Using Brennan B2 as an auxiliary to a Pioneer XC-HM86D

[Peter D]

Having bought the Brennan B2  2 or 3 months ago,  we then found that we were using the Brennan mainly as a radio, with only occasionally listening to the many CDs I have copied onto it.  However, our Internet reception is unsatisfactory, so, on the advice of Richer Sounds, we have bought a Pioneer XC-HM86D and plan to use the Brennan as an auxiliary hard drive storing the CDs. This doesn't work USB to USB; on the advice of Martin Brennan we are getting an optical cable. Will this enable us to search for and play CDs through the Pioneer, which is acting as an amp. Any advice please.

We will be connecting an AIWA deck (magnetic cartridge) to the Brennan to record vinyl.

Thanks, Peter

[Jasper Warwick]

The optical cable will allow you output music to the Pioneer which will then convert the digital output of the B2 to analog which it will then play through the speakers. I did pretty much the same with my B2 when I bought a separate  DAC to upgrade the sound quality.

You will still need to control your B2 either from the front panel or via the web interface.

The pioneer also has a Bluetooth interface so you could also use that to stream music. I use the Bluetooth interface to connect my B2 to my second hifi in my basement. The sound quality is not as good but still perfectly acceptable.

Jasper.

[Brennan Support]

Hi Peter

Martin here - no you won't be able to control the Brennan from the Pioneer.

Martin