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Looking for Some Music Server Advice

I have a 2020 Innuos Zenith music server (4TB) as well as a LUMIN T2 streamer I purchased at the same time. The Innuos serves as my Roon core and it houses my entire CD collection along with some digital downloads taking up nearly all of the 4TB capacity. The music is double backed up on two separate external hard drives. Lately I have been having some issues with the Innuos and currently it is not showing up on my network. As I work through this it has caused me to start thinking  about potential replacements.  This is where I can use some advice. It should be noted that I primarily listen to vinyl so streaming and listening to digital audio is secondary for me and something I do mainly out of convenience.  Accordingly, I don’t want to break the bank on a potential Innuos replacement.  I would appreciate any advice this community has regarding different options that would house my digital collection while continuing to allow streaming on Tidal, Quobuz etc. I wasn’t thinking I needed to replace the LUMIN also but if there is a one box solution I might consider selling it.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts folks may have.

puppyt
mahler123
3,625 posts
 

It would help if you precisely defined the budget.  Personally I’ve been very happy the Melco N100, but I don’t run Roon

mdalton's avatar
mdalton
595 posts
 

For your server, I’d go to Small Green Computer and get either the SonicTransporter I5 ($1100) or I7 ($1900).  They come pre-loaded with Roon.  For a streamer, that depends on whether you want a separate streamer and dac, or want them in one box.  I’d go separates myself, cuz it gives you easy flexibility to play with and upgrade over time the piece that dominates sound quality, the DAC.  There are a bunch of high quality streamers under $2000 (some for a few hundred $).   But frankly, if most of your in depth listening is vinyl, you could even get one of the Wiim products for a low amount of $, and get a streamer/dac combo.  Depends on your budget and which approach you prefer.

cfarrow's avatar
cfarrow
114 posts
 

I am using a SonicTransporter with the Sonore Signture Optical Rendu and it replaced a TotalDac Sublime steamer and I don’t miss a thing.  I sold off both my TotalDac Streamer and TotalDac DAC and use a much lower priced Wavelength Audio Cosecant N2 DAC and don’t miss a thing with the previous.  The Stremer is the most importantly piece of the puzzle as it has to navigate your music library and streaming services and needs to be a dedicated piece get the most out of the upstream components.  You have nice Dacs to choose from and I can highly recommend the SonicTransporter servers, for reference I have a NAS with 31k albums on it and have the 32g ram upgrade on my SonicTransporter.

ghdprentice
7,987 posts
 

The Aurender N200 for instance can be both server and streamer. You can pop in up to two 8TB solid state memory chips. Most importantly is the sound quality. Aurender makes primarily streamers and there flagship is typically the most ubiquitous at audio shows. I currently own an N100 and W20SE... top and bottom of their line up. Their Conductor App for control is very highly regarded and if you want you can use Roon. Great service as well, built to last. 

If your other equipment is of appropriate quality then N20 would be recommended. They just released their new flagship, the N50 which is a three box solution to improve sound quality even more by isolating functions. 

On my systems the sound quality of streaming from Qobuz equals or exceeds stored files, so I only use stored files if for some reason my internet is down... like every couple years. 

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,902 posts
 

Roon on beefier Mac Mini. 

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