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Best standalone music server?

So I am considering dipping my toes into the full digital world and was wondering what people here may consider as the best standalone music server, and here I am going to be specific.
I do not want to consider a home pc or mac based type of system at all!
Looking at adding one of the standalone models like for example the Wyred4sound ms1 or cocktail audio.
High on my list is ability to rip my cds directly at the unit itself, access to internet radio and other music apps (Pandora etc). High quality built in dac would be nice but if not then high quality digital out to run to an external dac. I will not be needing to access music files stored on another pc as my home pc is pretty old but fully functional for my simple needs. The only music looking to access from it right now are ripped cds and internet available music in whatever form.
So if it worked out well, yes it may be a replacement even for a cd player completely

Thank you
uberwaltz

Showing 4 responses by 2psyop

2psyop's avatar
2psyop
1,831 posts
 
Here is another idea. If you like it fine, if not okay too. I had bought a Bluesound Node 2 to add to my stereo. I already had a quality CD player and many, many CDs. So I wanted to rip all my CDs to a NAS to play via the Node 2 AND stream music via Spotify and Tidal. After many hours of ripping my CDs and tagging album artwork.... I started listening to an ever growing streamed library of music, much of which were the same albums I owned on CD. When I started listening to MQA I was really impressed by the sound. I questioned WHY I had ripped my CD collection in the first place. When I have a CD player to use when i want to listen to MY MUSIC, why not just stream music when I am not???? The Bluesound Node 2 sounds truly fantastic, but if you MUST rip your CDs.... get the Vault 2.
2psyop's avatar
2psyop
1,831 posts
 
uberwaltz- Is your Lyngdorf a MQA enabled device?
I believe the Bluesound Vault 2 will only send the digital signal for full unfolding to 192 res if the receiving DAC is MQA capable and you have set the Vault 2 to do so. If you send the fully unfolded MQA from the Vault 2 out of it’s analog output you will get the full resolution.

“Bluesound Players are a full MQA playback solution. They will decode and render MQA playback up to 24/192. If however you are connecting an external DAC, the maximum output will be 24/96 and MQA processing is not happening in the DAC.

If you have an external DAC that is certified by MQA, you may bypass Bluesound's MQA rendering process in the Bluesound NODE 2 or VAULT 2 and send the pure untouched music bits directly via TOSLink Optical or Digital COAX output for processing by your external DAC.

  • In the Player Selection Drawer, press the Settings icon next to the selected NODE 2 or VAULT 2
  • From the Audio Settings page, set Tone Controls to Off
  • Set Audio output levels to Fixed
  • MQA External DAC will no longer be grayed out, set this to Yes
  • Close Audio Settings

The Bluesound NODE 2 and VAULT 2 will now bypass MQA processing.”


2psyop's avatar
2psyop
1,831 posts
 
rlb61- There so many ways to go with a digital library of music. As mentioned Aurender, Wyred4sound, Bluesound, Cocktail Audio make streaming devices and allow access to digital storage files. So does Sony, NAD, Cambridge Audio, Auralic and many others. For streaming services there is Tidal, Pandora, Spotify, Apple music, Amazon music and also many others. WiFi access in one’s home can be tricky, you may want to test this first. Some have reported that ethernet has been much more reliable than WiFi n the home. I also added an AC access point that I can plug the ethernet into! Works great! Let us know what you want to do EXACTLY. Make your own thread.
2psyop's avatar
2psyop
1,831 posts
 
I have not had those problems with my setup. But as you stated YMMV and my home wifi network has not dropped out. When I had an analog rig, could never get used to those pops and clicks even with a good vinyl cleaning. With digital, my audio has never been so black silent when there is no signal. I guess when it comes to unwanted noise, we all have to pick our poison.
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