2. digital
  3. 180342-146077

Digital source upgrade suggestion?

Hi,

I’m currently running my streaming (Tidal and Spotify) and digital files from a Macbook Pro (files on external HD connected USBC) with iTunes over Airplay to an Airport which is then connected via Audioquest mini Toslink cable to my Bricasti M1SE dac.

I have about 4TB of music files which are highly organized in iTunes (I run a record label and am a touring DJ, hence needing files portable on the external drive) so I’ve been hesitant to move into Roon simply because of the interface – the line spacing is huge and I prefer to view larger lists on the screen at a time – and I burn through new music files very quickly as I’m dealing with many demos, masters, etc. I know the consensus is Airplay is garbage, but feeling a bit stuck.

I’ve been thinking perhaps a NAS but I’d like something to also be an endpoint for Tidal, Qobuz etc. The M1 has the network upgrade, so don’t need a streamer per se. I’ve read many many threads here in the past 2 years but I’m in circles now. Thoughts?

If of interest (can’t imagine it matters for this part of the front end discussion) the rest of system is Cello Palette Preamp, Pass 1.2 Monoblocks, modded ADS L1290 floorstsnders.

Thank in advance, I know this topic is like beating a dead horse.

au_lait
testrun
218 posts
 

I suggest you look at a dedicated music server like the i5 from Green Computer.  You can attach your 4tb drive and connect to the Bricasti and run Roon from the i5.

kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,398 posts
 

My setup is pretty much the same.  The beauty of it (WiFi) is that nothing on computer side matters (Computer speed, power supply, amount of memory, playback program etc), since there is no direct connection and no real time clock .  Airport receives bit perfect data in packets and converts it to music by adding timing.  AE is  pretty jittery on analog out but Toslink output is not that bad producing about 280ps of jitter.  AFAIK about 50ns becomes audible so some reduction is in order.  I use jitter suppressing DAC.  

Itunes is different story.   User interface is clumsy, so I created "smart playlists" for each gender  (Gender is ......).  After that each gender smart playlist shows all CDs on one screen as icons.  Unfortunately it is still not showing full screen because, for some reason, they decided to use almost half of the screen for the banner.  I had enough of this stupidity and bought inexpensive Jriver Media 29 (now Media 30).  Once you figure out proper settings it is pleasure to use.  Icons are displayed on whole screen, making it easy to browse thru records. My music is on external SSD connected to Mac Mini..

au_lait OP
335 posts
 

@yage Thanks for these suggestions, very insightful

au_lait OP
335 posts
 

@kijanki I'm just so many years down the road with itunes and have a huge record label catalog system through it, also really cannot stand viewing by album cover, I need to see more at one time, i need the smallest text version in list format, this is why i didn't contiue with Roon - the amount of lines of text in the interface is idiotic, way too much space and not enough shown on the screen at one time. 

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