AirLens and Apple Music

Network Audio
1

I am thinking about upgrading my storage and streaming scheme. Being a Mac fan since 1990, I have been building my music library in iTunes - now Apple Music - since 2003. About the only thing I’m good at organizing is this music library, now with 1,169 artist and 2,665 albums (this doesn’t include the shelves of 78 and 33 rpm records, CDs, and reel-to-reel tapes). Currently I play my digital files using a MacBook’s USB into my DAC. I’ve worked hard to maximize this system running the BitPerfect app, using a really good USB cable, noise-reducing connectors, and the MacBook rates well on lack of output noise. My current DAC is a Schiit Lyr with multi-bit DAC built in and a tube output to my Stellar M1200 mono blocks. I love this sound, but people I trust with better ears than mine are suggesting I upgrade my DAC - so I’m looking at the new Stellar. I figure while I’m at it, I might as well upgrade how I’m getting music TO the DAC, so I’m looking at the AirLens and porting my digital files over to a network server. I should be OK with continuing to use Apple Music to manage my library, however here are my questions:

  • It looks like the preferred interface app is Roon, which can pull from my preferred streaming app Qobuz and go through AirLens to the DAC.
  • Similarly, I understand that Roon will also be able to locate and play the digital files on my network server, right? I looked on the Roon site and it will work well with the extensive metadata tagging I have done over the years in iTunes/Apple. I sure hope it can access the Lyrics field because I’m a jazz fan and that’s where I’ve copied my personnel lists.
  • Because it is more comprehensive, I am also an Apple Music subscriber. I prefer the sound of Qobuz, but I can find more stuff on Apple and use it from time to time. I looked on the Roon site and it says it does not support streaming via Apple Music, but I read somewhere here that the AirLens does do Apple Music. How? I know I can still stream Apple Music from my MacBook over USB, but that’s what I’m trying to get away from.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

2

The Airlens can’t do anything as it has no software system. Streaming Apple Music or any other service will have to come from the software you chose to use. Not sure if any currently available aftermarket allows streaming from Apple. The software package from the Airlens board designer doesn’t allow Apple Music either.

The Eversolo software allows you to stream from Apple Music to some extent but I’ve never tried it. Also Wiim, Bluesound and I would guess also NAD.

1 Like
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Thanks very much - I’ll look into your suggestions. After writing all that I realized that when I use Apple Music’s streaming, it’s playing “second fiddle” to Qobuz anyway, so I guess the tiny bit of loss by going directly from the MacBook won’t be any worse than it is now (better anyway because of a better DAC).