Hifi and streaming music.

TheMarlin

Hi All,

I’ve got a question about getting the best from streaming music. 

I’ve got an iPhone, and an Apple TV 3, Topping DAC and Apple Music subscription. I currently stream music from my phone to Apple TV, and run the digital audio out into a Topping D30 DAC and into my NVA system. 

It sounds great, and I’ve been delighted with it for the last few months, but lately I’ve noticed that the top end is very thin, likely as result of the compression Apple use. It’s bugging me now. 

It’s not the DAC, I have my CD Player set to play direct into my system, and also play via the DAC, and there is no comparison, the Toppings DAC is hugely better than the one in my CD player, very detailed and musical. So, it’s just the medium (compressed streaming music), or its the Apple TV 3. 

Can improvements be made, or is it just the limitation of the medium? Would other streaming hardware help?

I’ve been told that I should consider a Raspberry pie, based system, but confused as to what that’s all about.  For example: https://denbeke.be/blog/software/raspberry-pi-with-hifiberry-running-volumio-an-awesome-music-streamer/

and, how would this solve my problem?


What other options do I have? What hardware are you guys using for streaming?  

For reference, I mostly use vinyl, I use streaming music for convenience and to listen to new music....

SouthpawMark

Tidal is really good. 

Rocker

My gut instinct is that the limit of Apple Music has been reached by your system. Added to the fact that you are used to listening to good sounding music, compression will very apparent on your system. Tidal as already suggested would be an improvement but their music has limited variety available. Or at least it was limited when I last checked it out. 

Axe_meister

Alas sometime you have to EQ the source. Obviously if the frequency is not there in the first place boosting the frequency will do nothing.

richardhomer

I’ve compared Tidal lossless with CDs converted to FLAC files on a NAS drive using a Naim streamer - Tidal is pretty close.

TheMarlin

richardhomer said:

I’ve compared Tidal lossless with CDs converted to FLAC files on a NAS drive using a Naim streamer - Tidal is pretty close.

What’s a NAS Drive?

richardhomer

TheMarlin said:

richardhomer said:

I’ve compared Tidal lossless with CDs converted to FLAC files on a NAS drive using a Naim streamer - Tidal is pretty close.

What’s a NAS Drive?

It’s a network attached storage drive - plugged into my router. 

Axe_meister

And certain HiFI specialists will sell you a "Special" Hi-Fi version that apparently gives you better bass response LOL

fretmeister

Axe_meister said:

And certain HiFI specialists will sell you a "Special" Hi-Fi version that apparently gives you better bass response LOL

And a £5000 Kettle lead to power it, because magic!

Rocker

The OP mentioned a Raspberry Pie system.  This will work if the music is ripped to a large hard drive.  Not sure if it allows streaming.  Those devices are very cheap, the magazine that explain the how to use it costs almost as much as the device itself.

Axe_meister

I used to stream video from a Pi. The low bit rates of audio should cause no problem what so ever.

TheMarlin

I like the flexibility of using Apple Music subscription, plus I have a family account, so family use it.

Im stuck with Apple Music. Will swapping Apple TV for some other dedicated hardware make improvements, or am I just hearing the compression, and that’s as good as it gets?  

Winny_Pooh

Spotify do a family account for only £15...and you can roughly set playback bit rates. No audio quality issues.

springhead

Rocker said:

The OP mentioned a Raspberry Pie system.  This will work if the music is ripped to a large hard drive.  Not sure if it allows streaming.  Those devices are very cheap, the magazine that explain the how to use it costs almost as much as the device itself.

I run Volumio on a Pi.  It'll stream from a NAS, or a home DLNA media network. Also does Spotify.  Not sure if you can just stream from your phone, have a look on the Volumio website and see if anyone has made it do that.  It's basically a tuned version of Linux optimised for glitch free audio playback.  So doesn't have to be a Pi.  However Raspberry Pi's present audio in I2S format on the motherboard which enables you to sit a piggy back high quality DAC on top.  Use of I2S means no conversion from USB or SPDIF so minimal electronics apart from the DAC which also helps with audio quality.  It'll play back compressed, linear, FLAC or whatever and you can control it from an embedded web server via your phone or tablet, or a dedicated app.  Mine lives next to the HiFi with a 256GB USB stick in it full of music, rather than streaming.  For something like £50 you've got a very neat little very high quality audio playback device.  IQAudio in Glasgow make very nice DAC's and headphone/speaker amps for Pi's. 

prowla

You could try using lossless recordings.

Snap

I A/B tested Tidal and Spotify through various bits of kit, including good DACs for a month. My conclusion was that Tidal is no better than Spotify on the Extreme setting.

mudslide73

I use Spotify, Chromecast Audio and optical connection straight into the amp. (Marantz and Q Acoustics). I've AB'd against PBthal 192 vinyl rips and it's not worth the hassle to me. Obviously years of crash and ride in my right ear have rendered me completely mutton.

TheMarlin

Just a quick update. The Apple TV I was using was locked to previous owner, the gimp didn’t reset it before selling on eBay. 
As a result, I was using Bluetooth to connect to it (and stream music), and this is the source of the compression and loss of top end. 
I factory reset the Apple TV, set it up properly with internet access, and now the music streams through the Apple TV via Wi-fi. The result is way better audio, almost up there with my very nice CD player. 

Was a a case of RTFM.  All sorted now. Very happy with the quality. 

Thanks for the replies. 

Marlin