An introduction to computer audio
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

Teac WAP-8500 €399
Network: ethernet/Wlan
Streaming protocol: DLNA/UPnP
Output: Line out, headphones out, S/PDIF digital optical out 44.1/48 kHz
Audio format: MP3, OGG, WMA, WAV / Internet radio
Touchscreen 3.5" colour LC display for function and track informations
(ID3 tags, album cover, file name etc.)

Olive Melody No.2 $ 599
Network: ethernet/Wlan (WEP/WPA)
Streaming protocol: DLNA/UPnP
Output: 1x analog (RCA), 1x optical Toslink, 1x S/PDIF coaxial cinch
Audio format: WAV, FLAC, MP3 (128 to 320 bit/s)/ Internet radio
4.3" wide-aspect ratio, color touch-screen(480 x 272 pixels)

Squeezebox Transporter €1999,-
High end version of the SqueezeBox.
Streaming: proprietary streaming protocol, requires SqueezeCenter software to play your own music.
T+A E-series Music player € 2150
Network: ethernet/Wlan
Streaming: UPnP
Formats: MP3, WMA, LPCM, WAV, FLAC, AAC, OGG-Vorbis
Linn Digital Stream Players Klimax DS €15.000
Network: ethernet
Streaming: UPnP™ AV 2.0
Formats: up to 24-bit/192 kHz native sample rate, FLAC, WAV, MP3 & AIFF
Analogue audio outputs: RCA / XLR
OS: RTEMS
Open source: http://oss.linn.co.uk/