Bowers & Wilkins sound system ...... Ouch ....

[CatmanV2]

I've just had a small crisis! Awesome setup C.

I never knew that Cyrus would have stepped into the streaming area. Do you stream off a Cyrus device, or, does it read off a networked hard drive or something else?

I bet it sounds beautiful. Monitor Audio have always produced lovely speakers, they are a favourite of mine.

How odd, when i think beautiful floorstanders I always think of a family friend's Vienna Acoustics which are stunning.

All the music (including the 24 bit stuff) lives on a Buffalo terastation in the eaves. I have another copy on the laptop and wrote a script to sync them up. I think it sounds jaw dropping, but you do tend to run up against the edge of the recording quality more often than perhaps you might like. Seriously, if you want to wander over some time for a play, just let me know.

Adam, when I first got into HiFi I *so* wanted an Cyrus one, and the 707's were *the* speaker to match. So much so, I'm keep getting tempted by a 1 to drive the speakers in the garden

C

 

[Felonious Crud]

Adam, when I first got into HiFi I *so* wanted an Cyrus one, and the 707's were *the* speaker to match. So much so, I'm keep getting tempted by a 1 to drive the speakers in the garden

C

I still wish I hadn't sold it.

Anyone here using Sonos?

 

[CatmanV2]

I still wish I hadn't sold it.

Anyone here using Sonos?

Yep. Got one of those before the Cyrus streamer. Super thing. Doesn't sound anything like as good as the Cyrus (which is as bloody well!) but stunningly clever

C

 

[Felonious Crud]

I'm after something for the garden. And the house, for that matter. I need a way of using my library of Apple format stuff which lives on PC and i*. I'll bend your ear some time, if I may.

 

[CatmanV2]

I'm after something for the garden. And the house, for that matter. I need a way of using my library of Apple format stuff which lives on PC and i*. I'll bend your ear some time, if I may.

It would be a pleasure. If you're ever in the area, you're more than welcome to listen / play / have a dram. Failing that I'll PM you my mobile.

C

 

[Felonious Crud]

Top chap, thanks C. PM mobile in any case will you, and likewise if you find yourself in the Boondocks and in need of a brew or stronger.

 

[CatmanV2]

It is done, sir!

C

 

[rossyl]

I will be getting a Sonos system in the new house. I just don't see anything else on the market for Multi-room Multi-zone that compares. Their App for mobiles is also excellent, allowing you to stream directly off your phone.

Unless of course there's something better out there?

 

[CatmanV2]

I will be getting a Sonos system in the new house. I just don't see anything else on the market for Multi-room Multi-zone that compares. Their App for mobiles is also excellent, allowing you to stream directly off your phone.

Unless of course there's something better out there?

Possibly, but I'm not aware of it. There's plenty that *sound* better (Cyrus for example) but the real party trick of the Sonos is the party mode stuff

C

 

[Maser Sod]

Adam, when I first got into HiFi I *so* wanted an Cyrus one, and the 707's were *the* speaker to match. So much so, I'm keep getting tempted by a 1 to drive the speakers in the garden.

The Cyrus 1 was my first real hifi upgrade back in the late 80's. I remember spending nearly all my Uni grant on that and a pair of Linn Kanns.

These days I have a Cyrus 8, with an Eastern Electric MiniMax tube DAC, and a pair of KEF LS50 monitors. The front end is ... a Raspberry Pi! Streaming is enabled over wifi, but I'm concerned about jitter so use RJ45 connections to get the lossless files to the MPD player. Don't laugh at the Pi, I've ABX'ed it against reference computer audiophile solutions and prefer it, despite the meagre cost.

The B&W upgrade has been left off my Ghibli options order. I'd rather inject that cash into my home system.

 

[rossyl]

So the music is on a PC or similar, then sending files via LAN to the Raspberry Pi?

I thought I'd manage to rid myself of the hi-fi bug! I like surround sound too much when watching films and a don't have space for a full-size speakers surround kit.

 

[CatmanV2]

The Cyrus 1 was my first real hifi upgrade back in the late 80's. I remember spending nearly all my Uni grant on that and a pair of Linn Kanns.

These days I have a Cyrus 8, with an Eastern Electric MiniMax tube DAC, and a pair of KEF LS50 monitors. The front end is ... a Raspberry Pi! Streaming is enabled over wifi, but I'm concerned about jitter so use RJ45 connections to get the lossless files to the MPD player. Don't laugh at the Pi, I've ABX'ed it against reference computer audiophile solutions and prefer it, despite the meagre cost.

The B&W upgrade has been left off my Ghibli options order. I'd rather inject that cash into my home system.

I have a pi that plays video / photos for me, running Raspbmc. Not tried an audio test as the Cyrus won the Sonos listen off by a mile but memory seems to me that was vs the CD8 SE I used to have. Hmm. Might run it through the DAC on the Streamer and see what happens.

Given the Sonos is also running through the Stream DAC I can test that as well. Might be a good job Mrs Catman is going out

C

 

[CatmanV2]

Well, that didn't take long.

I've not tried the Pi, as ICBA to sort out a cable / TOSLINK but just tried the Sonos Vs the Stream XP on the same track, from the server. The Cyrus wins hand down. More detail more precise, higher definition and deeper bass.

C

 

[Maser Sod]

So the music is on a PC or similar, then sending files via LAN to the Raspberry Pi?

At the moment, all the music files reside on my Mac Mini. The Pi can 'see' all this music as I have mounted the Mac Mini's music directory on the linux OS using samba. In reality, of course, this is just a virtual mount and the data is indeed passed from one machine to the other over the LAN when files are requested by the MPD music server software. I was pulling the music over wirelessly, as it's neater, but I've reverted to Ethernet cable as the chances of packet loss and/or jitter are probably lower with a wirey connection.

Tomorrow a 2 Terrabyte offboard hard drive arrives, which I will connect directly into the Pi. This will take the network out of the equation and hence could improve SQ a tad.

I've just built an LCD interface for the Pi, which I'm rather proud of ... by the end of tomorrow I should be able to display which tracks are currently playing.

The Pi cost me 30 quid, and it has replaced a rather more expensive SACD player as my preferred front-end. Sometimes simpler is better!

 

[CatmanV2]

At the moment, all the music files reside on my Mac Mini. The Pi can 'see' all this music as I have mounted the Mac Mini's music directory on the linux OS using samba. In reality, of course, this is just a virtual mount and the data is indeed passed from one machine to the other over the LAN when files are requested by the MPD music server software. I was pulling the music over wirelessly, as it's neater, but I've reverted to Ethernet cable as the chances of packet loss and/or jitter are probably lower with a wirey connection.

Tomorrow a 2 Terrabyte offboard hard drive arrives, which I will connect directly into the Pi. This will take the network out of the equation and hence could improve SQ a tad.

I've just built an LCD interface for the Pi, which I'm rather proud of ... by the end of tomorrow I should be able to display which tracks are currently playing.

The Pi cost me 30 quid, and it has replaced a rather more expensive SACD player as my preferred front-end. Sometimes simpler is better!

Would love to see the interface, MS

I'm always a bit leery when people start talking about jitter and so forth on ethernet connections (FFS, Cyrus even supply a choke for the ethernet cable with the StreamXT). Leaving wireless aside, you've likely got a 10G ethernet connection. That leaves *so* much extra bandwidth for dealing with out of sequence / lost packets I just cannot see how it can ever be an issue. Granted if something starts sucking the server resources, and slows the read speed, then you're going to have buffering / stuttering, but that's a different kettle of fish.

Having said that, in theory the Sonos was presenting the DAC in the Stream XT with the same bits in the same order last night, and they certainly seemed to sound different on the other side!

Oh well
C

 

[rossyl]

I'm lost.

But given your superior knowledge, for a multi-room system, with mobile operation (e.g. via mobile phones) - would you say Sonos was a good idea?

I might have to speak to you guys when I look to update the surround system.

 

[CatmanV2]

I'm lost.

But given your superior knowledge, for a multi-room system, with mobile operation (e.g. via mobile phones) - would you say Sonos was a good idea?

I'd say it was the only game in town unless you have shed loads of cash.

*Personally* I'd use Sonos Connect units and external amps / speakers (or maybe active speakers or a Connect:AMP) as opposed to the Play 5's which they are pushing heavily these days, but I'm more quality focused than they are.

Sonos Connect and a pair of JBL 2Ps in each room should be a nice enough sound and reasonably un-obtrusive. but £500 per room may be a bit rich....

C

 

[rossyl]

The "Sonos Connect" and "Sonos Connect:AMP" are both quite pricey when compared to a Play. But I agree would sound much better.

 

[CatmanV2]

The "Sonos Connect" and "Sonos Connect:AMP" are both quite pricey when compared to a Play. But I agree would sound much better.

Never noticed that. I bought my ZP90 before the the Plays were launched. That's deeply suspicious, I feel. Given that the Play's do exactly the same as the Connects, but have amps, speakers and bigger boxes.....

C

 

[rossyl]

Sonos Play 3 £248
Sonos Connect £278 (think you need to add amp + speakers)
Sonos Connect Amp £398!