Streaming audio player

This is a device with a user interface allowing you to select music sources (servers), to browse their content and select songs to play.

The source could be internet radio stations or your own music collection on a server in your home network.
As these players use internet technology to access the source, you need a home network.
To access a music server, it must talk the same protocol.

In general UPnP AV is used. If not, you are locked into a proprietary protocol.
The player must support the audio formats on the server or the server supports conversion on the fly (transcoding).

The player converts the audio stream to analogue. Digital out might also be supported.

You must connect it to an amplifier.

Some has a build in amplifier. You must supply the speakers.

Players with build in speakers are called internet radio.

Squeezebox Classic €300,-

Network: ethernet/Wlan

Streaming: proprietary streaming protocol, requires SqueezeCenter software to play your own music.

Sonos ZonePlayer 90 €349,-

Also available with build in amplifier.

Network: ethernet/Wlan. First unit must be connected to router using ethernet or you need a ZoneBridge for an all Wlan setup.

Streaming protocol: CIFS / SMB file sharing protocol to access NAS/PC/Mac

Output: Analog (RCA) and digital out (Toslink/coax)

Audio format: MP3, WMA (WMA Lossless and WMA Pro are not supported), AAC (MPEG4), Ogg Vorbis, Audible (Format 4), Apple Lossless, Flac, WAV, AIFF

Resolution: 16 bit / 48 kHz

Internet radio: RadioTimes, MP3 and WMA streaming audio formats