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Post by naim1425 on Mar 15, 2018 10:47:02 GMT
I'm going to have a final go in trying to steer you away from an N50, which to me is no better than SONOS in a fancy box, an expensive fancy box at that. It really isn't IMO best value for money or going to sound as good as the alternatives I'll suggest below, if you want something 'fancy' yet simple. 1). Get a Mac Mini, install Roon on it with TIDAL, very simple, cheaper than an N50 and infinitely better. 2). Buy a NUC small form factor PC, install Roon ROCK on it and again TIDAL - I've not done a back to back comparison with a Mac Mini personally, but it should sound better, as the lightweight Linux based O/S is bespoke for the NUC and Roon and it does nothing else, except serve files. You have upgrade paths for this option too, power supplies and SOtM end points, or other brand end points like SONORE. If you don't know what a Roon end point is, then Google is your friend. Roon ROCK = Roon Optimized Core Kit3). Auralic Aries Mini - the only downside to this player is you need an Apple device to control it, but the controller app is very good indeed and super easy to use. They also sound superb for not much money or head scratching - possibly the easiest to use, with arguably the best controller app 4). Bluesound Node 2 - again very simple and can be used as a Roon end point if desired. App not as slick as Roon or the Auralic. All will play files stored either connected directly to the player, or from a network share - in fact you can have HDDs inside most of them with music files if you want. They all better an N50 for sound quality IMO. Here's a thought, I went to the Bristol Hi-Fi show recently (and a high-end Bowers & Wilkins/CHORD one tonight). Not one demonstration was using a SONOS, Pioneer N50 or similar to play files and show off their kit. Countless however were using Apple laptops or Mac Minis, Roon based systems or Auralic file servers/streamers. Roon/TIDAL was the software of choice for pretty much all, if they weren't using something bespoke to the player. I saw many systems costing upwards of £50K running from a Macbook and DAC. Tonight's demo had a £60K B&W/CHORD system fed from a £2,000 Innous music server. That to me speaks volumes about how highly regarded file based audio is now, but from good players, not off the shelf mass market named brands like Pioneer. Don't get me wrong though, an N50 will play files and do it very easily. But you can get so much more for your money, in both value and sound quality. If I was unsure about the whole file based audio thing and didn't want to spend too much to start off with, I'd get a Pi with Volumio and follow the threads on here - but I wouldn't buy a fancy expensive box for a Pi type music player, which is what a Pioneer N50 is, a small computer in a fancy box. The controller software is not good compared to the above options either. You do have a multitude of options unfortunately, especially if you can build your own, but the above are relatively simple to implement, can look nice if that's important (you can buy slicker cases for the NUC) and most importantly they sound very good and have great controller software, either an app or computer based. Do some reading up, there's a mass of information online, especially on YouTube. Well, you did ask . . . Well written,I use a oppo 105 and 205 in a cinama room and my seperarate music room n50 in another room(wifey's room) as she is not into electronics the n50 is tidy to look at and does what you expect it to do play music,turn it on, click on radio or hi-Res files,flac,wav,ape or whatever on a nas box and press play,on a iPod,iPhone,android device and the boxes remote control,you just look at screen on the front to navigate to what track or album you want to play.ITS All In ONE BOX,no special software no special keyboard no need for iPad mini or any thing else,it just plays,it keeps her room tidy,if you want plug your tv into n50 dac or anything else with a toslink/coax cable,it's got some hefty bits inside of it,I also plugged in stans dac into the n50 to compare the dacs,this box just works,I won't say it's up with the krell s or the audio notes stuff ect,but my wife uses it so it must be simple.she has no desire to have multiple pc s or multiple hifi boxes just to get one device to work,by the way I spoilt my wife time listening to music because I was to criticle,chasing the golden egg,but from years back I listen to the music not the hifi,prosessor or bits of special cables,any if you don't like the n50 don't buy it ,it's you won't.i have a enough pc based products,popcorn hour,and android boxes that play flac or wav files and some also play 4K movies. the thread above explains well enough but every body on this forum is not gifted or experienced with electronics as some on the forum thanx to this forum I'm pissing about with a battery powered dac
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Post by Barrington on Mar 15, 2018 13:40:37 GMT
The Oppo is a really good way into this Cambridge and Pioneer universal players which I've had before the OPPO also accommodate file playback no doubt a few others as well .
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Post by John on Mar 15, 2018 14:06:28 GMT
I used to use a cheap 50 pound Sony for this. But this method needs a screen
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Post by naim1425 on Mar 15, 2018 14:24:13 GMT
The Oppo is a really good way into this Cambridge and Pioneer universal players which I've had before the OPPO also accommodate file playback no doubt a few others as well . can you use them as a seperate dac.oppo s even the cheap 980/981/983 play sacd/dvda and im sure the cambridge and i think lecson i read are oppo clones
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Post by Barrington on Mar 15, 2018 14:41:56 GMT
Cambridge and Pioneer universal players which I've had before the OPPO also accommodate file playback no doubt a few others as well . can you use them as a seperate dac.oppo s even the cheap 980/981/983 play sacd/dvda and im sure the cambridge and i think lecson i read are oppo clones Any players with digital inputs can be used as a DAC . Yes Cambridge are or were OPPO clones , Primare BD32 is as well , but quite a bit more expensive.
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Post by naim1425 on Mar 15, 2018 15:39:31 GMT
The Oppo is a really good way into this Cambridge and Pioneer universal players which I've had before the OPPO also accommodate file playback no doubt a few others as well . i think the early oppo dvd players 980/981/983 all play sacd/dvda and im sure Cambridge and lecson had cloned the oppo 83 bdp,but charged much more,i use oppo 105 and 205 which has sabre dac chips,i cannot fault oppo dvd/bluray players
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Post by MartinT on Mar 17, 2018 5:30:44 GMT
I've been singing the praises of the Pioneer all-in-one units ever since we bought one. Fab machines.
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Post by Tim on Mar 18, 2018 12:44:36 GMT
What would be interesting is to pit one of those against a well built server, or something like a NUC with the Roon ROCK installed? I personally think they are rather expensive, but that's easy for me to say I suppose as I can build my own, not so easy for those that can't. It is a very neat all in one solution though, can't argue with that It's a conundrum for a beginner that's for sure.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 18, 2018 12:49:50 GMT
Oh, I'm sure you can undercut them, Tim. There are times, though, when you want a neat functional unit that any family member can use without advanced training. Our Pioneer gets a lot of use because it's easy and intuitive.
It's just the shitty Linn speakers that hold it back. One day...
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Post by Tim on Mar 18, 2018 12:53:41 GMT
Yup, for 'normal folk' units like that are perfect, we are just nutters who don't know when to stop, well most of the time. I'm nearly cured though Whack a pair of MA Bronze 2 speakers on that and it should sound better than the Linn ones. I'm not normally a fan of the MA house sound, but the Bronze 2 isn't half bad for the money.
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tonedeaf
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Oldies are Goldies
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Post by tonedeaf on Mar 29, 2018 13:29:31 GMT
I'm back online again and now looking at various options hopefully will have something new in the next couple of months, thanks for the recommendations.
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Post by Chris on Apr 26, 2018 3:43:26 GMT
Why make it so complicated? Surely google chrome audio at £30 would do the biz?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2018 12:08:17 GMT
thats the only thing tht puts me off file based systems, having to use a viewer (pc/laptop) etc to find tracks which is more cumbersome than just plugging in a smartphone or IPOD. i need to research some small tablets that can accept a usb ext SATA hdd which can effectively be left on permanently, however something remote controlled and usable from your armchair would be even better. Yep. Laptops & computers are a pain in the arse.. Its all about easy for me & im afraid a tablet is the only way i would entertain. The only issue i see with Tablets is most are Android. Getting a DAC to work maybe an issue, tis becoming an issue for me at the moment..
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Post by MartinT on Apr 26, 2018 12:23:39 GMT
A Raspberry Pi with add-on DAC makes an elegant solution to drive your amp directly. Just plug your USB drive full of music straight in.
You can then control it from your Android tablet, including volume. Or phone. Or anything that can browse.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 26, 2018 12:28:36 GMT
Just saw your other post. The IQAudIO addon board drives headphones directly and very well. I have one in my bedroom Pi.
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Post by John on Apr 26, 2018 12:58:39 GMT
Are you looking for something more portable My own experience with tablets as a music source is not positive but others might have a better experience
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2018 14:02:21 GMT
Im looking for virtually nothing but a DAC/Headphone unit. Raspberry is way too much hassle for me.. I dont see anything more easy that attaching a OTG adaptor to the Tablet feeding the Hard Drive & DAC/Headphone unit from it.Providing the Android recognises the DAC.. Bypassing the Tablets internal sound rendering it basically as a controller.
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Post by Slinger on Apr 26, 2018 15:35:06 GMT
I thought the same as you until I actually caved and got a Pi. I think it actually makes life easier, and simpler in the long run. All you need is a Pi with the same sort of card plugged into it that I've got, and Martin has. Your USB drive full of music plugs directly into it. Your DAC/Headphone amp plugs directly into it, and you need to run a lead (CAT5, 6, 7, whatever) between your router and the Pi. You can even do it wirelessly if you want to go the extra mile. You load whatever (free) software you decide to go with on a micro SD card, shove that into the Pi and you're pretty much good to go. The only thing left to do is decide what you want to use to control it. You can put the (free) software on a PC, a tablet or phone, or all three of them if you want to. I'm controlling mine both from a PC and a tablet, depending on where I'm sitting. You also gain a decent user interface to select your music in.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2018 16:56:55 GMT
Hi Slinger I did buy everything to get going with a Pi but gave it away because the masses of Post about it made it look way too daunting [which you have in a handful of lines ].. Digital is not suppose to be hard & this is most probably the reason i always go back to Records trying to hide from it..
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Post by MartinT on Apr 26, 2018 18:08:32 GMT
Not trying to push a solution on you, but we could walk you through the process. You can simplify it to a Pi only (by using a headphone board in the Pi). Once setup, it's done - just turn it on and play. You never touch the Pi subsequently, just control it from the tablet.
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