Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat iPad - Spotify and 861v4

Hi Guys,

Silly question - I am currently running Spoitify from my iPad via the 3.5mm Jack to my 861v4 via the stereo RCA inputs. I am sure that this is far from ideal. Can anyone suggest a better solution/cable etc.

Cheers
G

Airplay. Airport express or Apple TV optical output to 861. And don't use volume control on iPad.

Except that, AFAIK, both Airport Express and Apple TV re-sample to 48kHz on the optical output.

Hi,

I thought that the Airport express still operated at 44kHz.

Another alternative to look at is the QED uPlay Plus. I've got the previous model (uPlay Puck) which has analogue outputs. The new Plus model has a digital output (optical, I think).

Brian

Thanks for the advice guys. Do you think that the Apple route is the best way to get the sound then? I was looking at a QED cable which was about �50 - it's the best I could find but it pales in comparison to the rest of the analogue cables in my setup and I know that the new cable plus the iPad are the weakest links in the chain. I am really not up on the technolgies of new when it comes to streaming and network streamers etc.

I basically listen to Spotify and like the functionality of having it on my iPad to flick through the tunes on the sofa and can live with the 3m+ Phono lead that I currently use, I am just hoping that there is a better cable out there or a totally different way of getting Spotify into my 861v4 with optimum quality etc.

Cheers
G

Try a Sonos Connect box, much better quality than routing it thru the compromised internals of an iPad.

Coax and Optical Out into your 861.

Also accesses the 320kbps Streams directly rather than the Mobile Devices which are limited to 160kbps.

A Squeezebox Touch may also be an option, but these are no longer being sold, so may be difficult to find.

I have a spare SB Touch, boxed and almost new. Pm if it of interest.

I'm interested in this as I'm in the same boat. Like the OP I want to be able to either sit on the sofa or be in the kitchen and pick up a touch device and select what music I want and for it to come out the hi-if.

Currently have a 561 and D5k-18biters 3rd gen Apple TV. Air playing what music I want by browsing my iPad and just hitting airplay.

Think it sounds great. I have a problem where I get a complete drop out in output. The only way I can get it back is to switch wireless off and on on the iPad. Think it might be a problem with my rubbish sky router.

My dad is also running the same with an added extra which I'm setting up for him of a gear4 remote wireless device. So from the kitchen say you have an app on the iPad where you can change volume on the Meridian. The pod in the lounge sends out the ir signal.

So I'm fairly happy with this setup but is there something better out there with better sound?

Forgot to say sticking to a low budget like I have done so far

Mobile Spotify apps have had direct access to 320kbit (extreme) both direct streaming and download for offline use for some time now.

The old airport express did not resample but haven't verified the new (white AppleTV look) one.