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Need Advice On A Network Music Player

I want to get into Hi Rez music downloads and need a player to make that possible. My initial research has identified the following as serious possibilities, but I can find no comparison reviews or anything to clearly differentiate them:



Logitech Squeeze Box Touch - $234.00

Cambridge Audio - Sonata NP30 - $599.00

Marantz - NA7004 - Network Audio Player - $799.99

Bryston - BDP-1 - Digital Media Player - $2195.00

My real concern is identifying what gives the best bang for the buck and still provides high quality sound output. The only purpose that I will be using this for is Hi Rez music downloads from HD Tracks, and some higher res music via USB thumb drives (such as the Complete Beatles Collection). I've read very positive reviews of all of these, but again, nothing comparing them in any way, so its extremely hard to gauge.



The only two concerns are that I have used Squeezebox software previously (when I owned a Transporter) and found it more difficult to use than I wanted to deal with, and hated the connection problems getting to their site. That's a negative to buying equipment from them. Also, over at the Hi Rez forum, they have many threads about how you have to spend about $400.00 modifying the Touch to get optimal sound. As far as the Bryston, as expensive as it is, Stereophile noted that the sound quality from it's USB input was not as good, and that would be a great concern for me.



I have Bryston BDA-1 DAC available for use with whatever I purchase. Any thoughts, recommendations, and expertise would be appreciated. I'm completely new to this game and could use the help. Thanks.
nightfall

Showing 1 response by grit

grit
3 posts
 
I own a Bryston BDA-1 and currently use an unmodded Sonos player. My Rotel 1560 receiver is the weakest link. Speakers are B&W 804 diamonds. I also recently had the very good fortune of demoing Bryston BDP-1 alongside my Sonos, connected to the BDA-1 via AES/EBU.

The Bryston BDA-1 made an incredible difference in the quality of the music through the Sonos. There was just clearly no comparison, and I could never recommend the BDA-1 enough.

The Bryston BDP-1 made a startling difference over the Sonos. Music had an unsuspected 3-dimentional feel to it. The same music (my bit-accurate CD rips via dbpoweramp) sounded... live? There was a distinct location to each instrument... not a "general" location. I did try a few recordings and was underwhelmed though. I don't think this is ANY fault of the BDP-1. Rather, I think it's the source material. It did NOT make them sound bad. Rather, it just didn't improve them as much. With respect to sound quality, I can't recommend the BDP-1 enough for active/critical listening.

Again, that was all comparing Redbook CD music, not HD. I can only assume the HD music is at LEAST as good, if not more so.
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