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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
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
I would be very interested to hear how this works out.

For about five years, I have used a Mac to control three CD mega changers with Titletrack Jukebox software and Keyspan USB to RS232 adaptor and an "Slink" box (RS232 to Sony S-link commands).

It all works beautifully - shove a CD in and it goes and gets the artwork and track listing on the internet just like iTunes. I can even stagger/cue music alternately to each changer for continuous uninterrupted music feed.

It saves me from the very laborious task of burning CD's to a hardrive...I estimated that 500 CD's might take me a while.

Recently I got a Mac Mini ($400) so that I coud run things from my new basement installation rather than use longer RS232 cables from my office/computer room. I also use an airport express to feed my overall house Russound system for background music around the home.

At that time I got the Mac Mini, I did look at harddrive storage...but I am still really worried about backup...I normally mirror all my drives in preparation for the inevitable hard drive failure and this makes the harddrive only option a little too painful/expensive for me given my sunk investment five years ago in three CD Mega players.

I know I will end up going to hardrive storage at some point...it is just a matter of time. So I am very interested in your experiences.
cytocycle
1,043 posts
 
The Roku doesn't sound very good when I did the research (www.audiocircle.com). The Slimdevices Squeezbox 2 or 3 sounds much better plus the servering software is freeware. I have two of them and I use FLAC lossless as was recommended by people that have done this before (wav took up too much space and didn't support tagging).
You will want to find EAC freeware to do the bit perfect ripping or buy a Plextor drive and use Plextools to do the Flac ripping directly (I use this method).

I can use my Mobile Phones web browser to control either one of my stereos (2ch or HT) and my Table PC can also be used to control them with a web browser or I can use the remote controls..

Sounds pretty good, but with Modifications from Boulder Company or Red Wine this product can be made to sound oustanding.

The software supports Mac's/PC's/Linux and doesn't even need the hardware so you can try it out.
kenn39
75 posts
 
If you are buying Soundbridge M2000, act quickly. It is discontinued. It has the most impressive and visible display in this type of devices.

Soundbridge, except for M1001, is capable of bit-perfect digital output. If your DAC is reasonably jitter resistent, you should have not worry about the sound quality. All of your stated objectives can be achieved.
kthomas
911 posts
 
IMO, no question - a digital music server is the way to go. I've played around with a bunch of them and they're all imperfect - every one seems to have something that it truly gets right, and some things that it doesn't do well at all.

If you want the computer to be remote, there are some limitations. I got the Squeezebox stuff up and running in, literally, 10 minutes, running flawlessly, streaming from the remote server to my laptop. All software was free, and I was streaming lossless WMA files. Really nice. Assuming the Squeezebox device (200-300 dollars I believe) outputs SPDIF, you'd be set, as long as the feature set works for you - remote control from a laptop, infinite remote storage, seems to scale well.

Once you've had all your music at your fingertips, it's difficult to imagine going back to a CD or a record at a time.
jamesw20
270 posts
 
Soundbridge or Squeezbox? Which is better as far as sound?
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