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Need suggestions for streaming files to my stereo

Hello everyone. I'm looking for a way to stream files (AAC, ALAC, FLAC) to my home stereo. The files are on my PC laptop, or on iTunes on my iPhone etc. I pretty much exhausted my budget on my power amp and speakers so Im looking for the best budget pieces I can afford to get the music flowing for now. I currently have Kef ks50s, a Red Dragon S500, a SMSL Sanskrit, and a Google Chromecast Audio.   I'll likely pick up a Schiit SYS preamp. 

With this current setup I can only pretty much stream Pamdora, since Itunes won't work with the CCA.   It's looking like the lowest cost option available is to use different software to handle the music files such as JRiver, or PowerDVD Ultra, but I'm unsure if this is the best way?  Any other ideas, software, hardware etc?  I have an insanely low budget of around $200 left to buy the rest, let's see what you guys can think of. 
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prpixel
876 posts
 
Free Solution:
You have a Google Chromecast Audio, so use it.  Download and install Google Chrome and enable Cast.  Then you can Cast the Desktop Audio to the Chromecast.  However, it doesn't work with iTunes.  A work-around is to upload your iTunes library to Google (first 50000 songs free).

If you had an Android phone, you could use BubblePNP and just play the music stored on the phone. This is what I do.  I stuck a big ass micro-sd memory card in my phone and carry around a lot of my favorite CD's including some Hi-Res.  When they announce 2TB micro-sd, I'll be the first to pre-order.  Then I can fit my entire music library on the Phone and dump the music server.   Again, iTunes not supported.
https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6279396?hl=en&vid=0-1189761614155-1502287144843

pratorious
124 posts
 
Utilize Apple airplay with Apple Airport Express $99 (connect to preamp) and Apple Remote app free (iPhone).

Control your cumputers iTunes from iPhone with app and select your airplay speaker(s), in this case your airport express. (Your iPhone can also independently select this an airplay source for streaming if you wish.)

Then later add another wifi speaker with airplay or another airport express with an integrated amp/speakers in other rooms and control it all with your iPhone Remote app.

Works for me.
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
or refurb store Apple TV3 (not 4) - $40 with warranty
gdnrbob
4,409 posts
 
+2 for Bluesound.
B
erik_squires
15,647 posts
 
One reason not to use Bluesound: Seems to be single band WiFI.

If you can use ethernet, no problem. But most apartment dwellers are saturated with WIfi signals in the 2.4GHz band. 5GHz is far more reliable. Wired Ethernet even more so.

Best,

E
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