Gear that requires a Smartphone or Tablet - Dis-Service to buyers or...

Shadowfax

Shadowfax

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Location
Bucks County PA
Am I the only Dinosaur?

I have been considering a lower priced streamer and since I love my 2 OPPO 93s, I was looking at the OPPO streamer.

Price is reasonable and all the needed features are there, BUT you can't use the thing without a Smartphone or Tablet and an App.

By choice, and for several reasons, I don't want a Smartphone (still using Motorola Razers for my needs) and I don't own or want to buy a tablet.

So, are manufacturers doing customers a dis-service by requiring items they may not have in order to use the gear? Or am the only person left that doesn't own a Smartphone?

Are there other lower priced options that use your TV or the front panel LCD to see what you are playing?

Do I have options like buying an old used SP or Tablet and just using it for the Interface without it being connected to a Network with a paid for plan?
 
Brian

If you have a wireless network already in your house for anything else then just buy a used, refurbished or inexpensive tablet to run the Oppo alone. The Sonica can also be hardwired to the network if you prefer. Since it has an Android based app you can buy functional Android tablets for cheap off of Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and other places. No phone based network required.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oppo.swpcontrol&hl=en
 
Yes, you can. But it’s a tiny bit more difficult. The interface screens are on multiple pages.


Mike said:
Unless I'm mistaken, I believe you can use a smartphone with the Lumin.
Click to expand...
 
Mike

I think Smartphones is what he is trying to avoid, so that leaves him with the most cost effective method and least intrusive being streamers that will work with the Android app and a cheap tablet. At this point among the small group that allow Android control the Sonica is the best of the "cost effective" ones. Plus with their 30 day from factory return policy he can just try it out.
 
Yeah, I don't want to own a smartphone unless I have no other options. I work with computers all day, have 6 at home and don't need to buy another $500 to $900 pocket PC.

I see lots of cheap used tablets so that may be my best option. Thanks for the tips.
 
Thanks Larry, I like the $59 tablet idea better since you have to add the cost of an interface to a pc of gear that should have it's own for the prices asked.
 
This is how people are different: I have not operated my digital systems with anything else than a table for the past 7-8 years [emoji3].

But I can understand the dislike for tablets if someone is working with computers all day. I for my part do not want to operate a PC with music.

Another option might be one of these generic remotes you can program to do anything, I would guess e.g. BestBuy should be selling them. I have the volume/ input controls of my music toys bundled in a Philips programable metal remote (do not enjoy the plastic ones).


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
My digital system consists of a high end laptop dedicated to music with a 5tb HD using Bug Head, JR and HQP. I remote in with another laptop, tablet or smart phone using a free program called Splash Top Streamer. I prefer using a laptop to remote in because I don't need my reading glasses, lol.

I am currently building a dedicated desktop for my dedicated audio computer that I will run with out a monitor and I will remote in. CPU I7 7700K, Gigabyte Z270 MOBO with premium capacitors, Crucial Ballistic Elite DDR4 3000mhz ram, Samsung 850 evo SSD for the OS and audio programs with a 5 TB WD Red drive for my music, Corsair RMX power supply with extremely low ripple and silent fan. I should have it built by the weekend if all the parts arrive. The case is a Fractal Design Mid tower all steel that is insulated with sound deadening material for silent operation. All for under $1K.
 
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