Best standalone music server?

I bought a used MS1 with a 1 TB SSD on ebay over a year ago.  I have no basis of comparing the sound to other music servers.  It is easy to rip CD's.  It is easy to back up.  It is easy to add music downloads from the internet.  The iphone app is OK.  I am not a techie I have had some issues with the metadata but that is not important to me.  I sent it back to W4S to add the I2S output to use the feature on my W4S DAC2DSD SE and while it was better than optical or coax the USB output was better with the right USB cable.  I found big improvements adding the USB Curious Cable, Uptone Audio LPS and W4S Recovery (and the recovery was better with power form the Uptone Audio LPS.)  I added Audioquest jitterbugs to the unused USB ports in the back of the MS1 to benefit.  The jitterbug on the USB cable was detrimental.  I recently changed to a Schitt Yggdrrsil ladder dac (I cant say enough how this brought the rhythm and pace and musicality to the digital files)  I only keep the DAC2DSD SE to play the 2 dozen or so DSD albums I purchased. Although after hearing digital thru the Yggdrrsil the DSD doesnt sound right anymore but it is different.
After all that I took my 30 year old Linn LP12 in and had it reconditioned.  I am using a $ 129 Schitt Mani phono pre-amp with the LP12 and the sound is so so so much better than any hi rez digital.  I only listen the the MS1 when I am too tired to flip a record or want background music.  I have thought of trying another music server like the Aurender N100T as a digital source to see if the problem is the MS1 but I really believe after going thru all the nonsense to improve the digital that in my equiptment/price range it is not going to happen.  My take home lesson was dont sweat trying to get the best stand alone server, one because I dont believe it will ever be as good as vinyl and two because there are so many other considerations on what is going to effect that digital signal.  It is really nice to not have to change CD's anymore and to have them all at my fingertips.  And I did find a/b listening to a ripped CD to the same CD playing from the digital out of the CD player to the DAC that the ripped file sounded much better-- so I have that going for me and thats nice.

soundsrealaudio
177 posts
03-12-2017 11:01pm
So not to be labor a point. The Melco has been rated Class A, big deal right? So it has 4Terabytes of storage plus as many external as you could want. Plus, and it is a big plus it has integrated software that is easy with a capital E to use. Is it as good as the Aurender, probably. It doesn't rip. Using AccurateRip technology you get the most exact CD importing. It even works with worn or damaged discs that might otherwise be unplayable. To rip grab the Buffalo BRXL-16U3 for CD ripping ion Melco Music Libraries for $159.00. Check it out.
I dumped my computer, couldn't stand the beta versions software BS.

http://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/melco-ha-n1a-part-1/

I love the Melco units.  Can';t wait for their updates ones to come out in a few months.  I am waiting to see what they end up changing before getting one. As I've said from day one, it's the best NAS out there from what I've heard and what I will use even if I don't use the streaming feature etc...  That said, if you read what OP wanted, it doesn't have everything for him.  I forget when it was left out.  It may even have been cost.  It also doesn't do Roon and unless they change their language it still won't.  I will need a work around IF I can get it to work seamlessly.  That will mean using my rebuilt mac mini running Roon on the net and then using the Melco ONLY as a server. I'd use the ethernet connection for everything in they system/network.

My vote for the NAD M50.2.

True all in one with MQA included.

I've just seen this thread for the first time.
I have the Bluesound Vault 2, and in other rooms in the home I have a Node 2 and the Minipulse.
I had tried a PC based system and frankly it was to much hassle.  I have no desire to be dealing with IT issues at home when I want to relax with music, and no one else in my family liked it.  Bluesound isn't entirely hassle free but I have found it to be much more elegant than my former Mac based system, and it covers the whole house as well.
  The DACs contained in the Vault and the Node are decent  but not exceptional.  In my two channel system where the Vault resides I run it into my external DAC, the Mytek Manhatten and it sounds as great as any other source in that DAC.  In the kitchen we listen to a lot of Internet Radio .
 I have recently started using the Vault to pull in the files that I had on my Mac and so far find it much easier than just the pc by itself.
  Different strokes for different folks.  If a PC based system works for you, then fine, but not everyone will find them so accommodating.  If they were Universally easy, then there would be no market for seperate servers.  I do find myself scratching my head here when the OP clearly stated he was not interested in a pc based system and yet others are badgering him or her to go that route

@mahler123
Exactly my thought process right from the start
Nobody in my house wants to be an it expert after a hard days work, just select a few tracks or pick an internet radio station on the bluos app and let it play.
Glad to see my choice was a path others have already taken for much the same reasons
still enjoying my unit and maybe adding a Node for my daughter to use in her room, probably just connected to a soundbar...lol, evil I know!