5 Ways to Stream Music to Your Existing Hi-Fi (Ranked by Sound Quality)

17 February 2026

You've got an amp. You've got speakers. You just want to play music from your phone without faffing about. Here are five ways to do it, from cheapest to best-sounding.

Your hi-fi doesn't need replacing — it just needs a way to receive music from streaming services. Here are five approaches, starting with the simplest and working up to the best sound quality.

5. Wired Cable from Your Phone (£5–£15)

How it works: A 3.5mm to RCA cable runs from your phone's headphone jack (or via a Lightning/USB-C adapter) directly into your amplifier's line input.

Pros:

• Cheapest option by far
• No setup, no apps, no Wi-Fi needed
• Works immediately

Cons:

• You're physically tethered to the amp
• Sound quality limited by your phone's DAC
• Phone calls interrupt music
• Can't control it from across the room

Sound quality: Acceptable but limited. Your phone's headphone output wasn't designed to drive a hi-fi system. You'll notice a lack of detail and dynamics compared to a proper source.

Best for: A quick fix while you decide on a proper solution.

4. Bluetooth Receiver (£20–£50)

How it works: A small Bluetooth receiver plugs into your amp's analogue input. You pair your phone and stream wirelessly.

Pros:

• Cheap and simple
• No wires to your phone
• Easy to set up

Cons:

• Audio is compressed (SBC codec is standard; aptX or LDAC are better but not universal)
• Range limited to about 10 metres
• Phone calls and notifications interrupt music
• Your phone is doing the streaming — battery drain is real
• Bluetooth can be fiddly to pair, especially with multiple devices

Sound quality: Noticeable step down from wired. Bluetooth compression smooths out detail and reduces dynamic range. Fine for background music, but you'll hear the difference on anything you're properly listening to.

Best for: Kitchen or workshop listening where ultimate quality isn't the priority.

3. Chromecast Audio / Google Cast (£30–£100)

How it works: A Chromecast Audio (discontinued but available second-hand) or a Chromecast-compatible device plugs into your amp. You cast music from apps on your phone.

Pros:

• Streams over Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth — better quality
• Phone acts as remote, not the source
• Supports multi-room grouping with other Cast devices

Cons:

• Chromecast Audio is discontinued — second-hand only
• Google Cast alternatives (like WiiM Mini) start at around £100
• Limited to services that support Google Cast
• No AirPlay support for Apple users
• No Roon support

Sound quality: Decent. Wi-Fi streaming avoids Bluetooth compression, and the Chromecast Audio's optical output was surprisingly capable for the price. A clear step up from Bluetooth.

Best for: Android users who want wireless streaming on a budget and can find a second-hand unit.

2. All-in-One Network Streamer (£150–£500)

How it works: A dedicated network streamer like the WiiM Pro Plus or Bluesound Node connects to your amp via analogue (RCA) or digital (optical/coax) outputs. It has its own app and supports multiple streaming services.

Pros:

• Purpose-built for the job
• Built-in DAC means analogue output ready to go
• Supports most streaming services natively
• Good app experience (especially WiiM)
• Multi-room capability

Cons:

• You're paying for a built-in DAC even if you already own a better one
• Analogue output quality varies by price — budget models use budget DACs
• Locked into the manufacturer's app for some features
• £150–£500 is a lot when you only need the streaming functionality

Sound quality: Good to very good, depending on the model and whether you use the internal DAC or digital output to an external one. The Bluesound Node is well-regarded; the WiiM Pro Plus punches above its weight for the price.

Best for: People who don't own a separate DAC and want an all-in-one streaming solution with analogue outputs.

1. Dedicated USB Streaming Endpoint (from £69.99)

How it works: A small, purpose-built endpoint connects to your existing DAC via USB and streams music over your network. No built-in DAC, no analogue processing — just a clean, bit-perfect digital signal to the equipment you already own.

Pros:

• Best sound quality — your DAC does the conversion, not a budget chip inside a streamer
• Bit-perfect output preserves every detail from the source
• Supports Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2 and Roon Bridge simultaneously
• Cheapest dedicated streaming option at £69.99
• No duplicate DAC to pay for
• Perfect for multi-room setups at scale

Cons:

• Requires a DAC with USB input (most modern DACs have one)
• No analogue output — not suitable if your amp only has line-level inputs and no DAC
• No built-in display or standalone app

Sound quality: The best of the five options, because the endpoint isn't trying to be a DAC — it's just delivering the purest possible signal to a DAC that's designed to handle it. The quality of your final sound is determined by your DAC and amp, not by a compromise chip inside a £150 streamer.

PiBridge Audio is a USB streaming endpoint built on a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W, running optimised audio software. It outputs bit-perfect audio via USB and supports all three major streaming protocols at £69.99.

Best for: Anyone who already owns a DAC (even a budget one) and wants the best sound quality with the least compromise.

Quick Comparison

So What Should You Buy?

If you own a DAC or an amp with USB input, a dedicated USB endpoint gives you the best sound for the least money. You're not paying for a built-in DAC you don't need, and the bit-perfect output means your existing equipment performs at its best.

If you don't own a DAC and don't want to buy one, an all-in-one streamer like the WiiM Pro Plus is a solid choice — though consider that a PiBridge (£69.99) paired with even a basic DAC like the Topping E30 (£99) would likely outperform the analogue output of any streamer under £400, and give you more upgrade flexibility in the future.