Newbie questions - Seeking a streamer with the right features - I'm confused!


OK, here is the situation.

I have a boatload of CDs I want to rip to disk and be able to stream.  I also intend to add to my music library by purchasing digital music files.

I want to "playback" digital music in two ways:

1) Connect the output of the streamer to my Parasound P5 preamp.  This preamp has both DAC digital inputs, as well as analog inputs (In other words, this preamp has an internal DAC).  Most streamers I see online have digital outputs, that I can connect to the DAC input on my preamp.  Some streamers have internal DACS, and have analog outputs as well, though it seems wasteful to pay for another DAC.  I want music played back via this method to have the maximum possible fidelity.  At any rate, for this method of playback, I think I understand my options.

2) THIS is where I get confused.  I would also like to stream music from the streamer, to remote speakers in my house.  Can this be done over my local Wi-Fi network, or would the streamer have to be able to stream to Bluetooth?  What streamers out there can do this?  I know I would have to purchase special remote speakers.  I am really confused about my options here.  It's OK if the music streaming via this method not be the best quality, just reasonable quality.

The most I can afford to spend on a streamer is $3000, MAX.  Is there anything out there that I can perform both use cases above?  Given my confusion, I suspect I have some sort of fundamental misunderstanding.

btanchors

Showing 3 responses by btanchors

In response to sbank's questions:

I am trying to get the best sound quality within my budget - which is up to $3,000 for the streamer solution.

I already have a NAS.  All I need is the right streaming solution.

Thanks for the responses - but so far no one has addressed the #2 use case.  How do I stream from a streamer to remote speakers?  Does this happen over Wi-Fi, or over Blue Tooth?  I noticed the Roon solution seems to be proprietary via WiFi.

So in other words, I want to stream via a hard-wired connection between the streamer and my stereo - that part's easy.  The question is can I also stream to remote speakers?  If so, what streaming solutions allow me to do this?

thyname-

I have not purchased remote speakers yet - pending whatever solution I get for this capability.  I figured I would purchase the remote speakers after I figure out what the base solution is.  At this point,  I don't know whether I would need roon speakers, bluetooth speakers, or what.

Once I get the main solution determined, I will get remote speakers that will enable remote listening with that solution.  By the way, the $3000 limit I mentioned does not include the cost of remote speakers - I know the remote speakers will be extra cost.  Also - the sound quality when playing music remotely does not have to be Audiophile quality - just "good" quality.  I do want audiophile quality when listening hard-connected to my main audio system, though.

With this in mind, any ideas or recommendations for a solution?

I live in a three-story house.  The audio system, which is where the streamer would reside, is in the basement.  The remote speakers would mostly be on the first floor, one floor above the basement, or possibly outside, on my deck.  Both of these locations are well within strong signal range for Wi-Fi, but I am not sure how well it would work via Blue Tooth.

A wired solution won't work - I am hoping to have some sort of wireless solution.  Fortunately, I don't care if the wireless sound is audiophile quality.

Any thoughts on which solution - Bluesound, Sonos, etc., would be better?  I do not need to stream to both main speakers and remote speakers simultaneously.

What I want is to be able to "call up" music to be played on the remote speakers from an iPad or iPhone from the first floor without having to go downstairs into the basement to fiddle with the streamer.