Music Server

Wyred 4 Sound - I have their DAC-2 and it is a gem of a component. A friend has their server and can't say enough good things about it. He is using it with a PS Audio DAC.

I have purchased Lenovo Q190 for all my media needs including movies. This machine is absolutely noiseless, yet I'll be planning to move the 'insides' of it to aluminium enclosure that will eliminate the necessity of the processor fan. At my listening distance the fan isn't heard at all even in the dark night. To eliminate HDD noise I've replaced the stock TB HDD by 126Gb SSD($76 Kingston)
Mytek 192 DSD DAC/preamp/headphone amp is the work of audio art and performs way higher than it's priced. There are various digital inputs 2xUSB, fire, SP/DIF and firewire allows you to connect large number of digital componets Plus you'll have an ability to connect your analogue via analogue inputs. The volume control capabilities of this DAC is so far the most superior to any preamp I've ever heard.
The whole combo will take from you a notch over $2000 and will serve you as high level fidelity system.

I have been using Sonos as my whole house wireless audio solution for almost 10 years! All my music (35K songs) are on a RAID 5 NAS. I highly suggest going this route if you want music in more than one room.

AN emerging class of products that I think will take off over time for this is inexpensive multipurpose media devices that happen to serve up quality audio along with teh rest, as opposed to being audio only. I have seen some interesting new Android based devices like this in recent years that have promise. I think this will be the general trend moving forward. Android OS and of course good old Apple seem best positioned for this currently. I suspect when the time comes to replace my currently discontinued audio only Squeezebox devices, that is where I will end up next.

21' iMac only for this purpose via USB / I2S into my own DAC. iTunes, Audivarna Plus, controlled with the remote app on a iPad. Just got this setup and am truly impressed with the sound quality, the ease of use and integration.

Best of luck

Peter

+1 for Sonos. Easy to use and excellent interface with tablet or phone. As for sound quality, I would say just okay as an analog source and much better with a good quality Dac.

I initially used the Sonos Connect with a Rega Dac and was pleased with the results. A later upgrade to a W4S modified Connect was a big improvement, particularly with imaging. The last step for even better sound was to switch to the TeddyDac, which is well suited to my Naim based system. The sound quality is amazing, even with higher quality internet music from MOG (320K).

BTW, don’t overlook the ability to access internet music when shopping for a server. Owning a large library of 2,000 CD is nice but having access to 16 million tracks for $10 per month is even better! Good luck.

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I have looked at your suggestions. I think Mapman has hit the nail on the head when he relates that there will be better products at lower prices in the future. I may just wait a few months to see if the Android based devices (and Google's internet music service) spawn a superior system to the Meridian Control 15 and Media Drive 600.

Something to consider, however, is how important it is to you to retain the same level of sound quality as your current CD playback source. Some CD playback systems provide a very high level of sonic performance. If retaining - perhaps even surpassing - the sound quality of your current setup is important, be sure to thoroughly investigate these new lower priced devices...

2ch has a good point.

The thing is I have already owned "inexpensive" music streaming devices from both Logitech and Roku before that. I found using an external DAC with either to be all that was needed to get things to sound very good. The Roku Soundbridges cost less than $200 new and was built on technology that is a good 10 years old already. Squeezebox TOuch was a generation or two newer and received almost universal praise for good sound as well. I've also used various modest cost optical CD source drives with same DACs over the years also with very good results. So this tells me that the cost for a good low jitter digital source is not that great, and such devices and the technology needed to make them good performers are essentially commodities already. Toss in the DAC of your choice and a good amp and speakers and you are pretty much there. Not to say that there are always ways to push the envelope further if desired, but with modern digital I think you hit a point of much diminished returns pretty soon these days when it comes to digital sources. DAC devices are a different story, with at least as much difference in sound from DAC to DAC as one might traditionally have expected moving from one phono cartridge to another in a good and well tuned phono rig.

Thanks again. Does anyone have comments with respect to NAD M50/M52/M2 combination?