Source Files: What's on your wishlist for Kalla?

[springwood64]

Frederik is working on your dream digital streamer.

Where do you want your music data to come from?

For me the answer is:

1. Radio Paradise FLAC channels
2. Local NAS/FileShare
3. Streaming service that doesn't manipulate the CD or true master files, and which clearly defines the sources of its music. I have no idea if this exists.

What's yours?

[matthias]

Only streaming services like Qobuz and Spotify.

BTW, I suppose the Apple device is responsible for streaming and not Källa.

Matt

[springwood64]

BTW, I suppose the Apple device is responsible for streaming and not Källa.

Of course - Airplay delivers the stream to Källa, so the player does not need to be concerned about the source of the data. It's source is always an Airplay device. I hadn't appreciated the implications of that design decision.

[Defender]

yes that is the clever move - I wouldnt even mind in having some of my favorite files directly stored on the IPhone/Ipad if that would make a difference in tune compared to let the Iphone or Ipad stream it from the NAS or other sources

[matthias]

Interesting that before sending via Airplay all files are converted to ALAC in the Apple device.

Matt

[Spannko]

This describes a bit more about AirPlay

https://www.technologyfocus.net/can-ai ... res-audio/

Also, and I really hope I’m right here, I’ve read that the Qobuz app will act as a control point for AirPlay enabled devices. That would make the Käla control point almost as good as Roon, but for free!

[matthias]

The question is which protocol uses Källa?
The standard AirPlay or AirPlay2?

Matt

[matthias]

Also, and I really hope I’m right here, I’ve read that the Qobuz app will act as a control point for AirPlay enabled devices. That would make the Käla control point almost as good as Roon, but for free!

I just confirmed with Damien, the developer of Audirvana, that Audirvana can output Qobuz via AirPlay.

Matt

[Spannko]

Also, and I really hope I’m right here, I’ve read that the Qobuz app will act as a control point for AirPlay enabled devices. That would make the Käla control point almost as good as Roon, but for free!

I just confirmed with Damien, the developer of Audirvana, that Audirvana can output Qobuz via AirPlay.

Matt

What would Audirvana bring to the party?

[matthias]

What would Audirvana bring to the party?

AFAIK, there is a one month free trial, you can decide if it is more musical than the Qobuz app.

Matt

[teatime]

Also, and I really hope I’m right here, I’ve read that the Qobuz app will act as a control point for AirPlay enabled devices. That would make the Käla control point almost as good as Roon, but for free!

I just confirmed with Damien, the developer of Audirvana, that Audirvana can output Qobuz via AirPlay.

Matt

What would Audirvana bring to the party?

One less Apple. I, for one, am never going to buy one, if I can avoid it.

[matthias]

One less Apple. I, for one, am never going to buy one, if I can avoid it.

The Qobuz app is not Apple too.

Matt

[teatime]

One less Apple. I, for one, am never going to buy one, if I can avoid it.

The Qobuz app is not Apple too.

Matt

No.. I might have jumped to conclusions here. I assumed the Qobus app to only be able to do AirPlay on an Apple device, but that Audinirvana, apparently being a cross platform solution (I've never used it), was able to do this also on non-Apple devices. That might have been me being overly optimistic...

[David Neel]

I'm using an LSNAS.

[macrotech2]

Interesting that before sending via Airplay all files are converted to ALAC in the Apple device.

Matt

I still don’t understand where and how the modified protocol fits in the process.

[Spannko]

(Post off topic.)

[El Mero Mero]

Where do you want your music data to come from?

2. Local NAS/FileShare

I need NAS supported as well. I hope it outperforms my KDSM and KDS.

[willem kuis]

Roon!

I use a Roon Nucleus and I stream Qobuz and TIDAL with it
My wish is that Kalla is RoonReady

Roon can stream to an AirPlay device: Is Kalla becoming an AirPlay device?
https://help.roonlabs.com/portal/en/kb/ ... play-setup

[oudheusa]

I would definitely want to use my NAS as a source. And hopefully be able to play DSD files.

[snatex]

Roon!

I use a Roon Nucleus and I stream Qobuz and TIDAL with it
My wish is that Kalla is RoonReady

Roon can stream to an AirPlay device: Is Kalla becoming an AirPlay device?
https://help.roonlabs.com/portal/en/kb/ ... play-setup

Same here. I stream Qobuz by interfacing with Apple phones/tablets which communicate with a ROON core stored on my Mac MIni.

[lejonklou]

As mentioned elsewhere, Roon is definitely not on our list. It may offer a great arrangement of your music, but it's virtually guaranteed to mess up the unique musical qualities of Källa. We avoid anything that acts as "the policeman directing the traffic", to quote What HiFi.

Källa will not play DSD files. It plays PCM 16/44.1.

Källa is the opposite of a Swiss army knife. It's a specialized tool with a specific purpose. Music streaming services is what we've chosen to optimise. You need to experience it to fully understand why we made that decision.

[matthias]

As mentioned elsewhere, Roon is definitely not on our list. It may offer a great arrangement of your music, but it's virtually guaranteed to mess up the unique musical qualities of Källa. We avoid anything that acts as "the policeman directing the traffic", to quote What HiFi.

I can not agree more.
I followed the journey of a Dutch manufacturer of High End servers. In the beginning they settled on Roon, later on they got complaints from customers about the deteriorating musicality of Roon with the latest upgrades. Now they started a few months ago to develop their own software which according to customers sounds much better than Roon.
Roon do not care about musicality at all. Whats particularly bad with Roon is that it generates permanent network activity.

Matt

[mbabst]

If Källa is seen by the Signalyst HQPlayer, Roon would work. So HQPlayer integration would be nice. Roon is then acting only as a music browser. No network activity, as long as Roon Core and HQPlayer ar running on the same machine.

[David Neel]

Although the primary focus of Källa is streaming services, it can also play FLAC from a NAS using an app like VLC.

Fredrik, can you expand on this please? I'm using an LSNAS running on Debian and AssetUPnP. Music files are mainly ALAC. Where should VLC be installed?

[lejonklou]

Although the primary focus of Källa is streaming services, it can also play FLAC from a NAS using an app like VLC.

Fredrik, can you expand on this please? I'm using an LSNAS running on Debian and AssetUPnP. Music files are mainly ALAC. Where should VLC be installed?

You install VLC, mconnect Player or another app that can play FLAC on your iOS or MacOS device.

Then you open the app and let it access your NAS. It has worked flawlessly for us so far.

But the primary focus is still streaming services. They sound better than ever before when played with Källa. In particular Spotify outperforms NAS replay, regardless of which NAS and file resolution is used.