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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 6 responses by zavato

zavato's avatar
zavato OP
1,410 posts
 
Ok- you’re not a fan of Aurender then you say you could do better for the money.

Please suggest alternative servers
zavato's avatar
zavato OP
1,410 posts
 
Ironlung- thanks for your considered response. I own a Bricasti M1; my entire system is on my profile. 

zavato's avatar
zavato OP
1,410 posts
 
I have a bricasti dealer a reasonable distance from my home. List price is easy enough to find on the internet any by and large companies that don’t direct market don’t show prices on the internet. One of the advantages of living just a bit north of NYC- just about anything is available within an hour or 2 drive at most. Heck, I can get to McIntosh Labs in 3 hrs. 
zavato's avatar
zavato OP
1,410 posts
 
Thanks! I’ve looked at other threads- looking for the most current thoughts on this topic 

the Aurender has been recommended to me a number of times 
zavato's avatar
zavato OP
1,410 posts
 
My M1 has a BNC connection- 

I seem to have a lot of options. I like both Sim and Bryston and I have a friend who sells both Naim and Linn. I suppose a streamer with an NAS is the functional equivalent of a server such as the Innous 
zavato's avatar
zavato OP
1,410 posts
 
The MDX board is superb. It’s been fitted in my M1 since July 

I wonder if this is doable and a viable solution- continue to use my MacBook Pro and use a Bricasti M5 renderer between my laptop and the dac 
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