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Looking for a Network Music Player

I am looking for a reasonably priced Network Music Player, or plans for one that I can build.

These are my requirements

1. App for tablet/cellphone, Android & iOS (required)
2. Ethernet (required)
3. WiFi (preferred, but with an ethernet input an Access Point in client mode could be used)
4. Analog outputs for pre-amp (required)
5. Digital output, coax to connect to my pre-amp or future DAC (required)
6. Built-in storage (preferred, but not required)
7. Built-in DAC (not required)

An example of such a Network Music Player is the Sony HAP-51, but there are a few reasons that I can’t/won’t purchase this unit.

1. Price ($1000 is more than I can spend for such a unit)

2. An amplifier is built-in (Although it has analog outputs so it can be used with a pre-amp, the fact that it comes with 40 watt/channel amplifier means that too much of the cost of the unit went into something I don’t want and wouldn’t use. If that money were spent on a better DAC, it would be more desirable to me.)

3. No digital output (The unit comes with a DAC, and even if it is halfway decent, at some point I would probably want to use another DAC. It can’t be done with this unit because there are not digital outputs.)

The things I like about the Sony HAP-51 are:

1. Connectivity (Ethernet & WiFi)

2. Storage (Although not a requirement for me, it does have 500 GB hard drive, and should be enough storage for me at this point in time.)

3. App, both Android and iOS (It does have a great app, which is one of my main requirements for such a unit.)

I don’t know if a reasonably priced unit such as this exists, or if there are plans for a computer to be used as Network Music Player. I think I could build such a unit using a computer right now, but the main problem would be that I don’t know how I could access the music from an android or iOS tablet.

I would appreciate any help you can give me along these lines.

Thanks

Edincleve
128x128edincleve
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,379 posts
 
That's a pretty long list of requirements!

A couple of points sort of contradict each other; #4 & #7. Output will be digital to a dac or the unit will include a dac and then it would have analog outputs. There's no way to have analog outputs without first converting the signal to analog within the unit. 

The Aurelic Aries Mini for $549 gets close to what you're after. It's got the dac built in but also digital out to use with a better dac. There is a path to later upgrade the power supply which reportedly makes a big difference too. The nicest thing is that it uses the same Lightning DS app as the more expensive Aurelic players, so you get the development support that is for a larger community including those who bought the pricier models. (That would give me a little more comfort). 

If you can live with USB digital output instead of coax, that will affect how many products meet your needs. Most are focusing on USB output.

Personally, I am more excited about tackling this problem with the approach used by Sonore in their Sonicorbiter SE and the pending microRendu. Basically small single-purpose linux-based computer 2" cube with ethernet input, small psu, USB & optical or USB output. You store your music on any NAS connected to your router. The $299 Sonicorbiter SE is based on Cubox. The $640 microRendu is new custom hardware that is basically a specialized USB output including Regen type tech designed by John Swenson. Both can be used in 5 different modes that allow control from tons of software including Squeezebox, Lumin, Linn Kazoo, HQ Player(computer needed for that one) and many others. Check out threads on computeraudiophile for the details if you are interested. Just too much detail to explain it all.

I have no interest in these, I'm just a future customer on the waiting list to get the microRendu when it's released in the next month or so. These products are potentially gamechangers in computer audio and have many folks a lot smarter than me very excited. cheers,
Spencer
 
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,535 posts
 
Couple of players comes to mind, Cambridge Audio's CXN and Cocktail Audio X12. 

I have owned Cambridge Audio's 851N for about 6 months before switching to Aurender N100H and then N10. The latter two units offer path to purist approach.  

Depending on your DAC budget, I would look at Auralic Aries, X12 or N100. All of these units leaves door open for future upgrades.  

My personal favorite would be N100 that offers amazing sound and excellent iOS app. Yes, it lot more money but it will be a solid foundation for what you are trying to build. 

Good luck!
everest_audio
285 posts
 
The Bluesound Node 2 fits the bill for you. The only thing it doesn't have is built-in storage which you said isn't required. If you want the storage, then the Bluesound Vault 2 works, but it costs considerably more than the Node 2 and also comes with a drive for ripping CDs. So, if you can do without the built-in storage and ripping capabilities, the Node 2 should work very well for  you. Disclosure: we are a Bluesound dealer.
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