with something else. I'm also on a 2-month trial with Tidal, was going to go with Spotify but I understand they pay musicians the lowest of any of the streaming services, AND using AI to generate "songs" to recommend; not a big fan of that at all. Saw a video from a year ago, and Tidal offered a lossless, CD-quality service for $12/mo, and Hi-Res/MQL for $19.99/mo, plus a $5.99/mo rate for Military! When I signed up they only had the Lossless service offered, and no military discount anymore. I sent them an email on Sunday, they replied first thing Monday morning, cool! Did some more digging and some are claiming their Hi-Rez/MQL was actually a lossy format, so I'm not too worried about it. I'll play with these two for a couple months and decided which one (both?) to keep. I may also try Qobuz, which some have praised (what do you guys use?).
I'm still using my Logitech "Harmony One", but I can't program the Cambridge into it anymore. I do have to turn my receiver on manually then select "Audio 2" to play the Cambridge, but found that if I cover the IR emitter on the Harmony One and select "Phono", that gives me volume and mute control over the receiver, plus the ability to turn it off, from my armchair, sweet.
Finally, this morning my power went out, then came back on a minute later, then cycled again five minutes later, and then again; at this point I turned off the TV, unplugged all my audio equipment, and the refrigerator. It cycled a couple more times, burned out an LED light in my living room, and then my year-old HVAC system wouldn't come back on (it did after an hour after the last cycle, that's probably programmed-in as a protection feature). I plugged my audio rack back in, and the Wifi light on the Cambridge stayed dark. I opened up StreamMagic on my phone, and it kept saying "Searching for Device", dammit was I going to have to figure that out again?!? Then remembered I had programmed two of the Preset buttons on the Cambridge; pressed one and the Wifi light came to life, and the device now showed up on the phone; whew. And what's up with 'net radio stations? Some are the actual broadcasts, complete with local commercials, while others are fully commercial-free; how do they make their money?
First new piece of audio gear in 15 years, this was fun! (mostly)
I'd been eyeing the Wiim boxes, but after watching a lot of EweTube reviews it sounded like the actual DAC in each got better as you went up in cost, and the Wiim Ultra sounded very good and included a video screen (and a bunch of other stuff) for $330. Then I learned the Wiim Mini, Pro, and Pro Plus all work with Apple Airplay, but the Ultra does not! That was very surprising to me (I think it has something to do with bit-depth). So, I kept looking, and this unit went on sale for $399 (from $499), all-metal construction, and Cambridge has been in business since the 80's, Wiim is a Chinese company who have a fantastic performance/price ratio but could be gone overnight. The apps by both companies were supposedly very good. The Cambridge also had digital outs, so I could use it just as a streamer and try different DACs (like the gorgeous Geshelli Labs J2:
...should I choose to, although that would leave an expensive DAC in the Cambridge unused (and after careers in explosives and bar bands, and two-tone tinnitus, would my 65-yr-old ears even hear a difference? I miss my early years/ears...).
Anyway, I got this installed in my rack and wired up, and spent wayyy too long trying to get it, my WIFI, computer and phone to all talk together. Finally did, and it sounds great. The CA app that comes with it is called StreamMagic, and it is very easy to use both on my phone, tablet and laptop. It also works with/routes many streaming services, like Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, and Roon, so I only need the one icon on my phone or Dock. I've played specific albums, and internet radio stations, from StreamMagic, and it works well.
I have an Apple service which combines Apple TV+ and Apple Music for $20/mo; I haven't really gotten into any of the programs offered on TV+ so will either drop to just Apple Music, or go with something else. I'm also on a 2-month trial with Tidal, was going to go with Spotify but I understand they pay musicians the lowest of any of the streaming services, AND using AI to generate "songs" to recommend; not a big fan of that at all. Saw a video from a year ago, and Tidal offered a lossless, CD-quality service for $12/mo, and Hi-Res/MQL for $19.99/mo, plus a $5.99/mo rate for Military! When I signed up they only had the Lossless service offered, and no military discount anymore. I sent them an email on Sunday, they replied first thing Monday morning, cool! Did some more digging and some are claiming their Hi-Rez/MQL was actually a lossy format, so I'm not too worried about it. I'll play with these two for a couple months and decided which one (both?) to keep. I may also try Qobuz, which some have praised (what do you guys use?).
I'm still using my Logitech "Harmony One", but I can't program the Cambridge into it anymore. I do have to turn my receiver on manually then select "Audio 2" to play the Cambridge, but found that if I cover the IR emitter on the Harmony One and select "Phono", that gives me volume and mute control over the receiver, plus the ability to turn it off, from my armchair, sweet.
Finally, this morning my power went out, then came back on a minute later, then cycled again five minutes later, and then again; at this point I turned off the TV, unplugged all my audio equipment, and the refrigerator. It cycled a couple more times, burned out an LED light in my living room, and then my year-old HVAC system wouldn't come back on (it did after an hour after the last cycle, that's probably programmed-in as a protection feature). I plugged my audio rack back in, and the Wifi light on the Cambridge stayed dark. I opened up StreamMagic on my phone, and it kept saying "Searching for Device", dammit was I going to have to figure that out again?!? Then remembered I had programmed two of the Preset buttons on the Cambridge; pressed one and the Wifi light came to life, and the device now showed up on the phone; whew. And what's up with 'net radio stations? Some are the actual broadcasts, complete with local commercials, while others are fully commercial-free; how do they make their money?
First new piece of audio gear in 15 years, this was fun! (mostly)
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