Explain Streaming Audio Services


The Technical Director (Bent Holter) of Hegel Music Systems in the May/June issue of The Absolute Sound (page 152) states that "CD's, Blu-Ray Discs and similar physical media will be soon obsolete". He goes on saying that "in Europe they see everything moving to streaming audio services like Spotify, WIMP and others".

Streaming audio service is a new concept for me and I do not understand what service I might use, how I would connect my audio system to a streaming audio services or even it makes any sense. What is the expected sound quality from a streaming audio service? Does a streaming source require a computer based connection or some other device?

Currently the musical source for my audio system is the Ayre CX-7eMP and the Magnum Dynalab 809t Internet tuner (connected to the Internet).

Can you please explain how a streaming audio system works, how does one connect to a streaming audio service and what service to use?. Does it make sense to do so? Does anyone have any experience using a streaming audio service? Comments?
hgeifman

Showing 1 response by tomcy6

I am not knowledgeable in this area but I'll see if I can get this started.

I believe your Magnum Dynalab is a streaming device. If you bought a wireless router, you could stream music to your MD, your iphone and any other WiFi enabled devices you own, once you get them set up properly of course.

I assume you are listening to internet radio now. That's streaming audio. Spotify and other streaming services just allow you to be more selective about what you're streaming and may offer higher quality audio, for a price of course.

If you want to get more involved in streaming you could buy a wireless router at BestBuy and for $70 or $80 one of their GeekSquad would come out and help you set up your network. Before you buy, I would talk to someone at BBuy about what you wanted to do to make sure someone there knows how to set up a high quality, high resolution music streaming network.

Hope this helps.