[bruinsfan72]

Hello all.  I am hoping I can get some feedback on the shareplay feature on the BDP units.  I am seriously considering the bdp-2, but want to be sure this feature works well, as I use alot of streaming services for music discovery and casual listening.  If the quality is similar to airplay and is relatively stable, then all is well.  I seem to recall reading somewhere that there may be some degradation in sound quality as this is a work around for the official airplay standard.  Any input would be appreciated.

[RonCH]

Hello all.  I am hoping I can get some feedback on the shareplay feature on the BDP units.  I am seriously considering the bdp-2, but want to be sure this feature works well, as I use alot of streaming services for music discovery and casual listening.  If the quality is similar to airplay and is relatively stable, then all is well.  I seem to recall reading somewhere that there may be some degradation in sound quality as this is a work around for the official airplay standard.  Any input would be appreciated.

I use the shareplay and I reckon that it works really well.  Previously I'd was using an airport express and streamed audio using the optical out from the router to my BDA-1.  Using shareplay on the BDP-1 it sounds better.

Some people have reported shareplay locking devices.  See http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=119878.msg1349779#msg1349779 .  I've not had this problem.

[gdayton]

Seeing as how Shairplay isn't a "core" feature, I'll be surprised if it's ever super stable. That being said, it works flawlessly for me, but I would be nervous about you buying a BDP based on the stability of this feature. Because it's not an Apple sanctioned implementation, it is very possible that they will change the way Airplay is handled and it will leave Shairplay in the dust.

So, consider it a bonus rather than a given.

My 2 cents.

[RonCH]

Seeing as how Shairplay isn't a "core" feature, I'll be surprised if it's ever super stable. That being said, it works flawlessly for me, but I would be nervous about you buying a BDP based on the stability of this feature. Because it's not an Apple sanctioned implementation, it is very possible that they will change the way Airplay is handled and it will leave Shairplay in the dust.

So, consider it a bonus rather than a given.

My 2 cents.

Agreed. 

I'd like to see airplay as a feature of the BDP.  I guess it's down to the business case of whether or not airplay is worth the supposed $4 per unit licensing fee ( according to Philip Elmer-DeWitt at Fortune ). 

For the time being I'm happy with shareplay. 

[gdayton]

I don't have direct knowledge of the following, but based on a friend's experience designing for apple certification, the royalty is the easy part. My understanding is that they have very strict requirements about how any of their technology is implemented, and they also require you to reapply upon even small spec revisions.

-Gary

[unincognito]

If all you wanted was the Shairplay (airplay clone) feature I would pass on a BDP-2, I don't think this one feature is worth spending the $3k the BDP-2 retails for.  Streaming isn't exactly what the BDP was intended for and of the several streaming options available to BDP users is possibly the least stable.  It was included in the firmware for two reasons, we could and if it didn't work our loyal customers would inform us of it.  It is nice to hear though that people are making use of it and appears to be working for some.

Personally I have found this feature to be no more reliable then any other streaming service (ie upnp).  Although our primary method of playback over a network might seem a little antiquated, but personally I think it is more stable (my two cents).

Cheers
Chris

[RonCH]

If all you wanted was the Shairplay (airplay clone) feature I would pass on a BDP-2, I don't think this one feature is worth spending the $3k the BDP-2 retails for.  Streaming isn't exactly what the BDP was intended for and of the several streaming options available to BDP users is possibly the least stable.  It was included in the firmware for two reasons, we could and if it didn't work our loyal customers would inform us of it.  It is nice to hear though that people are making use of it and appears to be working for some.

Personally I have found this feature to be no more reliable then any other streaming service (ie upnp).  Although our primary method of playback over a network might seem a little antiquated, but personally I think it is more stable (my two cents).

Cheers
Chris

Hi Chris,

You shouldn't be surprised that when you build a such a versatile hifi component like the BDP it’s used in ways that you don’t expect. 

For me the primary use of the BDP is as a replacement for my CD player.  All my CDs are now ripped and the files reside on a NAS.  The BDP sees the music via a Samba mount.  I control the BDP mostly via a MPD client.  This sounds great and works faultlessly.

However I also use Shareplay.  Here’s some use cases:

1.   Before I buy a CD I will listen to it, usually via Spotify on my phone.  It’s nice to stream this to the BDP.  The sound quality isn’t the same as a ripped CD, but it’s pretty good and ok for an appraisal of the CD. 
2.   I listen to some radio shows and podcasts.  I like to stream these from my phone to listen to them via the BDP.   Some of these radio shows are new music shows, so the high sound quality is welcome.   
3.   When friends share music that they have composed via soundcloud, it’s great to hear it via phone ->  BDP and my Hifi.

Before I had the BDP I just used an airport express and an optical cable in to my BDA1.  But Shareplay on the BDP sounds a lot better.

My point is that although my primary use of the BDP is as a high quality Digital Music Player, playing music over my home network,  I also really value the additional functionality of the BDP.  In particular Shareplay. 

Anyway thanks for a great piece of kit.

Ron