Cyrus Stream Xa, User Instructions

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Stream Xa User Instructions
5
How does the Stream Xa work?
The Stream Xa joins your computer network in the same
way that a computer or other networked device would.
Playing music from a network
Once connected to your network, the Stream Xa will identify
music libraries present on your network, catalogue the music
found in those libraries, and present the library content in a
choice of easily searchable categories.
Navigating a music library
in addition to navigation and control from the front panel
controls, the Cadence app is available as a free download for
ioS or Android mobile phones and tablets. Cadence connects
to the Stream Xa via the local network and provides an
interactive remote control interface that enables a user to
browse their music libraries and to control all functions of
the Stream Xa from the phone/tablet.
Music libraries
Audophile systems have progressed over the years from
shelves of fragile vinyl records or magnetic tape to racks of
compact discs, played without any physical contact.
perfect sound forever? perhaps, but for a serious audiophile
a large collection of CDs still occupies a large space in a room,
usually in the listening room itself. cataloguing the cds can
be a chore and remembering which album your favourite
tracks are on can be quite a challenge in a large collection
of cds.
The cyrus
Stream Xa answers all of these problems, by using
computer hardware to take the music content from your
discs and store the entire collection in a music library on a
hard-drive that occupies little more space than a few CDs.
Setting up a network music library
Choosing a file format for your library
Hard drive size was once a limitation for storage of a high
quality, uncompressed music library. this is no longer the
case as high capacity hard-drives are now affordable, and
multiple drives are also an option.
Lossless formats are also now available, offering the quality
of uncompressed files, but with a useful saving of around
40% of the file size.
if you already have an existing library of uncompressed WAV
or AiFF files ripped from CD, then this will deliver the highest
quality when played through the Stream Xa .
if you have an existing library that includes Mp3, WMA, AAC
or other compressed format files, you may want to consider
creating a new library of uncompressed or lossless files from
your CD collection, Although the
Stream Xa
is compatible
with compressed files, the compression used by these
formats to pack the files into a small space removes essential
information from the music that cannot be replaced on
replay.
the same recommendation applies if you are setting up a new
music library for use with your Stream Xa . in a new library,
uncompressed files carry the highest recommendation.
Mixing formats
The Stream Xa will decode most music file types, so it is quite
acceptable to retain an existing library of compressed format
files, rip new music entries to uncompressed or lossless files
and replace the compressed files as time permits.
The Stream Xa can also browse multiple libraries, so you
may prefer to retain a library of compressed files for portable
audio etc., and set up a new library of uncompressed or
lossless music for the Stream Xa .
Buying music on-line
There are currently few sources on-line for the purchase of
high quality uncompressed or lossless files. to achieve the
best quality for your music library, rip your music from CD to
uncompressed or lossless files.
Further advice on setting up a library
A good retailer can advise on setting up a library of music
files for use with the Stream Xa .