Anyone have a Gramofon?

[SimonI]

I've been thinking for years it was time to hook up the iTunes library I have on my home server to the hi-fi and came across a mention of the Gramofon device in, erm, Gramophone magazine this month.

Seems it is primarily used for streaming services like Spotify (which I have no interest in) but can also, via Qualcomm AllPlay, play music from local devices. At only €59 shipped it seems a good deal.

Anyone have one? What is the sound quality like and is it any good for what I want (I believe you need DNLA on the server)?

(I had previously been eyeing the Squeezebox range but was amazed to discover last night that they were discontinued several years ago!)

TIA!

[dataloss]

[SimonI]

Classic...

We had a local record/hi-fi shop in Aberdeen that was exactly like that. Anyone living here will automatically know which shop I mean

[bumfrog]

I've heard good reports about those little gramofon boxes.

Other options are a raspberry pi (with or without the dac add on, depending on what you already have) running volumio or rune audio.

Or a low powered pc running Daphile software (has the squeezebox stuff built in)

I still love that Not the nine o'clock news, and the funniest thing about it is that not much has changed since then. (don't get me started on those "audiophile" usb/hdmi/ethernet cables )

[SimonI]

I was looking at some of the RPi options and they look good but also liable to end up costing a bit more than the Ł40 odd for a Gramofon. I think they can handle HD audio but as the only HD audio I have are SACDs and you can't rip them its probably moot.

[MaxNutter]

Another alternative is the new Google Chomecast audio streamer thingy...

[bigp2]

I have a Gramofon but I tried it once and put it back in its box. It seems to share your wifi with "Fon" customers. Now there might not be many Fon customers around here but I'm still not overly happy with this "feature". There doesn't seem to be any way to disable it.

[SimonI]

I believe that "feature" has been removed in more recent firmware.

[KeyserSoze]

Would a Bluetooth receiver help?

I bought one of these the other week courtesy of bargain forums (although no longer on sale) - TP-LINK HA100 HD Bluetooth Stereo Audio Music Receiver Adapter with NFC Technology for iPhones, iPads, Smartphones, Tablets, Laptop and any Bluetooth-enabled device, 3.5 mm or RCA Jacks https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B010EIV1..._f8.nwbH8GFVWD

You can essentially stream anything coming from your Bluetooth device (phone, tablet or computer) to a hifi.

I haven't actually got round to trying it myself but seems to get good reviews. And I think there might be a slight reduction of quality with audio sent over Bluetooth.

[SimonI]

Still dithering over this; might go more towards a "proper" hi-fi style network streaming device. Have to get DLNA up and running on my Ubuntu server first though - first attempt came to nothing

[bumfrog]

i think you can install openmediavault on top of ubuntu as it's debian based. Probably a much easier way to get all that stuff working tbh..