Network

Streaming

A streaming audio player gets it music from a server. It is connected to your home network in the normal way, a CAT5e cable or by WiFi. The server could be an internet radio station or a server with your own music in your home net work.

In essence it is a low power dedicated computer using the standard network protocols (TCP/IP, UDP).

To control streaming AV devices, a dedicated protocol is needed.
Some companies use a proprietary protocol (Squeezebox) but most brands today use the DLNA/UPnP standard.

The media player is connected to your audio via the analogue line out.

Often these players have a digital out too, allowing you to use an external DAC to do the conversion.

More on streaming audio can be found here.

Latency

Streaming AV is designed with internet in mind. In other words, the speed of the incoming stream will vary and sometimes simple stops for a while. Therefore the input is buffered and once the buffer is filled sufficiently, the playback starts.

This is of no use in the professional world where low latency is an important criterion especially when recording or during a live performance.
In this case special protocols are used like Ethersound or CobraNet.
Yamaha has an overview of professional networked audio.

Audio bridge

The network is used to push the audio from the PC to a receiver connected by WiFi or a ethernet cable.

The receiver convert it to analogue and the analogue output is fed into the stereo.
In principle any format played on your PC can be transmitted to the receiver.

 

This concept is most of all known as Airport Express in the Apple world. Applications like JACK or Pulseaudio and Play to: in Windows Media Player 12 might bring it to the Linux and Windows world.

 

Sirocco Wireless Audio Bridge

Input: ethernet / wireless G

 

Format: supports every known audio file format, including MP3, WMA, and AAC - even DRM protected files are supported

5.1 channel Dolby Digital surround sound

Output: RCA / Toslink

 

Micromega WM10 € 1000,-

€ 1000,- buys you a Airport Express with a better power supply

A lot of air