Grace Digital’s new Primo Wi-Fi Media Streamer retrofits any audio system with wireless tunes

By Ryan Waniata June 30, 2014

grace digitals new primo wi fi media streamer cuts cost wireless streaming hero1 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Grace Digital is all about wireless audio, offering a multitude of ways to stream your favorite tunes, from waterproof portables to stereo shelf speakers. The company’s newest toy is a portal to pull your existing stereo into the world of Internet radio, dubbed the Primo Wi-Fi Media Streamer.

The Primo Wi-Fi is built around an attractive little interface, with a 3.5-inch color LCD screen and familiar on board controls. Wireless control of the device is handled via an included touch remote, or an available app for both iPhone users and Androidians alike. Grace Digital claims the device connects quickly to your wireless home network, and it then pipes music to just about any existing stereo via two “high quality” RCA jacks.

Music sources for the Primo include a respectable collection of Internet apps such as Pandora, iHeart Radio, Rhapsody, and others, as well as SiriusXM for those who have a subscription. Spotify is conspicuously missing, though it may be something the company will add with later firmware updates. The Primo can also read a host of audio file formats (including hi-res FLAC files) from a USB drive, as well as streaming music from your PC or Mac at up to 96kHz/24bit resolution. The device also has a 3.5mm Aux input, though regretfully, it can’t pull files directly from your mobile device via Bluetooth, something we’re starting to expect from the genre.

In addition to Wi-Fi streaming, the Primo also moonlights as an alarm clock, offering up to five individual alarms which can be set to music or a regular buzzer on a daily, weekly, weekend, weekday, or single alarm schedule. The LCD screen also has 30 brightness settings to adjust the device perfectly for day or night.

One of the Primo’s biggest attractions is its $150 price tag, which is a pretty reasonable number if the device can deliver quality audio performance. If you’re already sold, you can pick up the Primo Wi-Fi Media Streamer on Grace Digital’s website starting today.

Editors' Recommendations

NAD’s CS1 adds wireless streaming music to any audio system

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…

Audio / Video

A $20 Chromecast with Google TV is perfect for this one reason

Chromecast with Google TV.

Normally, I would never recommend that someone buy a streaming device that tops out at 1080p resolution. Even if you somehow don't have a 4K TV already — I'm not judging, there are plenty of good reasons — you might well have one in the future. And at that point, it's better to not have to buy new hardware until absolutely necessary. Just go ahead and spend the extra $30 now for a 4K version.

But it's hard to say no to a $20 Chromecast with Google TV HD.

Audio / Video

Tidal vs. Spotify: Which music streaming service has the features you need?

Tidal app for iOS on an iPhone 14 showing now playing screen with Max quality track.

Spotify is the world's leading music streaming service, with over 236 million active paid subscribers and a vast library of artists, albums, podcasts, and audiobooks. It is available on almost every desktop and mobile device. However, if you are a fan of hi-res audio, Tidal may be a better option as it emphasizes hi-res content and offers a vast collection of music and video content.

To determine which platform is better, we compared Spotify and Tidal based on price, sound quality, and supported devices.
Price
Spotify has two tiers of service for individual users. The free, ad-supported tier gives access to the entire library of Spotify content, but has restrictions on how you can interact with it and also has ads. The full-featured Premium plan costs $11 per month, which is standard for the industry now. Spotify also offers plans for two individuals for $15 per month, called Spotify Premium Duo, and a six-person family plan (with parental controls) for $17 per month. There's also a student plan at just $6 per month.

Audio / Video

What is Qobuz? Music, features, and pricing explained

An iPhone 15 Pro showing Qobuz app.

Are you a music lover who craves the highest-quality sound possible, but can't quite afford the hefty price tag that comes with a top-of-the-line audio setup like turntables, integrated amplifiers, and hi-fi speakers? Fear not, my friend, for there is a solution -- Qobuz, the ultra-high-quality music streaming platform that will have you listening and singing to the tunes of your favorite artists in no time.

While some audiophiles may argue that physical media is the only way to achieve true sound quality, the convenience and affordability of Qobuz is hard be beat. So sit back, relax, and let us guide you through everything you need to know about this music streaming service. Just be sure to keep it on the down-low from your vinyl-collecting pals -- we wouldn't want to start a music war.
What is Qobuz?
Qobuz is a music-streaming platform with access to over 100 million songs, all of which are available in the hi-res FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) format. As far as quality goes, it’s tough to beat the kind of clarity, dynamic range, and definition you’ll hear on a Qobuz track, with the catalog being available from CD-quality (16-bit at 44.1kHz) up to 24-bit at 192kHz.