Internet streaming to a not-wireless radio

[HansL]

Yes, Peter, I'm afraid I have been all over the page, due to the fact that I don't know much about A/V and such. As for drawing a separate audio ablce, yes, I can do so, I guess, but I though I would use the Ethernet cable that is already there for everything. Now, when I have a better router than before, maybe I can wi-fi the audio. I will save all the posts above and read them during the weekend to try to digest.

Thanks for your input!

Hans L

[peterb]

From first principles - the audio comes down encoded as a stream of packets of data -just like a file, except that the data packets arrive in a continuous stream. Those packets need to be received by some form of computing device, either a general purpose computer running which will run a program to decode that data, feed it into a digital to analogue converter (sound card) and feed it out as an audio stream

A box like a Amazon dot, or echo, or An Apple TV or chromecast is essentially a small computer running dedicated embedded software to ONLY do the receiving and decoding of the data. As such, the computing hardware can be simplified considerably, which is why they are less expensive. They may be controlled through an application on a smart phone or if the connect to a TV, they may use the TV as a monitor..

The advantage of a dedicated device is that once set up, it can be left in place, and doesn't tie up your main PC.

[HansL]

I have saved all info above and read it (and I will read it again in the not too distant future), but at the moment, I will take the first step in actually experimenting. Hopefully, it will only cost me a fortune, and if I go wrong, it will be learning money. I will install the free RadioSure to stream radio from the Internet, send it to my router and then, via Ethernet cable, to a Ethernet to USB adapter, then to a DAC (with USB input) and from there to the Bose radio (a darn expensive loudspeaker) If i get that to work, I will continue with playing music from CD and from my hard drive. Then, video to TV (will probably buy a new TV soon, since the one we have is getting old).

What I would like to ask is where I can find a DAC that simply converts D->A with reasonable quality for under $50.00? (I saw a nice Classé for $5,000.00, but I'll wait to buy that one until later :-) I have searched, and will continue to search, for these DACs, but some pro tips would go a long way.

Regards,

Hans L

[HansL]

DAC output: 3.5 mm stereo audio jack

Hans L

[peterb]

Radiosure is an app for a windows PC. Your PC will provide the analogue audio output which you feed to your Bose radio.

I thought you were looking for a standalone device that would connect to your router and give you an audio output?

[HansL]

Peter, I don't now if I expressed myself unclearly (because I was so lost in ignorance) or if there was a misunderstanding, but I wanted to know, in general, how I could get audio from my computer to my Bose radio. Now, as I said, I have documented all responses from this thread, and will use them, together with other info, to learn about video and audio from my computer or freestanding devices to various display units (speakers, TV, my Bose radio, and so on).

As for now, rather than running a 50 foot audio cable from my computer to the radio, I will use my existing Ethernet cable, an Ethernet to USB adapter, the HiFimeDIY Sabre U2 Asynchronous USB DAC (unless you have a better option to suggest), and finally, an audio cable to my Bose radio. It will be my first experiment, followed later by others (after I have learned more about what I can do and what I want to do).

Regards,

Hans L

[peterb]

Ah, right, now I understand, I thought you wanted to know how to stream from the internet without using a dedicated computer!

So you want to take the sound out of a USB port, convert it to an digital signal and then convert it to analogue at the other end?

I'm not sure a USB to Ethernet adapter will work, the protocols are completely different.

Why don't you want to run a direct audio cable? You could try using the cat 5 - it is twisted pair, and even better if it's screened. Worth a try, and if it does pick up noise, you haven't really lost anything.

[HansL]

[QUOTE=peterb;3859235So you want to take the sound out of a USB port, convert it to an digital signal and then convert it to analogue at the other end?.[/QUOTE]

Nope, I want to send the digital audio via Ethernet cable to an Ethernet-USB adapter, then via USB cable to the DAC (I understand that very few come with Ethernet input, but most come with USB input), then send the analog sound to the Bose radio.

[QUOTE=peterb;3859235I'm not sure a USB to Ethernet adapter will work, the protocols are completely different.[/QUOTE]

Well, that is something I will have to investigate. There are adapters, but I do not know if they include electronics. Guess they have to.

[QUOTE=peterb;3859235Why don't you want to run a direct audio cable? You could try using the cat 5 - it is twisted pair, and even better if it's screened. Worth a try, and if it does pick up noise, you haven't really lost anything.[/QUOTE]

Because later, I may want to do video too (to the TV), and then, I will be back to the ethernet cable anyway (which does not mean i have written off an audio cable).

Regards,

Hans L