YK Thom Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 This week I saw NAD's announcement of a new affordable streamer they will be releasing March. I have been investigating a few different units the past few months. I have been using my old Apple TV (2nd gen) as a glorified WiFi antenna for streaming from my computer. I think this is the one. Canadian company to boot! Affordable here but really inexpensive for you lads in the states. https://nadelectronics.com/nad-electronics-announces-cs1-network-audio-streamer/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the real Duke Spinner Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 I would have to have Internetz for that .. 😒 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcn3 Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 16 hours ago, YK Thom said: This week I saw NAD's announcement of a new affordable streamer they will be releasing March. I have been investigating a few different units the past few months. I have been using my old Apple TV (2nd gen) as a glorified WiFi antenna for streaming from my computer. I think this is the one. Canadian company to boot! Affordable here but really inexpensive for you lads in the states. https://nadelectronics.com/nad-electronics-announces-cs1-network-audio-streamer/ Looks an awful like a Sonos component with a revised exterior . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YK Thom Posted January 29, 2023 Author Share Posted January 29, 2023 Just now, jcn3 said: Looks an awful like a Sonos component with a revised exterior . . . . I'm really looking forward to the reviews. The same company makes Bluesound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcn3 Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 2 minutes ago, YK Thom said: I'm really looking forward to the reviews. The same company makes Bluesound. Yep, I know. I'm surprised they came out with this. I assume it's because there are a lot of people that won't step up to get a Bluesound Node @ $600. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCG Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 Looking forward to hear the new NAD. Was wondering what is the difference between the previous node 2i and the new one in sound? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakeydeal Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 Although there is certainly room for inexpensive streamers, you get what you pay for. They don’t all sound alike, that’s fer sure…. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YK Thom Posted January 30, 2023 Author Share Posted January 30, 2023 NAD tends to be no slouch with their products. Used to have a whole set up back in the 80s I wish I still had. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YK Thom Posted January 30, 2023 Author Share Posted January 30, 2023 7 hours ago, CCG said: Looking forward to hear the new NAD. Was wondering what is the difference between the previous node 2i and the new one in sound? From what I've read the sound is pretty much the same but there are more features such a the voice assistants and such. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heresyForthe1sttime Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 I'm unfamiliar with "streamers." What does a streamer do that a mac mini powering spotify & personal collection (hard drives) achieves for me already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakeydeal Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 Well for starters, spotify is a huge bottleneck for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heresyForthe1sttime Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 Can you elaborate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakeydeal Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 The highest bit rate stream for Spotify is 320 kbps. I'd hardly call that high fidelity. If you are only using it in the car or for background music, no worries. For serious listening, it's a no go for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry4841 Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 19 minutes ago, Shakeydeal said: The highest bit rate stream for Spotify is 320 kbps. I'd hardly call that high fidelity. If you are only using it in the car or for background music, no worries. For serious listening, it's a no go for me. My go to source for serious listening is my LP collection but I have a lot of MP3's at 320 that I can just enjoy the music without being choosy. I have compared a CD to 320 and there is a difference that is noticeable in an A/B comparison but I can still enjoy my music downloaded at 320. Anything less than 320 does does not cut it for me though. As a good friend of mine with a huge music collection always said to me, musicians listen to music audiophiles listen to equipment. If I really like a 320 download I may buy the CD but for me a 320 MP3 is most of the time acceptable. For serious critical audiophiles I can understand their view of 320 MP3's though. Lacking some detail for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakeydeal Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 MP3s may be acceptable and I agree I can listen to them. But storage is cheap these days, so no reason not to store your music as FLAC or some other non compressed format. And there are at least three online streaming sources that will pass at a minimum, 16/44 quality audio. Not to mention all the many internet radio stations that now stream in FLAC. I see no reason to ever listen to 320 kbps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry4841 Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 29 minutes ago, Shakeydeal said: I see no reason to ever listen to 320 kbps. Price is my reason. https://www.mp3million.com/artists May not be the best but at least I get to hear the music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakeydeal Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 1 minute ago, henry4841 said: Price is my reason. https://www.mp3million.com/artists May not be the best but at least I get to hear the music. I get it. I pay 15.00/month for Qobuz and I consider that a bargain considering the access to most everything I want is at my fingertips. And the quality of streaming music is fast approaching that of seedees or local files. Sometimes, depending on the release, it's better than what I already own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heresyForthe1sttime Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 I think that quote says it all - listening to equipment vs. music. Very few people are capable of reliably telling the difference when between 320kbps vs. FLAC. High res audio appears to be a marketing ploy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry4841 Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 It all depends on how critical the person is. When younger I tried to find faults in program. Now I just try and enjoy the music without digging too deep into quality. Let's just say good enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakeydeal Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 27 minutes ago, heresyForthe1sttime said: I think that quote says it all - listening to equipment vs. music. Very few people are capable of reliably telling the difference when between 320kbps vs. FLAC. High res audio appears to be a marketing ploy. I don't consider FLAC to be "hi rez". If anything 16/44 should be considered native or normal resolution. And I don't think higher resolutions matter as much as the care that was taken in the actual recording process. Some 16/44 recordings can sound better than 24/192. But all MP3s are going to be behind the curve in sound quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.