ZEN Mini S vs. Small Green Computer Sonic Transporter i5 music server/Ultra Rendu Streamer

I can’t speak to the Zen, but I have been running the i5 with UltraRendu for over a year. Terrific support from SGC. Coupled with Roon and Qobuz, my biggest problem is finding enough time to listen to all that I would like to hear. I skipped dBPoweramp and just use the ripping software in the i5 with a cheap DVD drive. I did add an Ultradigital from Sonare so I could use the I2S input of my Denafrips Pontus II. I use my laptop and an android tablet as interfaces. I bought an internal 4 GB SSD from B&H and it works flawlessly. I will admit that I used the Roon DSP to smooth out a little roughness in the upper mid/lower treble range. But this has lessened over time. Updates usually run smoothly, although a second reboot of the i5 is often needed, and you should keep the Roon app on your tablet or laptop up to date.

I use free metadata software to manage the files and keep everything easy to find. MP3tag works great for me.

Backup to my WD portable 4GB USB drive is easy and fast...I keep a USB cable plugged into the i5 and dangling around to the front. Connect the drive, open the Sonic Orbiter GUI, and start the backup. USB 3 is much faster than the 2. The only thing that takes a while is adding album art to my music files. Faster home network speeds help with this. I added a cheap Ethernet adapter to my laptop to avoid the WiFi, and it sped things up considerably.

Overall, I am happy, even if my rack looks like a Rube Goldberg contraption, with a bunch of little boxes, power supplies and cables.

I like the simplicity of the Zen, but it’s hard to imagine better support than you get from Andrew at SGC, and like yourself, the i5 bundle was clearly the most cost effective way to get hi res files, Roon and Qobuz to all work together seamlessly.

I have been researching this quite a bit, as well. With all due respect to the prior posters, if the OP was interested in the Zen MiniS, it does feature an SSD and an upgraded 8GB of memory, at least as I understand it. 
Also, if you don’t need the 4TB edition, even with the upgraded LPSU, it is cheaper than the Small Green Computer. Or, get the MiniS now, and upgrade the power supply later. There would also be a reduction in cables and connections with a one (or 2) box solution. Just my .02.

@bondmanp thank you for your feedback.  I'm leaning towards the i5 over the ZEN at this point.  I need to talk to Andrew at SGC first, as I have a few questions for him.

I want to get your opinion on my approach if I go the i5 route.  My thoughts are to use dbpoweramp to start ripping my CDs to a WD 4TB My Passport SSD using my Windows laptop.  I am recovering from three spinal fractures (long story) and it's just ergonomically easier to use this set up over ripping files to the i5. 

Once I get a decent number of CDs loaded, I would transfer them to the i5 internal drive via USB.  I'd repeat the process over time to eventually rip the 3,000 or so CDs I want to stream via the UltraRendu or OpticalRendu. 

During this time I may buy a new MacBook Pro as I prefer Mac to Windows.  I know dbpoweramp comes in a bundle with both the Windows and MAC versions included.  Do you foresee a compatibility issue with the files ripped on Windows now and then a MAC in the future using different versions of the same software?  I know you're not a dbpoweramp user so it's probably not a fair question to ask.  No worries, I can contact them for information.

A couple of questions:

- do I have to subscribe to Roon before I start ripping CDs?  I don't anticipate that I will begin streaming to the UltraRendu or OpticalRendu for at least three to six months.

- since I will have all my FLAC files on the WD 4TB My Passport SSD from the original desktop rip, do I still need to purchase another 4TB SSD to back up my integrated Roon library (ripped files, Qobuz and Tidal playlists).  My guess is "yes" but I wanted to make sure.

Thanks,

Rich

@drlou77 

I used an old Vortexbox appliance with Squeezebox Touch from SGC for 10 years before upgrading to the i5 and Roon.  No issues transferring files over. Ran my backup drive into the i5.  Even with USB 2, it took a couple of days.  I used to use dBPoweramp, but just don't feel the need for it.  As long as everything is in FLAC, you should be fine.  I can't speak for ALAC or Apple, though.  Yes, you should have a backup drive, or even two.

@forestg thanks.  Was not aware of the ability to upgrade to SSD on the ZENmini S.  Is this upgrade path available for the ZEN model as well?