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Network Audio Player - need some basic advice

I am a bit of a Marantz fanboy and currently listen to mostly vinyl and cd's.  I have over 500 of each and never seem to be short of listening options. I use a Marantz PM-11S3 integrated amp and an SA-8004 SACD player.

This weekend my boys pressed me on why I cannot access music online.  Being an old fart, I had no response other than to offer to play them some of my vinyl.

Shamed by my spawn, I tried to read up on what was offered by Marantz in this category.  With at least  four products (NA-6005; NA-8005; NA-11S1; HD DAC-1) spanning in price from $649 to $3,499, I quickly realized I had no idea what the basic selection criteria should be - there are so many formats I am unfamiliar with as well as a variety of input connections.  In addition, I am quite concerned about the obsolescence factor given how rapidly these formats seem to change.  I also do not understand why some have wireless connectivity and some do not and whether this is a big deal or not as my system is on a different floor than my incoming service.

 My SA-8004 has a USB port on the front and coax and optical inputs /outputs on the rear, plus an input labeled "USB DAC" which is an unusual shaped input unlike the usb on the front panel. The PM-11S3 only has RCA inputs.

Can someone give me ( or point me to) a basic primer on this topic? What are the essential features to look for?  I am a complete luddite, so it needs to be REALLY basic, i.e. the more acronyms used, the more my ears begin to bleed.

I love my other Marantz gear, and start with a bias towards the brand , but are they offering a good product line for this, or are they behind the curve.  If not Marantz, then what does more for the same money?  If I cannot plug directly into my internet connection, is there a device I can buy to make a wireless connection?

Given my preference for vinyl and cd's, I do not want to spend a ton of money for another piece of gear, especially if it will be obsolete in a year or two.

Thanks in advance for any guidance you can provide.

sjtm

Showing 6 responses by stewart0722

stewart0722
184 posts
 
Marantz is not the answer for you this time......

Marantz has a streamer, but they are woefully inadequate on a slick user interface that is easy to learn and use........it's clunky and getting the music into the box or getting the box to see the network isn't user friendly.

I would go with the Auralic Aries Mini @ around $500.00 or so

It is primarily a streamer, has all the wireless capability someone would want and supports Tidal, A MASSIVE REASON FOR DOING THIS....(if you have this device without a Tidal subscription, you need psychiatric care)

If you would rather store your music files on the device itself, just add a solid state harddrive inside the box, or add an external USB drive......you'll of course need your spawn to rip your CDs to files and then fill up your drive....

The biggest reason to go Auralic is they have just the absolute easiest, slickest and most mature iphone/ipad interface out there.......it never crashes, and it's just beautiful.......

I will venture a guess that once you discover the joys of sending Tidal CD quality files to your DAC and having millions of songs to choose from, it will alter your listening habits just as a DVR has altered everyone's watching habits......


stewart0722
184 posts
 
only 2700??

im pretty sure hes not investing that......

he can spend less on auralic by a factor of 5 and still hsve money for a hard drive
stewart0722
184 posts
 
I’ve had experience with Bryston BDP2, Sony HAPZ1ES, Aurender & Aries. The Aurender N100H is wonderful...

(If you have a USB DAC that will give you all the resolution the media player will send thru USB)

Original Poster’s SACD player will NOT......so he needs something besides a USB only DAC if he’s going to have any high res capabilities...
His DAC is limited thru USB to 48K. It also won’t do FLAC.....

To do 24/192 he needs to be able to use the coax or optical on the rear...

For his needs, I think the Aries represents the best value......is it as high performing as the Aurender? No......For the money? WAY BETTER VALUE and it gives him the capabilities that a USB only media player will not give him....and the interface I say is on par w/ Aurender.....

What media player do I use? I have played with several, but always go back to my Bryston BDP2. I have a 512G ssd internal drive along with an external 4TB drive.......As to original poster’s question concerning wireless, I just use a very inexpensive wireless bridge from DLink and it works like a charm. I even power it from the usb ports of the Bryston.....

If I ever upgrade from the Bryston, it will be to Aurender, but not a USB only solution as my CD Player also won’t do full resolution by USB (Estoeric K03)........the reasons for upgrade won’t have anything to do with sound quality, the Bryston is as good as it gets, it will have to do with slickening the interface and getting very smooth support for Tidal, which Bryston isn’t quite there with.....

As to the Sony HAP-Z1ES. It is the absolutely WORST PIECE OF JUNK you will ever use.......stay away......there is a very good reason there are a gazillion used ones on the market........getting your library into it takes 3 friggin weeks and if it crashes you get to start all over.....the sound quality sucks.......and the ipod/ipad interface crashes constantly.....it’s basically an overpriced BRICK......

I still think his needs would be best served by an Auralic Aries Mini....


stewart0722
184 posts
 
If you want an ALL IN ONE BOX solution, the Auralic Altair is it.....
it includes the DAC and streamer and also supports wireless.....
It's around 1700 

I'd still do the mini, and use the good DAC in your SA8004 SACD Player,
since you have it......
stewart0722
184 posts
 
SJTM:

Auralic sells an upgraded linear power supply for around 300.00......
It just provides less noise, better regulation, which is important
when you're talking about clocked data.......it's just a nice way to 
go if you can.....but certainly not mandatory.....

As to a DAC, you already have a DAC.....inside your SA8004
It will do up to 24/192 resolution if you feed it through the coax
connection which you can do with the Aries mini....
stewart0722
184 posts
 
SJTM:

If you decide you do not wish to use your SACD players DAC with the mini, you don't need to go to an external DAC as the Mini has a DAC!!

Here is a review for you that should clear a lot up.....the Aries Mini gets you a free year of Tidal, worth 240.00 or so, so take that into account as you evaluate........I think the linear PSU is a great addition.....

http://www.audiostream.com/content/auralic-aries-mini#lyP5WisRVwCb6UW5.97
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