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What's my ideal music server? Read and recommend please

Right now I use a MacBook Pro as my server, and it drives my DAC. My MacBook Pro is getting cranky, it's storage is so full I don't have space to do a current Mac update and I am beginning to think better sound quality can be achieved than a MacBook Pro via USB to a DAC. I use JRiver media center, v.27, and right now, my JRiver and MacBook Pro aren't working properly together as I keep loosing the proper MIDI setting and get no audio output.

I'm aware of the Aurender N100H. I know that uses a USB output and I'm starting to wonder if USB is my best bet. Then I see the Aurender N100C which has a digital coax out, but that output is derived from the USB, so what's the point?

My wish list- probably no less than 2 TB storage; got to be easy to use in terms of getting music into it and playing music (downloading music from say HDTracks to JRiver is the bleeding edge of my technical skills); sound quality has to be first rate. I would also be interested in a server that has a BNC output, as a regular coaxial output can never be a true 75 ohm connection but a BNC can be. 

So- what should I have on my short list? Recommend away please, and thanks-
zavato

Showing 5 responses by mgrif104

mgrif104
403 posts
 
@cleeds sorry to hear of your experience.  My own experience has been quite good. I found the system more stable than the other servers I own and updates effortless. I’m at a loss to explain the difference but it should be noted by the OP.
mgrif104
403 posts
 
There are a good number of threads attempting to answer this question and you might find it beneficial to look through this forum toward that end.  

The Aurender N100H is a very good unit - in terms of quality, it’s the middle range of the three servers I have.  And, all are better than a MacBook both in sound quality and in utility. 

USB is a fine interface if your DAC has it implemented well.  If so, there’s no reason to shy away or look for an SPDIF output. My best server has both outputs and USB is the better of the two.  But, it’s really DAC dependent. 

There’s a used NAD M50.2 here on Audiogon.  The BluOS system is also quite good. Though many would argue that Aurender’s conductor is better, BluOS is very good if you use Ethernet instead of wireless.  The M50.2 has a disk drive so you can rip to the internal hard drive, or use it as a player. And used, it’s a quite a bit less than an N100H new.  If I were starting again, I look seriously at it.  

Of course there are others, again - worth browsing this forum. 
mgrif104
403 posts
 
In my own application with my servers (different systems), USB is better sounding than S/PDIF, or AES EBU (same as S/PDIF).  So, obviously YMMV.  
mgrif104
403 posts
 
@cerrot 

The sound quality of USB is highly system dependent. There are plenty of high quality DACs for which the manufacturer is recommending USB as the preferred connection. Certainly, If I were using a traditional computer as a source, I would agree with you and convert from USB to S/PDIF to the DAC to reduce noise.  However, with a high quality server/streamer such as the N10 you have,  it will really be dependent on your DAC.  In my own applications, I’ve found USB (with a decent cable - it makes a difference) to be better than S/PDIF - even when the latter was an expensive 75 ohm digital cable in the preferred 1.5M length.   Fortunately our the various servers many of us have are able to output in most any flavor so that the user can try for themselves. 
mgrif104
403 posts
 
@cerrot 
I guess I’m a bit slow.  I completely agree you shouldn’t use USB coming out of a computer.  But, if you have an N10 to serve your DAC, USB is more than fine depending on the DAC. I was only suggesting that generalizing USB as bad may not be complete advice for some users.
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