Internet/WIFI Radio

[Ulic]

Looking to buy an internet/WIFI radio in Pattaya. I went to TukCom and asked a number of shops.

They seemed to have no idea what I was even talking about never mind being able to tell me

where I might be able to find one. Does any body know where I could find one here or is this

going to be a Bangkok trip. Sonos-Logitech-Tivoli-Blick-Roberts- something that is decent, good

value for the money. Nothing over the top expensive.

Thanks

[RichCor]

Have yet to run across any "high end" systems being sold in Thailand.

Your more likely to run into the FAD and GULLIBLE products, like those sold on Lazada under "Internet Radio"

"High Sensitivity USB Worldwide Internet TV Radio Player Dongle" ...High Sensitivity?

[coops]

I'd certainly recommend Sonos.

I'm not familiar with the 'all in one' speaker Sonos options, but the Play 5 gets good review for its sound - and the Sonos system is excellent, and best controlled from an ipad or iphone etc.

I've been using Sonos since I got it in Singapore probably 10+ years ago - and the connect box and network box has been faultless.

Streams sll my music from a NAS drive (previously used an Apple Time capsule) and shares playlists etc with iTunes server.

Couple of places in bangkok now to get hold of Sonos.

[KittenKong]

I have Sonos also. Very good but very expensive here. I think there is a shop in Chaiyapruek that does them, or did them. Not exactly cheap in the UK either.

It might be worth considering any Android smartphone/tablet and some good Bluetooth speakers as the end result will be the same as having an internet radio. You would need a smartphone or a tablet or a computer to control your Sonos equipment also.

[tlcwaterfall]

I have installed Tunein radio on all of my Android devices and stream all the radio stations I need from that application.

I have a Samsung note 4 and installed the app, from the play store and it works very well.

Tune in radio app. is free and you just need an internet connection.

[SoiBiker]

I second the recommendation of tunein. The BBC iplayer radio app is pretty good too if you're interested in their output.

Unless you have some particular reason to want a standalone device for this, I think you'd be better off spending the money on some decent speakers and using your existing computer, phone or other device.

[Ulic]

I have Sonos also. Very good but very expensive here. I think there is a shop in Chaiyapruek that does them, or did them. Not exactly cheap in the UK either.

It might be worth considering any Android smartphone/tablet and some good Bluetooth speakers as the end result will be the same as having an internet radio. You would need a smartphone or a tablet or a computer to control your Sonos equipment also.

I will check out Chaiyapruek as I am in Jomtien and if I get no joy I will look into the

Android/Bluetooth speaker option. Thanks

[KittenKong]

These may be the people who used to be in Chaiyapreuk, in which case they have since moved:

http://www.simplicity.co.th/products/sonos-11092014

Or it may be some completely different shop.

[KittenKong]

Worth pointing out that the Tune-in app is just one of many ways of getting internet radio on an Android phone/tablet. There are many similar apps and many stations also broadcast directly via the web, which your phone/tablet can also access.

Once you have the tablet and some Bluetooth speakers the choice is yours.

[GinBoy2]

I'm ditto'ing the TuneIn recommendations.

I use TuneIn on an Android phone. in the car connected to BT (btw TuneIn has a rather nice 'Car Mode') which if you use in a car cradle holder essentially makes it as easy to use as any car radio. At home I either connect to my Home Theater Receiver which has a BT adapter or to my portable BT speaker.

I've added some pics to describe (hopefully) better

[bkkmick]

For driving I much prefer Xiia. The list of your favourites stays in the screen. With Tune In you have to keep switching back to your list which can be a pain while driving.

[GinBoy2]

For driving I much prefer Xiia. The list of your favourites stays in the screen. With Tune In you have to keep switching back to your list which can be a pain while driving.

I tired Xiia. How do you stop the screen turning off when you are driving? Having to fire up the screen was a lot more distracting to me than hitting the 'follow' button on TuneIn car mode when driving. On TuneIn the car mode forces the screen to stay on

Is there an option, or is it in the paid version?

[bkkmick]

Settings...General...Screen Always On

[adammike]

I have just got a google chromecast Audio about $35 plugs into my amp and plays whatever my android tablet wants,spotify,tunein radio pro etc, a brilliant thing for $35 also got chromecast for the telly for netflix you tube etc.turns your telly into a smart tv.

[SoiBiker]

Yeah, Chromecasts are awesome.

[GinBoy2]

Have yet to run across any "high end" systems being sold in Thailand.

Your more likely to run into the FAD and GULLIBLE products, like those sold on Lazada under "Internet Radio"

"High Sensitivity USB Worldwide Internet TV Radio Player Dongle" ...High Sensitivity?

They are testing your sensitivity to BS......score low and you are well on your way to owning this fabulous product along with a never ending subscription supply of male enhancing, make my dick 18", clinically proven elixir.......a $1M value don't ya know!

[Ulic]

These may be the people who used to be in Chaiyapreuk, in which case they have since moved:

http://www.simplicity.co.th/products/sonos-11092014

Or it may be some completely different shop.

I wrote simplicity and got a quick response. That shop is no longer there but they could

get Sonos products delivered to me. That said when I compared prices to Canada they

were about double the cost. (and I do mean double) So I will look into my best Bluetooth

speaker/Samsung smart phone option. Thanks.

[BKKdreaming]

I have an extra Android phone I use , even at that it does not seem to play hours at a time , it stalls or just turns off !

Not sure why as its being used on my house WiFi

and tuneIn has a monthly fee

[GinBoy2]

I have an extra Android phone I use , even at that it does not seem to play hours at a time , it stalls or just turns off !

Not sure why as its being used on my house WiFi

and tuneIn has a monthly fee

TuneIn is free.

They have a paid premium service which adds MLB, NFL etc, but for streaming of regular radio no charge

[Northwindhermit]

I'm also a big fan of TuneIn Radio.

I have a large range of music tastes, and I have dozens of stations

saved on TuneIn in a variety of genres.

I play it on my PC and my Androids to speakers or headphones.

[KittenKong]

I wrote simplicity and got a quick response. That shop is no longer there but they could

get Sonos products delivered to me. That said when I compared prices to Canada they

were about double the cost. (and I do mean double) So I will look into my best Bluetooth

speaker/Samsung smart phone option. Thanks.

Double sounds about it, and is common enough here for specialised imported items. Perhaps worth looking yourself when on a trip home, or get someone to bring one out for you? I bought all my Sonos stuff on various trips to Europe and brought it back in checked luggage on the plane. Singapore and Hong Kong might be alternatives.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Worth pointing out that the Tune-in app is just one of many ways of getting internet radio on an Android phone/tablet. There are many similar apps and many stations also broadcast directly via the web, which your phone/tablet can also access.

Once you have the tablet and some Bluetooth speakers the choice is yours.

TuneIn is great, and available on various platforms.

But there are also a variety of Internet radio station aggregator websites and apps as well, which range widely in both quality and quantity of content. It really depends on what kind of content one is looking for. Shoutcast.com, Reciva.com and Live365.com are sites I've used in the past. On my Android devices, I'm using an internet radio app I like called XiiaLive.

There's also the new Chromecast Audio device that's selling for $35 in the U.S., which can turn any set of "dumb" speakers or stereo with a 3.5 mm audio jack, RCA jacks, or optical connection into an "smart" Internet content playing device, controlled by the app on your smartphone or tablet.

With Chromecast Audio and a pair of connected speakers or stereo, you can play a range of popular Internet music apps as well as radio/podcast apps like IHeartRadio, Rdio, TuneIn, and others.

http://www.google.com/chromecast/audio/explore/

There's also PC programs like the free MusicBee player that incorporate access to countless Internet radio stations via the player, where you can search for and save favorites from sources such as SHOUTCast, Icecast, Soma.FM and Xbox Music.

From what I've read, Sonos' advantage is the current ability to do seamless, insync playback through multiple rooms and sources. And actually, that's something the Chromecast Audio can't do at present, but Google supposedly is planning an upgrade that will incorporate that feature.

But that aside, if multi room playing isn't a priority, it's hard to see the reason for shelling out a lot of money for a Sonos system when a good pair of speakers connected to any type of Internet connected PC or even a Chromecast Audio setup wouldn't do just as well for a whole lot less money, especially if one's main intended use is to access Internet radio.

[KittenKong]

From what I've read, Sonos' advantage is the current ability to do seamless, insync playback through multiple rooms and sources. And actually, that's something the Chromecast Audio can't do at present, but Google supposedly is planning an upgrade that will incorporate that feature.

But that aside, if multi room playing isn't a priority, it's hard to see the reason for shelling out a lot of money for a Sonos system when a good pair of speakers connected to any type of Internet connected PC or even a Chromecast Audio setup wouldn't do just as well for a whole lot less money, especially if one's main intended use is to access Internet radio.

Personally I've never used the multi-room sync features of Sonos, but it is an advantage for those who want it. I do use the feature that allows me to control different Sonos equipment in different areas from the one smartphone/tablet though, and I find this very convenient. You dont get this with Bluetooth speaker systems, though some Sonos competitors do provide it, to an extent.

I like Sonos because it sounds good and doesnt require you to leave your other devices on if you dont want to. It is an all-in-one-box solution, and conveniently portable too (assuming of course that you have a wifi router). Along with playing internet radio directly it can also connect directly to your Spotify or Deezer or other streaming account, and can also play audio directly from a NAS. Also using wifi/LAN for connectivity rather than Bluetooth means that the range is potentially somewhat greater.

Sonos certainly is not cheap though and as you rightly say most of the functions it provides can be had in other ways for less, though perhaps not so conveniently. For this reason I did point out that Bluetooth speakers plus an Android smartphone would cover the OP's main needs for little cost.

Those who aren't bothered about the cost will probably be very happy with Sonos.

[BKKdreaming]

for USA stations iHeartRadio is pretty good ,

I think they are mostly commercial stations

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Re IHeart, yes, it's the Internet arm of what is the largest radio stations network in the U.S. that used to be known as ClearChannel, so a lot of choices there.

Re TuneIn, yes, the basic functionality of the app is FREE, not paid, though they do have a premium paid version that adds extras.

BTW, one of the nice advantages of the best radio internet streaming apps is that, in addition to their own pre-arranged lists of stations that are available to select/stream/favorite, the best ones also have the functionality to allow you to ADD any internet streaming address of your own that you want to use and save it within the app. That's a great, although sometimes somewhat hidden feature, that helps allow you to choose the app with the UI you like the best, even if not all the stations you want are already available on it. If not, just find the stream address you like via a browser or elsewhere, and add it in.

Re Chromecast Audio vs Bluetooth receivers/connections, one of the big differences/advantages is that Chromecast Audio is connecting via wifi, so it's a more robust and longer distance connection for streaming vs Bluetooth. Also, whereas the Bluetooth streaming approach also will pause/interrupt when your device, let's say a mobile phone, gets an incoming call, the Chromecast Audio/wifi service -- once you start playing something -- leaves that Android device free and unencumbered. So you can talk on the phone or do whatever, and it won't disturb the streaming you've previously started.

[Chicog]

I like the Player FM app for Podcasts as well.

Easy to set up subscriptions, choose how many to download etc. (so that it will work offline for when you have no internet coverage).

[balo]

I think most people today just use their apps on smart phones and connect it to some good bluetooth speakers. I paid 1200 baht for the speakers , and use Tune-in app, it works perfect for me