Is using Bluetooth aptx good enough for Spotify or should I get streamer ?

D

Davvy

Junior Audioholic
Quoting: "highfigh"

"Why are you fixated on WiFi? It has an ethernet port, which is better than WiFi, so you should have no problem with streaming unless you're unable or unwilling to hard wire it.


The ethernet port on the back is not for internet connection. Page 13 of the manual states "An Ethernet port lets you connect the amplifier to your home network for software updates and integration with third-party control systems." If it wasn't the case I would have kept it. I even called Crutchfield and they even told me I couldn't use it for the reason I wanted to use it for.

Also be the way my router is also in the living room and has a line of sight to all my equipment and the connection would have been rock solid. My Xbox has 100% 5ghz connection and it has never failed me.
 
D

Davvy

Junior Audioholic
No, that's not how streamers work.

A proper streaming device needs years and years and YEARS of support. Spotify changes, Pandora changes, XM changes, etc. All these different streaming platforms constantly change and require CONSTANT maintenance and support from the manufacturer. Your Rotel unit is VERY good, but they are a audio company. They aren't a streaming company. Bluesound is a STREAMING company, far more than an audio company. Long after the Bluesound Node is outdated and worthless, the Rotel would still sound amazing.

This is the same bad (yes bad) decision making that people have when they say things like "My smart TV sucks! The Netflix and Amazon apps are so slow!". A smart TV isn't smart. They use complete crap microchips for the streaming functions. A $100 Roku Ultra kicks the crap out of what is built into any 'smart' television!

Same is true here. If you want a GREAT streaming experience from Pandora, Spotify, or others, then get a great stand alone streaming appliance. Yes, Yamaha and Denon have built in streaming, but for the most part, their interface sucks and don't think for a second that it will be supported for 10+ years. You want something that WILL be supported for a long time? Beyond Bluesound, you can look at Sonos. While not as refined as Bluesound, you can pick up used Sonos units for not a lot of cash. You need to stop tihnking that Yamaha or Denon will give you a solid streaming experience for the life of the receiver. It's just not how they will stay in business. Meanwhile, companies like Sonos and Bluesound only exist to give end users the best experience for as long as possible.

Oh, and when you get a 'smart' TV, get a Roku, AppleTV 4K, or similar to stream. You will have a much better overall experience.

Well said about the streamers, no one has put it that way before and I get it now why audio companies only do audio and why streamers need to exist. It just sucks having to add $500 to the cost of a in-amp. The amp could last 20 years but you only have to add a new streamer every 5 years or so and your still good to go. But with a large popular company like Bluesound they might keep updating the Node for a long time maybe even 10 years who knows.


--------------------
So I bought a Onkyo 7100 and it has all the features I want for $1200. I wish I would have held on to the Rotel for a little longer to do some side by side comparisons for music to see if the sound quality would have been noticeable. Some people say AVR's have come a long way in the music dept.

I just want to use Spotify connect so because I'm using Spotify connect I'm thinking the Onkyo should support that feature much longer then if I was going to use one on board app through the Onkyo right ?
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I disagree about the Roku though this past summer I bought the Roku ultra the latest one and it had two problems lip-sync issues with YouTube and for some odd reason Amazon prime interface was in low rez it didn't look good. In general the speed of the Roku wasn't any faster then my 2019 Samsung TV. But the Roku was necessary on my parents 8+ year old TV apps were not updated more and was too slow to use. Roku's do have it's uses though, but honestly by the time my TV is too old/slow I probably just get a new one.
 
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lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
FWIW I am largely wifi connected around my house as hardwiring is a pain. No particular issues.....maybe more issues in the early days but they've largely disappeared. I do prefer an external streamer for better apps/updated apps compared to the maintenance of apps in avrs/bluray players in any case....
 
D

Davvy

Junior Audioholic
FWIW I am largely wifi connected around my house as hardwiring is a pain. No particular issues.....maybe more issues in the early days but they've largely disappeared. I do prefer an external streamer for better apps/updated apps compared to the maintenance of apps in avrs/bluray players in any case....

Yeah my WI-FI is solid through out my house. I might order a diff Rotel next week and test it vs the AVR I got, should be fun to compare.
 
Last edited:
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
Yeah my WI-FI is solid through out my house. I might order a diff Rotel next week and test it vs the AVR I got to see, should be fun to compare.
Somewhat a shame to change avrs to just deal with apps....another advantage to external.
 

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