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I want to streamline my current jumble of cables and crap into something simple. I need to maximize space. Won't bore anyone with the details but I want a device...receiver or something besides a computer that can store about 100gb music. Do I have a 100gb of music? I'm close.
Is there a device on the market that can store, play lossless files through a home stereo set up without having to use a computer? I'm willing to spend a little bit to get higher fidelity but I'd like to keep it to under $500. In a perfect world, this new receiver would also have 3 additional inputs for the turntable, TV/Dish and the Roku/Blu-Ray? I'm also interested in upgrading from the bose bookshelf speakers I've owned since college. Any help is greatly appreciated.
mmalloy
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mmalloy:
I've got a Yamaha "Digital Audio Server MXC-1000." It looks like a big CD player and has a tray for discs. It also has a hard drive of, I believe, 160GB. It can record CDs from the built-in player to the hard disc and can transfer anything else to the hard disc via inputs on the back. It also has the ability to stream music to other devices in a house through a wi-fi system, though you don't have to hook up the wi-fi to use its other features. They don't make them anymore but they at least used to be found pretty easily on eBay for under $500. Good luck.
Kerry
Vortexbox is a linux distribution that was designed for audio ripping, serving and playing. I use a Dell Optiplex 745 sff with 2gb ram and a 2tb drive (I've got 6000+ cds ripped on it). I would suggest sticking to the 2.2 version. I control everything via my iPhone with the free Logitech app. You can have the dac of your choice hooked up to it. I just use the entry level Asus Xonar card and the sound quality is amazing. It literally takes 20 minutes to do an install and if you have get a new cd just pop it in and it will rip it and will be ready to play in about 15 minutes. About $100 investment just go out on craigslist and find an old desktop preferably a business level sff buy a new hard drive and the xonar card from newegg and half an hour later you should be ready to go...
... Start saving up your shekels.
$500? Aim higher.
Good luck.
Smile
Sox
160GB.
There's better hi-rez players around, some with potentially more storage and plenty of $200 DACs around.
You'll still need your PC to organize all your music and load your device.
I tried the OPPO solution, be it with the 95 version, but it costs well over $500 (recently I sold mine for close to $800). I didn't like it so much, the applications were kind of slow and kludgy. It did sound great with disks and playing back files from my harddrive though I did have to restructure the layout of my digital files on the drive. Ultimately it didn't have a digital input (the new model does) and it required a monitor and network connection(talk about adding to the cable mess).
I'd like a terrabyte solid state harddrive connected to somekind of black box that allows me to chose what music files are sent to my
DAC via a iPhone (or other) application. There's a device called the NODE that I think will do this. But such a setup is out of your range.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
"I'd like a terrabyte solid state harddrive connected to somekind of black box that allows me to chose what music files are sent to my
DAC via a iPhone (or other) application. There's a device called the NODE that I think will do this. But such a setup is out of your range."
==============================================
Mac Mini> Squeezebox Touch (or Duet)> DAC> Preamp
Controlled with an Iphone or Ipad
There are plenty of portable medial players that can play lossless files and have the storage you require.
Some of them are affordable enough that you will have some money leftover to buy a little power amp to hang off it.
As far as I know, there is nothing that ticks all your boxes, and even then, to tick most of them is a lot more than $500.
If anyone knows of something, please post.
I am not only "in the industry" and a writer for Stereophile, in the past I served as a judge for the CES Innovation in Design and Engineering Awards.
Not to pull rank, but just to say that this sure ain't my first rodeo.
One problem is that when you want to add analog inputs to a digital box, you need either an analog passthrough linestage (and some way to control volume), or, an Analog to Digital converter to digitize the analog signals... .
When you started, I thought that the Sony DSD-based servers (both over $1000) might be the answer, and then I got to the deal-breakers of analog ins, and $500.
I actually think you might be best off phoning both Music Direct and Acoustic Sounds and asking if they can propose a solution.
I have to be forthright with you, because you and lots of other lovely people here and elsewhere seem to have a wish list that the larger market is ignoring, specifically because we audiophiles want at least CDQ downloads, but most people are happy enough with streaming from Pandora's pay service that gives you better fidelity.
Let some algorithm pick the music! Enjoy it!
Resistance is futile.
Embrace the suck.
Soylent Green is people.
# # #
Pick one, and stick with it!
John Marks
Thanks John. Appreciate the input. U mentioned Sony so I went to their website and saw the HAPS1. I'm about 500 short for that set but that seems to be what I need.
mmalloy
nt
Edits: 09/29/14
Thanks John. Appreciate the input. U mentioned Sony so I went to their website and saw the HAPS1. I'm about 500 short for that set but that seems to be what I need.
mmalloy
And I have not been hands-on with it, so, I don't know the ins and outs.
You can probably download the owner's manual from the Sony site.
I assume that you would then still need a stereo power amp.
Best of luck,
jm
Yes the Sony is simply a file-server/digital playback device-
still need Pre-amp/Power amp & speakers....
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