Boy, how many times have you heard that tired line, "it's easy"?
Lots of stuff is "easy" if you know how to do it. But, for the person standing on the sidelines looking in, adapting to new tech or process can feel daunting.
One of my readers recently asked that I give a quick rundown on streaming. Streaming music from services like Spotify, Qobuz, and Tidal are pretty easy if you want to listen to them on your phone or iPad. Just download the app, sign up for the service, and press play. But what if you want to stream music to your stereo system? Now it is more complicated.
There are essentially two ways to stream music to your high-end audio system: using a streamer or a gateway.
Products like the PS Audio AirLens fit more comfortably into the category of gateways rather than streamers, a distinction that’s worth exploring.
Streamers—such as Roon, Innuos, or WiiM—require setup and a certain level of commitment. They’re more of a project, requiring you to learn how to connect, control, and operate them to play music.
Gateways, like the PS Audio AirLens, are a different breed entirely. Think of them as the Easy Pass of the audio world. With a streamer, it’s like stopping at every toll booth—you have to learn the process, meet the requirements, pay the toll, and move on. With a gateway, you just get on the road and go. It’s effortless.
Unlike streamers, gateways don’t have dedicated apps you need to learn. Instead, they integrate seamlessly with your existing favorite music apps, letting you control playback from your phone or iPad while connecting directly to your DAC. Simple and straightforward.
Let me give you an example. You purchase the AirLens. You plug it into the AC wall socket for power, connect it to your home network either via an ethernet cable or WiFi, and then run an RCA or HDMI cable between your AirLens output and your DAC.
Done.
Open the Qobuz, Tidal, or Spotify app on your phone or iPad, and where it gives you the choice of playback devices, choose the AirLens.
Now you have music.
It's easy!
