Pandora One on Home Audio System


Sorry if this has been covered before. I tried doing a search but couldn't find relevant threads.

My home system is relatively modest: An NAD C 725BEE receiver driving vintage JSE Infinite Slope Model 1.2's.

We are playing Pandora through an iPod and the NAD IPD 2 dock.

We've upgraded to Pandora One, but can't get the higher bitrate audio through the iPod (or even the 128k). We don't really want to hook up a laptop or PC to the system.

What device can receive the Pandora One and other streaming music services at maximum bitrate through our home network? It would be easy to run an Ethernet cable to the receiver if wireless won't do.

My budget isn't unlimited but I want the best sound possible through the rest of my system.

Thanks in advance.
nicholas_fivepennies

Showing 3 responses by hgeifman

If I upgrade to Pandora One ($36 per year) will my Oppo 105 Blu-Ray player stream music at 192k as provided by Pandora One (service upgrade option)? It makes no sense to upgrade if the Oppo 105 will not handle 192k streaming.
Pandora reports that 192k streaming is not available on Blu-Ray players like the OPPO 105. From Pandora, the specs regarding audio quality on Pandora are:

Free Pandora is 64k AAC+ on the web.

Pandora One subscribers get the option of 192k MP3 on the Web and when using the AIR Desktop App.

Most Home-listening devices get 128k MP3 – whether the account is free or paid.

Cell phones get anywhere from 24k to 64k in mono or stereo, depending on the phone, carrier, connection type, and in some cases the user setting.

The primary benefit of upgrading to Pandora One is no commercials. As of now, most in-home devices, including the OPPO 105, stream audio at 128 kbps whether or not your account is upgraded or not. The primary feature of upgrading your account is to remove all ads from your playlists.
A copy of the Product enhancement Request Email I sent to Pandora regarding Pandora One offering 192k Streaming on Blu-Ray players and other in-home devices. If you are interested in having Pandora One offer 192k streaming, please go to their web page and submit a request.

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I am an audiophile and music quality is very important to me. Pandora One subscribers get the option of 192k MP3 on the Web and when using the AIR Desktop App BUT these people are NOT listing to Pandora One on a high quality audio system where 192k MP3 would sound much better than the lower speeds.

From a business and revenue viewpoint, "It seems strange to have the BEST bit-rate available on the web as most people are listening to that through comparatively low fidelity systems". It is my opinion that if Pandora One offered the 192k on these various in-home devices and Blu-Ray players, many people would easily pay the $36 per year subscription fee that would help grow your revenue stream. I would pay the $36 the minute the service is available.

I would like to submit an "product enhancement request" for Pandora One to offer 192k bit-rate streaming for Blu-Ray players like my Oppo Digital 105. Of course, I do not know the cost to make these software changes but I strongly feel that Pandora would get increased subscribers by providing this product enhancement.

You mentioned that the primary benefit of upgrading to Pandora One is no commercials. For me, I would rather pay the $36 for the higher quality bti-rate for a better sounding experience.

Audiogon is a an audiophile web site and there are several postings regarding Pandora One on Home Audio Systems.

Based on my research to date, many audiophiles would be very interested in Pandora One if it offered 192k Streaming on Blu-Ray players and other similar in-home devices.

I am hoping that Pandora Product Development can review and consider my enhancement request.