[Mass. Wine Guy]

I looked at the sticky on this but didn't see what I needed.

I have a two or three year old MacBook without Airplay running OS 10.6.8. I want to stream music from Spotify from here downstairs to my stereo system. What is the simplest way to achieve this? I know that there are many small devices that plug into a free input on an amp and receive music from a Mac, but I'm not sure what they are these days.

Thank you very much for your help.

[Bemopti123]

Supposedly this one sounds good....do not have to bother troubleshooting with those devices that use your own WIFI network. 

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-61023-audioengine-d2-24bit-wireless-usb-dac-receiver.aspx

But in consideration of all the affordable stuff out there, it is on the higher priced scale.  I cannot see it failing in anyway.  With others that are more affordable, you must run into problems.....like the Squeezebox stuff....affordable but hardly a walk in the park should you face dropping connections and other software related issues.  You choose your poison.

[srb]

When you say "a MacBook without AirPlay" do you mean without a built-in WiFi network adaptor?  AirPlay is audio receiving hardware that is basically equivalent to having an Apple Airport Express built in to a receiver or powered speakers.

The Airport Express can wirelessly receive content from iTunes.  If the audio is from a different source on the computer other than iTunes, such as the Spotify application, the third party software Airfoil from Rogue Amoeba can stream to an Airport Express, Apple TV or any other AirPlay-enabled device.

The Airport Express has an internal DAC as well as an opticial digital output, while the Apple TV only has an optical digital audio output and must be connected to an external DAC or a amplifier/receiver with an optical input.

So if your computer is connected to a wireless router, an Airport Express ($99) and the Airfoil program ($25) will let you stream Spotify to any location within the router's wireless range and would be your least expensive option.

Steve

[Bemopti123]

Airfoil is hardly perfect, I have downloaded it and I am getting artifacts such as slowing down of songs and other issues that I asked about and support simply says that my network has "too" many failures, meaning it is unsteady, even though there was nothing riding on my network early in the morning.  While the software ergonomics is great, the issue of its inability of a steady stream makes it for me, unsuitable to steady transmission.

[srb]

Hardly perfect applies to any wireless network transmission.  The router itself (and its location), sources of interference (neighbor's WiFi, other 2.4GHz home devices) and the number and construction of walls and floors the signal has to pass through are all significant variables.

In my home, with my router (Netgear WNDR3700) and 3 Airport Express, reception is perfect either with iTunes or with other applications running through Airfoil.

The Audioengine D2 ($600) uses the 2.4MHz band and is subject to the same interference, but monitors audio quality and will change channels if the error rate is too high.  It also will not be affected by the main WiFi network usage.  Audioengine claims > 100 ft. range although some reviews have found 60 ft. to 70 ft. is probably what to expect from real world usage.  I would also guess that the DAC in the D2 might be a bit better than the DAC in the Airport Express.  The D2 can also stream 24/96 (Airport Express is limited to 16/48), if you want to stream higher res downloads in addition to Spotify.

Steve

[Mass. Wine Guy]

Wow, thank you everybody. Yes, my MacBook has built in WiFi and Bluetooth and it connecfts fine to my LAN. Sounds like I'll try the Airport Express/Air Foil route. The Airport Express plugs into my Bel Canto integrated amp somewhere, then? The Airport Express has a 3.5 mm output jack, so how would I connect it?

[Crimson]

The Airport Express plugs into my Bel Canto integrated amp somewhere, then?

Yes. It has a 1/8" mini stereo plug/mini-toslink combo port that you can connect to your integrated via either a mini-stereo to stereo RCA cable, or via a mini-toslink to toslink cable if your integrated has a built-in dac.