Hello. Debating on getting streamer or using AIR from a dedicated Mac. From reading the forums it looks like AIR is at least equal to most streamers in the 1-2K range when it comes to sound quality. Assuming that this is the case, will this setup work well?
Router - ethernet cable - D200 - speakers
Control it via my Macbook pro via wifi
The streaming proposition is moving at a hell of a pace whereas the AIR proposition has been static for quite a while albeit from a high starting point.
A poll on here seemed to place AIR ahead of streaming but that was, on average, a few months ago.
AIR, whether wifi or ethernet, has stability problems (white noise or crackles or dropouts), and based on data on here it appears to affect about 50% of users, some in a minor way and some much more significantly.
I suggest you try AIR ethernet first as, when stable, the sound is absolutely superb and it will cost you little. And at some point I hope Devialet will fix the stability issue.
(26-Mar-2015, 22:58)actx76092 Wrote: [ -> ]Hello. Debating on getting streamer or using AIR from a dedicated Mac. From reading the forums it looks like AIR is at least equal to most streamers in the 1-2K range when it comes to sound quality. Assuming that this is the case, will this setup work well?
Router - ethernet cable - D200 - speakers
Control it via my Macbook pro via wifi
Your last question " will it work well?". That appears to be a case of pot luck. Some people have no problems with AIR and others have a lot of problems as Ian highlights above.
If you are one of the lucky ones and have no issues then AIR sounds sublime in my opinion. I have not tested it against a streamer, but I have compared it to my CD player and its much better than that.
A streamer is also something that I am considering, but if AIR was more stable for me I would definitely stick with this for a while at least.
I have the same debate going on in my head....would a streamer give me a significant step up? Only way to find out is to compare.
Like I say if you are lucky and have no issues with AIR i am sure you will be more than impressed.
AIR over Ethernet is working great for me. I have heard the crackles a couple times, but a power cycle on my 250 cures it.
since last couple of hours on AIR_ETH + Macbook-air- Not a single drop out and its all good SQ too!
very soon will be on Bluesound Node (thanks to HK for his thread) only because i don't want to manage from my macbook air for audio purposes.
I just switched from using AIR ETH and USB with a Mac Mini to a Moon Mind 180 streamer and the sound quality difference is noticeable. The streamer sounds better. It just seems a little smoother on the top end, a little less harsh and simply conveys music in a more natural sounding manner. After three days of listening and going back to my top 20-30 tracks as reference, vocals seems more natural sounding with a wider more spatial sound.
Perhaps once the AIR software issue is resolved, I may decide to revisit using AIR but for the time being I am happy to be able to get better quality sound from a streamer, removing the computer from the equation and reintroducing UPnP to the mix.