Internet Rdio vs VTuner????

I have an Onkyo 807 with VTuner, as well as a Samsung SMARTV, with Vtuner...I use it sparingly...there are a few stations that I go to, but not many. I use the web interface of the Onkyo, to add my own stations. Yes, you do need the .m3u extension. I also use the Pandora and SIRIUS connections to stream under iRadio in the NET function.
I have not been able to add LASTFM in to the directory, however.
My 807 has what is called "Music Optimizer" for iRadio, and mp3 streaming, which is supposed to improve audio quality of the file. I have it set to "on".

Not true actually....
There are several ways to stream audio over the internet and thousands of "stations" available. So the rub is "how do I get a list of stations broken down by genre, geo-location, etc"?
That's where services like VTuner, Reciva, Shoutcast, etc... come into the mix. They are simply a database type service that organizes all those thousands of streams into working links sorted by your criteria.
I have four internet radios- each uses it's own method of sorting and connection to working streams:
1) Acoustic Energy WiFi Internet Radio- uses the "Reciva" brand database to organize and send working stream links to the radio.
2) Linksys WMLS11B Internet Radio- uses the Linksys database to organize and send working stream links to the radio.
3) Sangean WFR-28 Rechargeable Portable WiFi Internet Radio- uses the "VTuner" brand database to organize and send working stream links to the radio.
4) Mutant MIG-PIR-1 M-Wavio Portable Pocket-Sized WiFi Internet Radio- uses the "VTuner" brand database to organize and send working stream links to the radio.

So in the end, VTuner and their competitors are simply services that help organize and present working links to media streams-they don't actually create content.
Unfortunately, streaming devices (unlike computers) are usually locked to one particular service and if that service is offline or goes out of business the device will no longer be able to find any media since all it's searching runs through the service provider's database.
Edited by replayrob - 3/14/13 at 8:56am

I think, also, what the OP is forgetting is...an mp3 file, played on a better AVR, through better speakers, is still only an mp3 file. I don't think that you are going to get fidelity, on something that was designed for quick listening via a portable player. (music optimizer, or no) It's there for convenience, not critical listening....
Also, are you 100% certain, after switching receivers, that everything is connected correctly? That none of the speakers is out of phase?

From my experience with the Onkyo...you won't see song info, or station info. And maybe it's just a simple fact the the Marantz has better DAC's than the Onkyo.
It's a pretty sure bet that Onkyo has been skimping on materials, based on failure rate.

like others have said; your stuck with the interface and display that comes with your receiver.

i use vtuner everyday all day to stream commercial free radio thru my HK avr 1700. i'm not a fan of vtuner but it's what comes with HK receivers. turn on receiver, wait for receiver to connect to vtuner and 2 menus later your listening to music.

i had a pioneer vsx1020k that had a great interface built in the memory similar to a webpage. it would tune to the last played station when you turned the receiver on. click and go, but it had drop out problems and wouldn't reconnect like vtuner does.

vtuner does not need a .pls or .m3u extension, only if the station streams thru .pls or .m3u does it need it, there is also .asx but most stream without those extensions. if you can open the station on your pc in winamp or windows media player and find the station information, the url for playing will be there. in winamp i right click on the header bar and click on file information. for windows media player go to file/properties and the url should be there. i like to listen to blues rock. KOQX is an excellent station, the streaming url is http://50.23.115.122:8420 enter that in vtuner and it will stream.

ya i know... i use winamp v5.03 from the dark ages
don't hate me