ZEN Mini S vs. Small Green Computer Sonic Transporter i5 music server/Ultra Rendu Streamer
Good evening forum members.
Looking for any experience and/or opinions on these two music servers/players/streamers.
My plan is to rip 3,000 rare and collectible CDs to FLAC files or better. I would also like to integrate Tidal and Qobuz into the mix using Roon.
The ZEN Mini S has a built in CD ripper/server/streamer ($3,548 total cost). The SGC Sonic Transporter server and Ultra Rendu streamer bundle does not have a built in CD ripper.
I'm leaning towards the SGC Sonic Transporter/Ultra Rendu Streamer because of the following:
- Cost. the cost for the SGC ST/Ultra Rendu option is $2,097, which includes the server and streamer, plus a linear PSU. The ZEN Mini S is $3,548 all up (ripper, server, streamer, etc.). This amounts to a $1,451 difference in price.
Subtract from this difference the cost of an internal 4TB SSD ($300), an external and portable 4TB SSD ($300), dbpoweramp ripping and music management software ($75), and a USB CD/DVD drive ($75) and the difference is now becomes $701 between the ZEN Mini S and the Small Green Computer solution. Significant.
- My preference is to rip the CDs using my Windows laptop (no additional cost), the portable 4TB SSD, a better, well-known software package, and a USB CD drive at my desk. This is it more significantly more convenient and ergonomically friendly to my bad back.
My plan is to transfer the ripped files from the portable 4TB SSD to the ST i5 internal 4TB SSD in my stereo cabinet when done, Going forward, I don't plan on buying any more CDs and will fill in the gaps and explore new music with Tidal and Qobuz.
- features on the ZEN Mini S ripping software are unknown. dbpoweramp is a well known product with a plethora of useful features.
- the CD Drive used in the ZEN Mini is $240 when bought separately. This is significantly more than a good USB CD/DVD drive ~ $75.
My main system is a Rotel Pre-amp, Rotel Power-amp, B&W 804 speakers, an Oppo 105 SACD/DVD-Audio/CD/Blu-ray player, EAT C-Sharp turntable and a Sutherland Phono Pre-amp.
Your thoughts on anything I've discussed above? I am not a DIY type and prefer an out of the box solution.
Thanks for your help!
Rich
I have the opticalRendu and a Lumin X1 with both doing fibre optic streaming. Both are great and I like the oR a bit more. I think it sounds a bit more refined vs the wild child of the X1. My 3rd streamer, Playback Designs Plink, is also fibre optic and I have not listened to that yet. It uses different fibre cables so it should be an interesting listen.
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Thank you, @soix . I have every intention of doing so.😉 I saw that you can save a couple of dollars by buying both at the same time, so I’ll save a little longer to be able to do that.
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OP, if it’s not too late and you’ve pulled the trigger already, here is something worth contemplating. I have 3 systems, one with a Sonictransporter i7 Audiophile version and an opticalRendu, (all with linear power supplies) the other two systems are Innuos (Zen Mk3 and Zenith Mk3) in my opinion the Zen SQ outperforms the OpticalRendu and Sonictransporter combo. let alone the Senore/SGC combo is 5 boxes, vs 1. It’s messy, more complicated and doesn’t sound as good. Don’t bother with the Zen mini and you’ll be a happy camper, let alone you won’t need Roon either. |
@ianderson thanks. I wound up getting the Zenith. One box, better sound, Sense app, etc. Running it through a Chord Qutest Dac.
Happy listening to all!! |
