![]() With its excellent companion app, the Wiim Pro delivers easy access to a ton of streaming services, including Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music, Pandora, Deezer, SoundCloud, TuneIn radio, and the list goes on. Like the Sonos Port, the Wiim Pro is stacked with connection options, physical and wireless, including RCA line in and out (for connecting external sources like turntables and CD players that can then be streamed out through the system), coax, SPDIF optical in/out, LAN, Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Bluetooth, Chromecast, and more. But he's about the most knowledgable person we know in this area, so you can trust his review of the formidable $149 Wiim Pro.Ī direct competitor to Sonos' popular Port (it's kind of a carbon copy, really), the Wiim Pro is a bare-bones black box that isn't much to look at, design-wise. Our own Simon Cohen is a certified digital music aficionado, and a hard nut to crack when it comes to getting him to cop to the virtues of analog formats like vinyl (we have yet to). Its $450 price puts it smack in midrange territory. You’ll also be able to download the MusicCast app (for iOS and Android) to control the streamer with your smartphone or tablet, as well as link the WXC-50 to other wireless Yamaha gear for multi-room audio. You can connect to the WXC-50 using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or via wired Ethernet, and the device supports several popular streaming platforms, including Spotify Connect, Pandora, and SiriusXM. Sadly, there is no native support for Apple Music, Qobuz, or Amazon Music. Outfitted with a ESS Sabre DAC and an onboard music enhancer for touching up your MP3s, the name of the game is precise and rich sound at a price that doesn’t frighten. It also has a pretty small footprint and can be mounted vertically to save even more space. When it comes to overall performance, features, and value, we believe the Yamaha WXC-50 is a great mid-priced option for users looking for a network streamer that includes a built-in preamp, making it ideal for those of us who want to dedicate all our AV ins, outs, and EQ to a single device. ![]() No, it’s not cheap, but if you’re looking for a music streamer that can handle just about anything, the Cambridge Audio CXN V2 is the component for the job. You can also download the StreamMagic app (iOS and Android) to control and customize your CXN. Outputs include balanced XLR, line level, and coaxial and optical. There’s also native support for Spotify, Tidal, and Qobuz platforms. With Wi-Fi and LAN network connectivity, the CXN V2s inputs include two USB-A ports and a USB-B port, as well as optical and coaxial. Supported hi-res formats include FLAC, ALAC, WAV, PCM, and DSD, and you’ll be able to stream your tunes via Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, Chromecast, UpNp, and Roon. Under its sexy brushed metal finish are two 24-bit Wolfson DACs, partitioned internals for the best noise and distortion reduction in town, and a maximum playback resolution of 24-bit/384kHz. Whichever way you go, if you're new to the world of network music streamers, choosing can be tricky, so we've put together this list of some of the best to help you make your decision.ĭo you expect nothing but supreme audio quality from your network music streamer? For those of us with big listening expectations and money to spare, the Cambridge Audio CXN V2 comes from the esteemed British audio makers and should be your premium network streamer of choice. Some network music streamers have their own built-in amplifiers so you just need to add speakers, while most are meant to bring all that excellent digital sound to your existing system. Connectivity options with network music streamers are vast, making them easy to hook up through input/outputs such as RCA, optical, USB, XLR, HDMI, Bluetooth, AirPlay, Chromecast, and many more. These internet-connected devices come in all shapes, sizes, budgets, and capabilities, and they work with the latest and best streaming music subscription services, from Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal to Amazon Music, Qobuz, Deezer, and more. ![]() Whether your home hi-fi system is a beautiful vintage receiver and speakers, a modern pair of powered speakers, or something in between, adding a dedicated network music streamer to your setup is one of the best ways to bring hi-quality digital music from your streaming services or local files to life.
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