@bondmanp, currently I use the Innuos Zenith MK.3 with an uptone audio ether regen. I love the Zenith and it sounds fantastic I started with the Innuos Zen Mini and LPS.. Those components were very good also and far superior to my prior CD set up. Best of luck and enjoy!
Help me pick one of four music servers/streamersreqi
Sorry about the sloppy title; can't edit it, fat fingers.
On a tight budget, but looking to take my digital playback chain up a notch.
Current system is Vortexbox appliance to router via ethernet, wifi to Squeezebox Touch to older modded Beresford DAC (max 96/24) via S/PDIF coax, RCA analog out to preamp. Sounds very good, all things considered, but I know I can do better and modernize. Plus will soon bump up against the 1 TB hard drive capacity in the VB appliance. I use dBPoweramp on a networked laptop to rip CDs, and a network attached Sweetvinyl Sugarcube SC-2 to rip vinyl. I also plan on subscribing to Roon. Since I will not run an ethernet cable from my router, I will be using a powerline extender to provide the ethernet connection. I hope it will be sufficient; it works fine with the Sugarcube. I am not really interested in any resolutions beyond 24/192. I have a Qoboz subscription, and want to add a radio function to it (still can’t believe it doesn’t have one). Roon will do that, I believe.
Here are the top contenders, all under $3000, with some pros and cons. Some of these options will necessitate the purchase of a USB-capable DAC. For that, aside from the $3K max, I am looking at a Schitt Gungnir (opinions on the DAC welcome as well, but the $1300 price is my absolute max). This must be a turnkey solution, as I am at the ink and quill level technologically.
1. Roon Nucleus with 4TB ~$2250
Pros: Well-regarded, Roon core, silent, affordable. Drive is SSD, can output to a USB DAC directly
Cons: No DAC, no internal CD ripper. Not sure if I can rip files to the internal storage drive via my networked laptop.
2. Innuos ZenMini Mk3 with 4TB with LPS power supply ~ $2550
Pros: Internal DAC (not sure of quality), Roon Core, carried by a local, trusted B&M dealer
Cons: Reputation for drop outs and frequent required restarts, internal drive is a less reliable spinning HDD (I have heard the difference a SSD can make for file playback), Gapless playback through analog out?
3. Lumin D2 - no internal drive - $2300
Pros: Good reputation for Sound Quality, Internal DAC, Gapless playback, can use with current backup HDD until I need to move to a larger one.
Cons: No internal hard drive, not sure it is a Roon Core, will have to purchase external SSD for file storage when I get near 1TB.
4. Melco N100-h50 with 5TB internal drive $? 2TB model is $2100, so I assume 5TB still comes in under $3K.
Pros: Good reputation for Sound Quality and easy user interface, can output directly to USB DAC, Roon Core (?)
Cons: May be the most expensive in the group, still requires a USB DAC
Not looking to get flamed here or ignite a flame war, just valid opinions of experienced users. Open to other brands provided they meet my requirements, especially price ceiling. Thanks in advance.
On a tight budget, but looking to take my digital playback chain up a notch.
Current system is Vortexbox appliance to router via ethernet, wifi to Squeezebox Touch to older modded Beresford DAC (max 96/24) via S/PDIF coax, RCA analog out to preamp. Sounds very good, all things considered, but I know I can do better and modernize. Plus will soon bump up against the 1 TB hard drive capacity in the VB appliance. I use dBPoweramp on a networked laptop to rip CDs, and a network attached Sweetvinyl Sugarcube SC-2 to rip vinyl. I also plan on subscribing to Roon. Since I will not run an ethernet cable from my router, I will be using a powerline extender to provide the ethernet connection. I hope it will be sufficient; it works fine with the Sugarcube. I am not really interested in any resolutions beyond 24/192. I have a Qoboz subscription, and want to add a radio function to it (still can’t believe it doesn’t have one). Roon will do that, I believe.
Here are the top contenders, all under $3000, with some pros and cons. Some of these options will necessitate the purchase of a USB-capable DAC. For that, aside from the $3K max, I am looking at a Schitt Gungnir (opinions on the DAC welcome as well, but the $1300 price is my absolute max). This must be a turnkey solution, as I am at the ink and quill level technologically.
1. Roon Nucleus with 4TB ~$2250
Pros: Well-regarded, Roon core, silent, affordable. Drive is SSD, can output to a USB DAC directly
Cons: No DAC, no internal CD ripper. Not sure if I can rip files to the internal storage drive via my networked laptop.
2. Innuos ZenMini Mk3 with 4TB with LPS power supply ~ $2550
Pros: Internal DAC (not sure of quality), Roon Core, carried by a local, trusted B&M dealer
Cons: Reputation for drop outs and frequent required restarts, internal drive is a less reliable spinning HDD (I have heard the difference a SSD can make for file playback), Gapless playback through analog out?
3. Lumin D2 - no internal drive - $2300
Pros: Good reputation for Sound Quality, Internal DAC, Gapless playback, can use with current backup HDD until I need to move to a larger one.
Cons: No internal hard drive, not sure it is a Roon Core, will have to purchase external SSD for file storage when I get near 1TB.
4. Melco N100-h50 with 5TB internal drive $? 2TB model is $2100, so I assume 5TB still comes in under $3K.
Pros: Good reputation for Sound Quality and easy user interface, can output directly to USB DAC, Roon Core (?)
Cons: May be the most expensive in the group, still requires a USB DAC
Not looking to get flamed here or ignite a flame war, just valid opinions of experienced users. Open to other brands provided they meet my requirements, especially price ceiling. Thanks in advance.