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Pandora again, and now Spotify too...

For the last several years we have been streaming happily Pandora and Spotify (along with Qobuz) on an LMS (Logitech Media Server) streamer (Magna HiFi Mano Ultra), with an RME DAC, on our decent home stereo system.  Recently LMS became Lyrion, and the plugins which enabled Pandora and Spotify access and streaming became inoperational with no substitutes or remedies that I can find.  Qobuz is still streaming fine, but it is my understanding that perhaps due to artist royalty issues the only way to stream Pandora and Spotify in their top native resolutions is via their apps or when logged in directly to their sites via a browser.

I found no audio streamers or platforms (e.g., Roon, Jplay) which support these two services.  Could not even ask the question on the Volumio site without a subscription...

First of all please correct me if I'm wrong... I'd love to be wrong here.

However, if I'm right, I am coming to the conclusion that the only way to stream these two services at their best quality (with no upsampling from USB) on our system is to stream them on a computer with a good sound card which has digital coax output which I would route to my DAC.

If the latter makes sense to anybody, can you please recommend a good sound card and basic computer, I assume a Windows desktop it can be installed in.  Would love to use a Mac but am not aware of any current "open chassis" models which would accept a separate sound card.

Any thoughts and ideas are appreciated!

Cheers, Yoram

yoramguy1
norton
106 posts
 

I got started with Pandora and also really liked their set up with their stations. I use a Grace digital on one of my set up and can't beat it for the price. 

elliottbnewcombjr
7,826 posts
 

@cleeds 

I prefer FREE, and Good Enough, preferring compressed has nothing to do with it for me.

yoramguy1 OP
90 posts
 

UPDATE:  Finally... purchased a WiiM Ultra (on Crutchfield) and connected it to the RME ADI-2 via regular shielded USB 2.0 cable, and to my router via Ethernet cable.

Very impressed from the get go.  It looks very well built and comes beautifully packed with several cables (including HDMI, but no USB) and a remote.

Hookup and setup including the app were very simple and easy.  Since we will be using it as digital transport only with app control I didn't bother unpacking the remote.  Enabled the 3 services we use - Pandora, Qobuz and Spotify, all with subscription - with the app.  Duplicating my app setup on my wife's iPhone took maybe 30 seconds.

The most important stuff:
All 3 services were accessible immediately (just enter your login info) and they stream flawlessly in their top native resolutions.
The sound quality through the RME DAC is superb.  I am too lazy to run an A-to-B listening comparison vs. the Mano (possible only with Qobuz), but the WiiM sound quality running as digital transport with the same DAC seems every bit as good (pun intended).

So, our conundrum that prompted this thread is solved!

Very pleased and grateful for all the good advice here that steered us in this direction.  Cheers!

thecarpathian's avatar
thecarpathian
6,194 posts
 

@yoramguy1 ,

Another happy ending!

I've had a WiiM Ultra sitting unopened since last December.

This will give me incentive to finally hook it up.

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