2. digital
  3. 191559-170489

Music server recommendations needed.

I have a large CD collection (4000 - 5000+) and so far I have only been managing my digital music files on my MacBook Pro through Apple Music only. (Partially digitized from my CD collection, partially commercially bought digital music files.) The music is largely an exhaustive jazz collection totaling some 6000 albums, by my estimate.

 

I need to digitize and collect all of my music on a music server. Ideally I would like to do this in just 2 components - a CD player and a Music Server, or a Music Server that comes equipped with a good CD player. The ability to effortlessly digitize the CDs, and then properly catalog, search and listen to my digitized music is the end goal. The CD player must be able to play SACD media. Would be nice if I can keep the DAC out of the music server. I'd like to keep the cost reasonable, but at some level I don't know what is reasonable either. Whatever I pick, I want it to stay for the long haul. What would you knowledgeable folks suggest as a solution?

I currently own a Jay's Audio CD player connected to a Benchmark Audio DAC3 HGC and Galion Audio TS120 SE integrated tube amp and Triangle Antal speakers.

 

Thanks,

Amit

 

amitb

Showing 4 responses by russbutton

russbutton's avatar
russbutton
454 posts
 

You realize of course, that all these megabuck streamers are just Linux machines with a dedicated interface.  I paid $130 for an 8 gb memory tiny PC from Amazon, with a 128 GB flash drive.  I installed Ubuntu Linux on it and hung an external drive off of a USB port.  I run JRiver for about $30.  Ubuntu offers a free music player called "Clementine", which looks like iTunes.

russbutton's avatar
russbutton
454 posts
 

@mgrif104 Expectations create reality.   If  you expect some thing to make a certain kind of change, then thatʻs what youʻre looking for and will likely get.

Computers process and transfer data.  Bits is bits.  The sound all depends on your DAC.  Regardless of the source, whether itʻs a streamer or a cheap PC, the same data comes down the wire.  There are reclockers you can put between a PC and a DAC, but Iʻve never heard one that made a difference.

russbutton's avatar
russbutton
454 posts
 

@mclinnguy You must be looking at a very old photo of my rig.  The Linn left me years ago.  Now running a Rega P5.  Iʻm soon to sell off the record collection and table.  Trying to simplify my life.  I do hear differences between vinyl and digital, but theyʻre not big enough for me to care anymore.

If I were starting over, Iʻd run a pair of the Dutch & Dutch 8c and my Linux PC.  No fooling with exotic cables, interconnects, etc.  But Iʻm fine with my Linkwitz Orions.  They still kill it on voices and piano.

russbutton's avatar
russbutton
454 posts
 

@mclinnguy

 

I was unfamiliar with Grimm.  Easy to find on Google. They are twice the price of the D &D 8c and 50% more than a fully built and delivered Linkwitz LX521 system.  If youʻre going to search out the Grimm,  you owe it to yourself to hear the D&D 8c and LX521 systems as well.

 

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