Hunting Unicorns


Why is it so difficult/impractical/impossible to design a music server requiring no external control device such as a laptop or tablet? The Aurender A100H seems nearest to what I want -- onboard storage, USB output, no DAC, no volume control. But as I understand it, even this requires "iPad control via the Conductor app" and offers no access to web-based streaming radio stations. So, like many others posting here, I'm "wasting" a Macbook Pro as my digital music source, feeding USB to a streamer/DAC/digital preamp combo device. 

To rephrase: why can't I have just one box receiving everything from everywhere, and sending anything via USB to my favorite outboard DAC? Of course this unicorn WOULD have its own dedicated remote that is not itself a computer.

Advance apologies for what is very likely a dumb question generated by an ancient, analog-wired brain.
hickamore

Showing 7 responses by hickamore

As have erik_squires and mlsstl now. Thanks to all. I wondered why, and now I know. Next question would be an affordably functional tablet control device occupying little space.

jond I think you have supplied the answer. One can go smaller than a laptop, but not to the size of a slender remote. Shame on technological advance for failing to anticipate my needs! 
erik_squires the hidden Linux box plus inexpensive streamer sounds good, but apparently you still need at least a phone. My unattainable object is something requiring no external multi-purpose device. From ddude03 above I gather that even Lumen needs your phone. 
The current streamer/DAC/preamp is Cambridge 851N. It probably does wireless internet radio, but since audio is better from USB, I just use that for convenience since I need the laptop anyhow.

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