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Digital media server/players for a Skeptic?

I have all my music on a windows pc running itunes.  I mainly use airplay to listen on my apple TV connected to my receiver.  I then often use an ipad to change tunes and such.  My receiver also has airplay and sometimes I use that but can't really tell any difference between it and itunes. 

I do hate itunes though.  Slow, crashes a lot, hard to really manage a lot of files (~35,000 songs).  My music is mostly coded using whatever the highest rates of MP3 are. VBR 320 or something.  And I've given up on the various tools that try to fill in missing tags.

My current system is Ascend Sierra 2 mains, orb sides, Marantz 5009 receiver, Rega TT, nad preamp, nad cd player.  I will probably upgrade the marantz next year.  Don't even ask me about my interconnects.  I am not a belieber in the audio hoodoo. I use good cheap wire and cables.

So how much sound quality difference and usability/convenience do some of these music servers, decoders, whatever the heck they are really offer over using apple TV? 

Thx!



wolfernyc

Showing 2 responses by mahler123

mahler123
3,081 posts
 
. I don't think it should be necessary to be an IT expert to have to enjoy listening to music.  I have the Bluesound system, which is a Server and a whole home system.  It isn't entirely hassle free but is a lot easier that computer audio, which I've given up on after few years of Mac & DAC .  Bluesound has a reasonable sounding built in DAC but I use it's Opticl output into my Mytek Manhatten.
  Merging your prsent files into Bluesound is more work than just ripping CDs but if you buy from a dealer who knows how to do this and will be available to answer your questions it makes it a lot easier
mahler123
3,081 posts
 

Wolf

  The Bluesound has a dac included in each one if it's units so you don't need an external dac.  It is pretty good but since the Bluesound also has digital outs I prefer to use the far superior dac in the Mytek Manhatten.

  However...Bluesound dacs are MQA compliant (or whatever the term would be).  If that is important to you, or becomes important if in fact Tidal or another Streaming Service ever actually releases MQA material, then you can just use the native DAC of the Bluesound

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