Best standalone music server?

I already have a preamp and dac.  Just looking for a great sounding, easy to use streamer.  CD ripping is a +, but I have a CD player so it is not entirely necessary.  Most streamers have volume knobs=equals extra noise=lower sound quality (I could be wrong). I want to keep the music signal chain as fee as possible from any extra decoding, artifacts, or noise.  Probably not interested in anything over 3-4 thousand used or new.  
Aurender (most use HDD memory instead of SDD- good or bad?)
Wyred 4 Sound Nucleus+
Blue sound products
others?

I just want to mention that this forum has been very helpful in educating me on the scary world of digital streaming.  Thank you everyone.

Rob, I still whole heartedly recommend the bluesound vault 2.
Needs a hardwired Ethernet connection to stream and connect to home network.
It is child's play to setup and configure
No volume knob.........

If you alreay have a good DAC with optical input, why not try a Chromecast Audio (and its digital ouput)? There are apps for Spotify, Qobuz, TuneIn and many other services. You can also access your computer’s drive/NAS with BubbleUPnP. It will do files up to 24/96. See here for measurements: http://archimago.blogspot.nl/2016/02/measurements-google-chromecast-audio_27.html

Heres a new guy question:  Can my sonos play Hi Res (above CD bit rate) if it goes into an upsampling dac?  Seems that it would be limited by the sonos, but what if it has modifications that allow 24/96, or DSD, or MQA?

Chromecast looks interesting and cost effective- which app does 24/96?

Uberrwaltz- Bluesound may be my solution to streaming.  I will probably wait until Axpona to see what the rooms are using, but I want to have a few products to keep an eye out for.  Blue sound will definitely be one.  I want simplicity, much like you, and of course I want high fidelity as this is for my main rig.

All these apps can do 24/96. The question is if the streaming service does this. The answer is basically no. Highest quality level right now is 16/44 for Tidal or Qobuz. That is true for the Chromecast Audio, but also for all other streamers.
Streaming from a NAS is a different story, of course.

Rob
One of the reasons I am still happy with the Vault is Tidal
$20 a month for their hifi service gives MQA at up to 192 speed, yes the whole MQA arguement is raging hard elsewhere but I know what I hear in my system and that is better sq that redbook!
I prefer the digital out from the Vault compared to its analog outs which sound a little soft and flabby imho.

For about $1000 the Vault is hard to beat and its simplicity is half of its appeal to me, I am sure there are better solutions out there but for me it was/is near perfect.

Does not hurt that I can listen to any cd form my collection without getting my backside out of my chair either...lol

If you want a great digital transport that has similar features that their 35k server, streamer has, plus can run Roon and playback up to 8X DSD or 768 khz PCM check this out: List is $4995, but I'm sure they can work with you.  It's sick good with all the software upgrades they keep on doing, so you will have a player that can be upgraded as you keep owning it, which is invaluable for digital as we all know. The thing I like best is that they can remotely set it up and download the software for you when upgrades come out.  No need to have to know computers to set it up, keep it running etc...  That was key to me.

The Memory Player Mini MK-2 now includes our automatic memory-loading software, delivering the best sonics in a smaller size and affordable price.  

 

The Mini can include storage of your choice, with external drives (USB or HDMI) or a networked drive (NAS).    

 

As Digital Transport with USB, SPDIF, HDMI and Toslink connections, the Mini incorporates all of our world-class patented jitter reduction software, including:

​

• Defractionalized wide-byte Memory

• IDEAS for files

• IDEAS for RAM

• IDEAS for operating systems

• The Clock Mapper

• RUR CD Copier

​

Optimized solid state storage (USB drive) can be added upon request.

The Mini MK-2 is bundled with JRiver 23 pre-optimized for the best playback, and now features our automatic memory-loading software. No more manually moving music to Memory!

 

Our patented technology is largely player independent and can run effectively with Roon, ITunes, HQ Signalyst, Foobar or any other player of your choice.*

 

The Mini is built upon an Intel-based mini PC platform. The Mini is also fully compatible with our Octuple DSD (DSD512, 22,5792 MHz) and 768 kHz PCM capable DAC which will connect to the MP Mini along with our DC power filtering and regeneration power products.

 

 

The Memory Player Mini – Play It From Memory

 

 

* When additional software is added, the Clock Mapper will need to be re-synchronized.

https://www.thememoryplayer.net/the-mini

A question for those much more knowledgeable than myself.

I stream Tidal through my Vault to my Lyngdorf via digital coax.
Now under info on the Lyngdorf it says max of 96k even if it is supposed to be a 192k MQA file. Is this because digital coax is limited to 96k max?
If so would I get full 192k using the vaults analog outputs instead?

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 

Thank you
That is very helpful and likely the reason for just sending at 24/96k right now.

However I do not think the lyngdorf dac is MQA capable right now, need to research that.

I'm interested in digital files as well. I'm ripping to pa PC via dbpoweramp. However, I don't have an ethernet connection where my listening room is located. So, for wi-fi, is there anything good to recommend?

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.

Guys, be careful.  Most of the AC access wifi points will add a lot of noise to the signal that you can't get out even by optical isolation that I'm using as does my Ayre QX5 on it's ethernet connection.  There just isn't any way to get around it.  Even on modest systems like the Bluesound is, the interference is there and can be heard.  

There is no doubt that an ethernet connection is best, but personally, I'd stick with wifi over the AC access point set up if you can't get a direct ethernet connection.  

(and yes, I have tried three different AC access systems to try them out and hated them all).  What I have now done is purchased the EROS router mk3 I believe it is, that has two ethernet connections built in.  I use an optical isolation system, but even without it, I didn't get any extra noise (I was running a very long cable from my other router to check this out), but without the isolation the soundstage will always be a bit smaller and the noise floor is higher.

I've also found that using better power cords on the router has made a fair difference.  YMMV.  

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.

Just got a Lumin U1 and extremely happy with it.

For years I used a Logitech (Slim Devices) Transporter. Was always pretty happy with that, but it started showing it’s age once Logi abandoned it, and getting things done through the user forums was excruciating.

The U1 to me sounds far better, and seems a far better built device. I guess it should be at around 4x the $.

Far as ripping, use a laptop and EAC with AccurateRip.  I don't want ripping technology anywhere near my playback sound chain.

The owner of Lumin is a HUGE audiophile. Not all companies are owned or run by someone who's into the hobby.  For you money, The Memory Player and it's less expensive server that I posted about above are the top ones, but Aurender and Lumin are outstanding and great values in their price ranges.  glad you like it.

Not sure why my post was removed today after being on there since April.  It was a very positive post about Lumin and Aurender.  I then mentioned The Memory Player, that a few of us have gotten as being the best we've heard (Matt who has the longest running DAC thread on AG has one and has talked about how great it is).  

Not a commercial for it, just stating that it's such a small company and many haven't heard of it, but if you want the top server, it really should be in that mix.  Please let me know what was wrong with that post as I missed something.  Thanks.

ctsooner
??
Your post from April is still there?
There was a pure spam post after it that was removed yesterday.

Well 18 months in and still have no desire to replace the Vault whatsoever.
In fact some of the latest updates by Bluesound which all happen over the internet without me having to do anything bar click "yes", have increased its usefulness even more.
For example when I first bought it the usb port out back was purely for connecting an external drive to copy a backup of its internal drive to nothing more, it would NOT read music from an external usb drive at all.
Now it does and the flexibility when connected to my home network and this usb drive read facility is worth every dollar of its $1000 purchase.
Add that to the ability to stream Tidal, Deezer, Quboz, Spotify, Radio Paradise etc. All at up to 24/192 into my Mytek Brooklyn dac letting it handle the full MQA unfolding.
Oh and it contains my complete library of cds.

One happy camper here for such a minimal outlay of dollars.

Long may it reign in my system! 

I got the MP two days ago.  I waited for a long time as they designed and built a brand new DAC for it.  It's a tubed DAC.  All the music on it is 24/192 or 32/384 that was directly off the master tapes.  HOLY COW.  it's not even burned in yet.....or even close.  They have a few settings with different jitter rates. Some may like more jitter as that's why they are used to, but without knowing which slot he was using, it was only one for me adn that's the lowest jitter and all the goodies (the most stealth mode).  It's already better than any server I've had in the house and that includes the top Vault that a friend brought over as well as the N10 or W20.  

Sorry for not posting much, but I've been so busy.  I"ll try to keep you all up as it burns in.  I want over 500 hours on it before I talk too much about it.  

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis96ade-cocktail-audio-x30-music-server-streamer-dac-amp-new-in-b...

Cocktail X30 is on sale at 750$ including shipping.

It is hard to beat the value.

I had used X12 for 4 years with no problem at all.

I echo ctsooner about the Memory Player.  The music sonically speaking is a step above anything I have ever heard.  That said, I am moving in a different direction hopefully with the Lumin X1.  My Memory Player is for sale on US Audio and will soon be listed on Audiogon for a great price.  

It's starting to burn in and it's getting better.  The built in DAC (brand new design and first one they have made) is much better than I expected.  The DAC alone may end up being one of the top couple that I"ve ever heard (I've heard nearly all the uber high end DAC's on the market in the US).

I'm playing mostly WAV and all 24/192 and 32/384 music.  It's not even where it's going to be as it's so new and needs a lot of burn in.  This thing is sick good though.  Blows away the Aurender N10 that I've had in the house in the past. 

Ctsooner.
What was the price?

You would have to ask Sam.  I have their brand new DAC built in.  He customizes them all, so it's best to ask him.  I will say that if you use his newest built in DAC, the price is incredible considering what you get.  He's been as good to work with as Steve Nugent is at Empirical Audio.  Both make GREAT products and are great guys to boot.  They actually care adn have pride.