Andover Songbird Hi-Res Streamer REVIEW

[@snipervision1]

My only issue is that they didn’t put the power in on the same side as the outputs. Bummer but I guess I can hide it behind my receiver.

[@gmzatx]

Thanks for the review. I’m thinking of buying this

[@thevapeasylum]

Songbird not found on my wifi. Any sugguestions other than what the app says?

[@mfairbanks82]

Make sure you are connecting it to a 2.4 ghz WiFi connection. Also make sure your phone/mobile device is connected to the same 2.4 ghz WiFi connection.

[@jhelmuth87]

Would it be possible to plug my tv into this via the optical output of my tv into the optical input of the songbird? If this is in fact possible would the volume of the tv still be controlled by my tv remote? I’m trying to find a streamer to play music from my phone / laptop as well as my tv.

[@GramophoneMD]

TV volume wouldn't have any effect. I'd use a Bluesound Node with eARC, that will do everything you want.

[@r4chicken]

If you have a bluetooth capable Sony Walkman and expect to bluetooth to this device, you're out of luck. The only way to listen to a Walkman on the Songbird is to hardwire with a mini jack connection, which defeats the whole purpose. Bluetooth connection to the Songbird can only be made through an installed 'Songbird' app. It baffles me why Andover does not allow standard bluetooth connectivity/discovery on this device. I will be returning it ASAP.

[@GramophoneMD]

That's an unfortunate but good find, thank you for the feedback.

[@sesa2984]

"nice and lightweight." lololol

[@thomasward00]

Was going to buy an external DAC to connect my PC to my amp via USB... Would it be a better option to just get this and go with the 3.5 out to RCA on my AMP... Is the songbirds internal DAC decent?

[@GramophoneMD]

I'd look at the Audio Quest Dragon Fly Cobalt for PC use. The Songbird is great but is best for wireless streaming. If your system is wired into your PC, than the Dragonfly Cobalt is ideal as it is the better DAC, and it can work as a preamp for a larger speaker power amp, just by controlling the volume via Windows.

[@1337sim1]

For the same price, take a look at the Topping E30 if you want a good bang for buck USB DAC. I'm pretty sure the sound quality will be better. Make sure to use a USB wall charger to power the Topping. It will increase the sound quality. It's pretty easy to control Spotify or Tidal on your phone when the music is playing on your computer. 👍

[@kenf3299]

The Songbird does not have a DAC, does it?

[@TD402dd]

The one I bought would not find the internet. After sending it back to Amazon, my new WiiM mini is fabulous with a much better DAC 32/192 from Texas Instruments.

[@davidelesh1680]

I purchased this in December because it promised a WiFi connection between my PC and my older stereo system. I connected it to my preamp and it played its connection message through my speakers. The Songbird appears as a device on my network. I was able to use the Songbird app on my iPhone to play internet radio through the Songbird and my stereo system. However, I could not use my PC to connect to the Songbird, and it was my desire to stream internet radio that led me to buy it. It does not appear as a device on the Sound tab of the Windows Control Panel as the manual says that it should. Two calls and an email to Andover Support over the past two weeks have failed to produce a response of any kind. Through 1/31/2021 I can return it for a full refund from the store from which I purchased it, and it looks like that is what I will have to do. I doubt that the Gramophone reviewer fully tested this device.

[@GramophoneMD]

Is your PC configured for DLNA?

[@davidelesh1680]

@@GramophoneMD Thank you for your reply. Yes, it is. Windows has DNLA turned on and the Songbird is one of the devices enabled for streaming. However, as I said, the Songbird does not appear in the Sound tab of the Control Panel.

[@davidelesh1680]

@@GramophoneMD Of Course

[@timothytimmmedrano3132]

does it do Deezer Hifi?

[@superpeca]

Spotify connect?

[@DavidLaCivita]

You didn't mention MQA...?

[@SuperMatrix59]

No

[@canadianwildlifeservice8883]

No one's going to comment on the bullshit of this device only supporting Amazon HD at 44.1KHz 16 bit (just like how the Amazon link only supports up to 48KHz!!). Like, what do we have to do to get the full 192 KHz/24 bit Amazon HD audio??? We are paying for this high quality HD audio but Amazon doesn't want us to have it? Not everyone wants to have a PC/laptop with a USB DAC connected to get 96/192HKz audio.

[@GramophoneMD]

It is in part Amazon, and in part chip manufacturers. Thing is though, going above 24bit/48khz does little for most people. You need a very expensive and resolving system installed in a room with near perfect acoustic treatment. The noise floor of the average home makes hearing even up to 24bit/48khz really difficult. The exception to this of course may be headphones, but again we are talking about a setup costing a few thousand to really be able to hear that reliably.