[sportflyer]

Currently I am streaming music from my computer to the AV system via Ethernet. I am currently using the Onkyo NR3007 Receiver as interface and DAC . I could also use my WDTV Live ( Toslink output  to receiver so using the Receiver's DAC)

I plan to buy an external DAC which will be used as ext. DAC for the CD player. I would also like to use the DAC  for streamed music but what to use as interface between the DAC and the data coming down the ethernet pipe? I can of course use the WDTV Live and feed the digital output to the DAC via Toslink . WDTV Live is great for Movies but how good it is for music?  I don't hear anyone talk about WDTV Live from a 2  ch Music standpoint.

I know many people use the  Squeezebox Touch as a standalone  interface with an ext DAC.  Is the Touch better than the WDTV Live? Are there other alternatives?

Thanks

[eclein]

I don't know about the WD solution but I do know that the SB is made specifically for audio and it always on several major publications yearly lists as top product in its area of expertise. For $299 it just works and works very well for me. I use it wired as its the best way unless your building dictates otherwise.

I know there are other solutions but usually cost a considerable amount more to get the features a $299 SB brings natively...like 24/96 playback. I use it with a DAC and sometimes without as I enjoy the sound of its own internal DAC as do others. $299 vs. $1000 which seems to be the next best solutions price range is just too big a difference. It all depends on your budget I guess but the SB leaves money for me to buy other audio stuff. 

[Phil A]

I have not looked at the latest WD stuff but beware.  A couple of years back I had a Zune player and was doing WMA lossless as the older WD player indicated it was WMA compatible.  After a year and about 4,300 songs were done, I took it out of the box to discover it had conversion software which required the WMA to be converted to MP3s.  It did it at 320bps but when it was played it would only do 128bps.  I listened to two songs and decided it was useless for audio.  I had some vacation picture and played with that on the 100 inch screen but decided to just give it to a friend.  I got the Squeezebox Touch a few months later.

[pardales]

Since there needs to be a computer in the picture somewhere in the home (to receive internet radio, house music files, receive software updates, etc.) one solution you can look at is either of Audioengines wireless products which allow you to connect your computer to your DAC, receiver, or powered speakers wirelessly, wherever your computer is in your home. The D2 and the W3 are the models I am referring to.

[sportflyer]

I was just wondering whether I can use my Onkyo Receiver as a network audio player by simply extracting the Audio from its HDMI output and feeding that to an external DAC. Wouldn't that be similar to a Squeezebox with ext DAC? There several of these de-embedders around with Toslink output so hirez is limited to what Toslink can provide. I think monoprice might even have one with both Toslink and SPDIF outputs

[mitch stl]

Not familiar with your Onkyo receiver, but what's your interface for selecting music for playback?

It's one thing to stream and decode a music file, but you also need a system for organizing, finding and selecting the music. Could your Onkyo search the music computer drive to play your music?

I've got a Squeezebox Touch and can control it from the Touch itself, any of my computers, the remote that came with the Touch as well as my Kindle Fire and cell phone. Once you get your system setup, the Touch is wonderfully easy to use. I think it is a steal for $300 (and you can get them for less if you shop carefully.)

[sportflyer]

Currently I am using Serviio Console to manage the music content. ( via DLNA) .

I think I will end up with a  Squeezebox Touch for music. The network music players with Audiophile names are way too expensive for me.