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Simple Digital Music Server - Opinions Please

Six months ago, I added an Audio Mirror DAC to my system and use my Marantz SA14 SACD player as a redbook transport. I’ve thought about replacing my Marantz and getting a stand alone transport. While doing some research, I’ve stumbled on some very interesting information on hard drive based digital playback systems. I’m thinking about giving one a try. I read numerous posts here on Audiogon, and I think for a modest sum of money, one can achieve superior results with a hard drive playback system.

I’ve stumbled onto a product that will bridge the music from a PC to your DAC. It’s manufactured by a company called Roku and they have a few variations that will do what I’m looking for. The line of product is called the SoundBridge Network Music Player. http://www.rokulabs.com

Here is what I’m thinking of doing and I would like to get some feedback for those who have heard music from hard drive based play back system.

Using my existing PC in another room (having the PC in a different room eliminates PC fan noise); I plan to add a 400GB external USB hard drive. (600-650 music CD’s) I plan to rip all my CD’s into wave or Apple Lossless files. Apple Lossless with give one double capacity without any sound quality loss. Please give me some feedback here if you have experienced differently. I will run an Ethernet cable from the PC to the Roku device in my sound room. The Roku will then connect to my external DAC via coax cable and DAC to my preamp.

Here is what I’m hoping to achieve with my project:

• Superior redbook playback compared to my current setup.
• The convenience of have all CD’s accessed from my listening chair via the Roku remote.
• Added bonus of digital internet radio
• File sharing possibilities with others
• Selling my SACD player and having a few hundred dollars left over for added music after funding my project

I’m estimating that my total investment will be:

• Roku Soundbridge $499
• Ethernet Cable $50
• 400GB external hard drive $300

• Total investment $850
islandflyfisher

Showing 3 responses by islandflyfisher

islandflyfisher OP
94 posts
 
Thank you for all of those who responded. I've decided and purchased the Roku M2000 and it does support Apple Lossless. I must say that I'm quite impressed with the build quality of Roku. All of that brushed aluminum for $500. It fits right in with the rest of my high end gear. Looking at the Squeezebox, it does seem like a heck of a value as it includes its own DAC. I plan on using my current DAC with the Roku.

I've ripped CD's in the past for my iPod and read that there is a way to rip CD's without any kind of a gap between songs on a CD. The gaps I wish to eliminate are for concert CD's and CD's where run songs together like DSOTM, American Idiot, Abbey Road, etc. Can someone explain to me where to find the option in iTunes to do this? I will only rip entire CD's and want exact copies of the CD.

BTW, the M2000 comes with the optional wireless card which I will try before I run cable. In the past, I've always been partial to Western Digital HD's and was going to order one. They are a little more expensive but I've found their reliability to be second to none. Since I have not really kept up in the computer industry, does anyone have a different opinion on hard drives or are they all pretty much the same.

As soon as I get things up and running, I report my finding on this project.
islandflyfisher OP
94 posts
 
I stand corrected. Roku does not support Apple Lossless but does support FLAC. Because I use my iPod at work daily, I've really have no choice but to use AIFF files.
A initial listening session to my hard drive digital server is very promising.
islandflyfisher OP
94 posts
 
I could not be happier with the results of my digital music server. I’m using the Audio Mirror D-1 non over-sampling DAC with the Roku M2000. Sound quality is vastly better than the Marantz SA-14 SACD player. Music presentation is smoother and quieter. I did not A/B the Marantz as transport with Audio Mirror DAC verse the Roku system because of hassle factor. After weighing in the added benefits, if the Marantz-Audio Mirror was to slightly better the Music Server, I would still use the Roku system because of all the added benefits. If I had to guess, the Roku system out performs my previous Marantz/Audio Mirror combo by a significant margin.

The silver lining is the added convenience of not having to get up and pick through my CD collection to change music selection. The Roku also has volume control that is calibrated with very gradual adjustments. This is a huge plus for me, as my pre amp does not have a remote control. The display of music information is nice as it let’s you know track name, artist, year of release date and track time. Internet Radio is also part of the package. The navigation of the Roku is very easy to use and if you own an iPod, you will learn how to navigate this device in less than ten minutes.

The negatives to all of this are that you need to rip your entire CD library. I’m about only 20% done. A CD takes approximately 15 minutes to rip. Roku does not support Apple Lossless so you really cannot compress your music without significant lose of sound quality. I ended up ripping to AIFF files so that I could still use my iPod. In this format, each CD takes up 500MB of hard drive space. To view this predicament as a positive, once music is ripped in a non compressed file, you can do anything with it in the future as far as converting it to a new compressed format if you decide to do so. Hard drive space is getting cheaper every month.

Lastly, the quality of the Roku until is very impressive. It’s a brushed aluminum cylinder with a 2 1/2” to 3” LCD display. I took a few pictures display under my “system”. The display options are very well thought out. The remote control functions perfectly but is a bit on the cheesy side. All in all, the Roku M2000 is my best bang-for-buck investment in high-end audio to date. Anyone want to purchase a Marantz SA14? I've got it listed.
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