|
|
Post by mansie on Nov 24, 2023 13:04:32 GMT
My Cocktail Audio X100 Pro music server broke down again, which left me to reflect if I perhaps should purchase a better product. A few months ago I upgraded my Schiit Bifrost 2 DAC to the 2/64 which provided the sonic enhancements of better resolution and deeper, more tuneful bass. My thinking is that perhaps it is worthwhile matching the better DAC with better streaming capabilities. The X100 has internal storage and runs the Squeezebox server. I installed the Qobuz app so it acts as a Qobuz streamer and player for my own music collection. I don't use the X100 CD ripping any more, I use a program on my PC which gives me more control, after which I drag and drop the files on the X100 drive. I suppose I have the options: - Music Server with streamer build-in
- Streamer + External NAS
- Streamer + 1TB USB drive connected
An example if 1. would be the Innuos Zen Mini mk3 Option 2. My music collection is small < 1TB and I could put it on an external NAS, I saw some really small power efficient enclosures. A NAS could be used for backups and Photo storage. Option 3. External USB drive storage will require USB 3.1 / 3.2 port as USB 2.0 is phased-out At the moment I am torn between the 3 options above. Did any of you face the same dilamma? My requirements for a streamer would be: Qobuz hi-res support USB3 Audio-optimized USB Out Small footprint (I have limited space for hi-fi) A recently released streamer caught my eye: SILENT ANGEL MUNICH M1T NETWORK BRIDGE - what do you folks think of its specification? |
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Nov 24, 2023 16:09:37 GMT
Could a Sonore model suit ?
|
|
|
|
Post by mansie on Nov 24, 2023 16:21:54 GMT
You mean Sonore Ultrarendu? Is this still for sale in the UK? Edit: Audiostore UK link |
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Nov 24, 2023 16:41:00 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by petea on Nov 24, 2023 16:42:47 GMT
Although I have no experience with the Zen, I do have both the Phoenix USB and PhoenixNET units from Innuos and am impressed with both the design philosophy of the company and their implementation. In both the UK and Germany I use a Fidata music server although I have used Sinology NAS drives as servers using Minimserver running on them to do so. For Qobus I use a Naim NDX2 (with Teddy Pardo PSU) in the UK and a combination of an NDX plus BubbleUpnP on a NAS in Germany. For file playback I use USB via a PhoenixUSB straight to the DAC (Lab12 DAC1 Reference).
Anyway, that is a roundabout way of me saying I would be most attracted to the Zen route.
|
|
|
|
Post by mansie on Nov 24, 2023 19:04:03 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by mansie on Nov 24, 2023 19:06:54 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Nov 24, 2023 20:28:46 GMT
That took my eye too...
|
|
|
|
Post by mansie on Nov 25, 2023 11:41:20 GMT
So what I understand is that the easiest solution is an all in one box, like the Zen Mini or Audiostore Prestige, because these devices will do streaming as well. However, some forum members will have a dedicated streamer, such as the Ultrarendu, for better SQ. others will have a USB re locker to make the USB signal into the DAC better timed, also for better SQ. Now it is up to me to decide if such enhancements will make a difference in my system.
|
|
|
|
Post by petea on Nov 25, 2023 12:22:51 GMT
Sounds about right. You can of course use something like the Zen as a starting point to build out from in a similar way to how I use the NDX2. You may choose in the future to use an external DAC and take the digital out from the Zen to it and so use the Zen as a digital renderer only, or maybe add an external server such as a Fidata as I did. It depends on what becomes your dominant platform.
|
|
|
|
Post by mansie on Nov 28, 2023 17:35:22 GMT
I am holding off purchase for now. Every few days I come across a new device that looks attractive. How about this one: Eversolo DMP-A6 Master Edition Network Audio Streamer It gets good reviews and adding a NVMe SSD card will turn the DMP-A6 into a media server. The operating software is customized and looks more modern than the LMS / Squeezebox based streamer / media servers, though most will also support ROON. |
|
|
|
Post by mansie on Dec 20, 2023 21:21:49 GMT
Well, I decided to get the eversolo DMP A6 Master Edition but I negotiated a part exchange and my item is stuck in transit. I am now faced with a streamer-less Christmas and I decided I couldn’t wait any longer. I tried to revive the Raspberry Pi 3 with Hifiberry digi+ hat, running Volumio. Now Volumio has moved on to becoming subscription based if you want to use a streaming service, and though I think Volumio is good, I wanted to try a viable alternative. A forum member mentioned that SqueezeLite player and LMS could run on the piCorePlayer so I decided to give that a go. PiCorePlayer is fully supported with regular releases, it is on version 8.2 now. The tutorials are very good and I was up and running within a day. I put all my albums on an old 2TB USB hard drive and mounted it. I also configured a Samba server and installed the Qobuz plugin. This raspberry Pi server/ streamer can do the same as what my old Cocktailaudio could do, bar the CD ripping. On the iPad I keep using the Squeezepad app and on Android the Squeezer app. Just a quick reconfiguration to point the apps to the new server.
|
|
|
|
Post by NigelB on Dec 21, 2023 20:07:50 GMT
So what I understand is that the easiest solution is an all in one box, like the Zen Mini or Audiostore Prestige, because these devices will do streaming as well. However, some forum members will have a dedicated streamer, such as the Ultrarendu, for better SQ. others will have a USB re locker to make the USB signal into the DAC better timed, also for better SQ. Now it is up to me to decide if such enhancements will make a difference in my system. I'm not sure that, into the same DAC, dedicated streamer beats streamer-with-storage is anything like a universal truth. But if you did want to separate then you might consider something from the Innuos Pulse family which are basically the Zen without the drive. Here in Leicestershire I have a Synology NAS and use a Pulse Mini with the external Zen Mini Mk3 linear PSU, while in Kendal I have the same PSU driving a 2TB Zen Mini Mk3.
I too like Innuos's philosophy and their designs, they use the venerable Sean Jacobs to design their power supplies, and the Innuos Sense app is a joy to use (I speak as a former Bluesound Node 2i owner who was a huge fan of the justifiably highly regarded BluOS app).
EDIT: the trouble with not reading the whole of the thread before posting is...
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Dec 21, 2023 22:32:11 GMT
The only generalisation I would make is that no PC would ever be in the same room as my system. Too noisy in all senses of the word.
Before you go and tell me that all streamers are PCs - yes, they are (kinda), but they are dedicated designs, very low noise with a low noise PSU, and run dedicated code for the task.
|
|
