RaoulJuke Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 hi gang, I'm hoping someone can point me in the direction of how i can use Spotify through my current audiophile set-up - which currently only functions for vinyl. Im sporting a Pathos Twin Tower integrated Valve/SS amp, with a Dyna-Vector phono. Speakers are Zu Soul Supreme's. I originally put the set-up together purely for vinyl but as time has gone on i have been finding myself using Spotify quite a lot to discover new tunes, which has been very enjoyable. Ive only been using a portal Bluetooth JBL speaker for spotify currently. Question is, how can i use spotify in my Pathos Twin Tower? I'm currently limited with budget so would be looking at 2 different alternatives. One a "quick fix" budget solution, but also along term solution which will work in nicely to get optimum value out of my current system. To provide some more info, I have no cd player and as i have about 1000 cd's packed away i would be interested in adding a quality cd player one day as well (in case the 2 can incorporate each other). Appreciate your advice in this, thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Fi Whipped Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 Quick cheap fix would be a google chromecast audio via analogue out to your amp. Improve quality of that by adding a dac to budget by using the same device outputting digital. longer term might be a bluesound node into a better dac. then output any disc player via digital into the same dac to play your cds at decent quality 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 (edited) This may give you both of your wishes, cd playback and Spotify in one neat unit. https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/hifi/cd-n301_g/index.html https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/hifi/cd-n301_g/features.html#product-tabs Reasonably prices at its rrp of $699, although if you do your homework a retailer perhaps can do better Neo Edited October 25, 2018 by Neo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 Your cheapest quick fix would be a stereo 3.5mm to 2xRCA cable. Connect the RCAs in to a spare line level input on the Pathos, then plug in a phone, tablet or laptop with Spotify. Not the most elegant or audiophile solution but it will get you going for a few bucks and sound better than the Bluetooth speaker. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy8 Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 What is budget? There are Bluetooth receivers from $40 to many hundreds of dollars... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chigurh Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 If you have an iphone or ipad you could use an Airport Express and Airplay. The DAC in the Airport Express is surprisingly good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wimbo Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 (edited) @raoul dukeI use a tablet and a Topping D10 DAC. The DAC is around $100. It has very good recognition for the price. Edited October 25, 2018 by Wimbo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaoulJuke Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 (edited) Thanks everyone for the input - i am really really....really prehistoric when it comes to the digital formats - they actually scare me. I was hoping to get a short term fix for about $50-100 if possible - as my fun-funds are totally exhausted (i've somehow managed to find another hobby that makes audiophile seem cheap - pinball machines ). I'm old school and tend to prefer things that i can just plug in - although i have been really impressed with the easy of the JBL bluetooth speaker with connection. I have a sonos and that thing shits me to tears with drop outs and problems connecting after every, single update. Will keep away from anything Chromecast - had 2 of those for the TV and both have broken within a few months and never connect The Topping D10 DAC sounds pretty interesting & i just googled it and i like the look - almost identical in style and size to my Dyna-Vector phono amp. Is this thing a bluetooth device or would i have to plug it into a laptop/tablet to play - or preferably, is it both? Longterm budget - I was thinking about $800-1k. I did some research some time back (before the pinball's took over) and i recall coming to a conclusion that an Oppo BR player - 103,104 or 105 - can't exactly recall - seeming to hit all the right spots and this having a DAC. Would this possibly do the trick for what i am after as well? Or for that budget is their now better options? Edited October 26, 2018 by RaoulJuke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wimbo Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 5 minutes ago, RaoulJuke said: Is this thing a bluetooth device or would i have to plug it into a laptop/tablet to play - or preferably, is it both? USB out from your device to USB input. Then RCA out to your line input on amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaoulJuke Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 The Yamaha looks pretty good too - like that it connects directly to the spotify and would be a nice neat solution for a long term fix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wimbo Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Oppo 105 should suit your needs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaoulJuke Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 1 minute ago, Wimbo said: USB out from your device to USB input. Then RCA out to your line input on amp. That sounds so simple that even i couldn't stuff it up. I've checked the illustrious Ebay and can see that there are people selling them, mainly for Kong Kong - are the obtainable locally? And are the ones from Honkers legit - or possibly a knock-off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wimbo Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 1 minute ago, RaoulJuke said: That sounds so simple that even i couldn't stuff it up. I've checked the illustrious Ebay and can see that there are people selling them, mainly for Kong Kong - are the obtainable locally? And are the ones from Honkers legit - or possibly a knock-off I got mine off Massdrop. I'm sure you could get one off the internet. But you want a CD player as well, so maybe the Oppo 105. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Oppo has tidal built in, not sure about Spotify. Neo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaoulJuke Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 1 minute ago, Wimbo said: I got mine off Massdrop. I'm sure you could get one off the internet. But you want a CD player as well, so maybe the Oppo 105. Yeah but the Oppo will put me back a $1k and i don't have that at the moment to spend on such joyous things. The Topping D10 DAC for $120 looks like something i could probably pick up now and get the ball rolling. It's size also looks perfect for me as well - won't require too much re-jigging of the cabinet/table space. Will have a look at Massdrop - thanks for your advice mate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaoulJuke Posted December 9, 2018 Author Share Posted December 9, 2018 @Wimbo -hope you are still around mate I got a new HP Laptop today so i can install the D10 driver onto it and use it through my amp. When i installed it i was still only getting a quality reading of 44.1. i've managed to get this up to 192 by going into the sound settings via windows control panel - however i am still unable to get the 384(ish) i was getting when i had it plugged through my Mac desktop - without the need to install the topping d10 driver. Do you have any advice on how i can get up to maximum quality ? What am i doing wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wimbo Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 1 hour ago, RaoulJuke said: @Wimbo -hope you are still around mate I got a new HP Laptop today so i can install the D10 driver onto it and use it through my amp. When i installed it i was still only getting a quality reading of 44.1. i've managed to get this up to 192 by going into the sound settings via windows control panel - however i am still unable to get the 384(ish) i was getting when i had it plugged through my Mac desktop - without the need to install the topping d10 driver. Do you have any advice on how i can get up to maximum quality ? What am i doing wrong? Mate, I could not for the life of me, get the topping driver to download properly. Deleted it many times and reinstalled but it won't finish installation. Because I was just using it as background music, I left it at 44.1k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaoulJuke Posted December 9, 2018 Author Share Posted December 9, 2018 ah crap! I was hoping you might hold the key! I've managed to get mine to run at 192 pretty easily - this guy gave good instructions https://www.massdrop.com/buy/topping-d10/talk/2128898 If i manage to get it to 384 i will come back and let you know what i did Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metal beat Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 (edited) Yamaha wxad-10 streamer works well for a street price of just $200. Rca outputs. I just got one and its hooked up to the big rig and it seems to work well. Control via your phone or laptop. https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/multi-room_audio/wxad-10/index.html Edited December 9, 2018 by metal beat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaoulJuke Posted December 9, 2018 Author Share Posted December 9, 2018 1 minute ago, metal beat said: Yamaha wxad-10 streamer works well for a street price of just $200. Rca outputs. I just got one and its hooked up to the big rig and it seems to work well. Control via your phone or laptop. https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/multi-room_audio/wxad-10/index.html already invested in the D10 so i am going to be stuck with that for now - hopefully i can get it up to 384 .... half way there! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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