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Why a digital media player instead of a dedicated computer?

I’ve been trying for some time now to better understand the value of adding a digital media player to one’s system. This is of interest to me because I listen to music entirely from high-resolution digital files. I keep reading glowing reviews of digital players like the Bryston BDP-2 but I must be missing something, because if you have a computer and a good piece of software I fail to see what the media player adds to the equation. But if there is some kind of advantage to be had, I’d like to know!

I currently store all my high-resolution music files on an external hard drive, which I then connect to a dedicated Macbook Pro running Audirvana Plus. The Macbook outputs the files to an external DAC via USB, then on to my preamp and the rest of my system. I’ve been very satisfied with this arrangement, and it can handle almost any type of file I throw at it, from 16/44.4 to DSD 5.6.

Other than being able to control the playback wirelessly, what would be the advantages, if any, of using a digital media player instead of a dedicated laptop? Is there any sonic improvement to be had over my current arrangement? Or is this simply a matter of convenience and not having to tie up a computer in my music system?

Thanks!
zm
erik_squires
16,380 posts
 
@tbg There is something inherently wrong with UI designers of JRiver and MediaMonkey.  Very little works as I wold expect it or obfuscates file location and data in such a way as I'm constantly left groping to understand what files I'm working on, listening to or re-tagging. 

Your not alone. 

Erik
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,456 posts
 
Erik I still use squeeze system but also have found plex to be a very good value streaming system. With very good sound that runs on most all common devices.   Not perfect but works well.  
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Erik- I loved my Modwright Logitech Transporter but the display is dead and my understanding is that replacements are not available, at least from Logitech.  That's the problem w dedictated servers which typically have proprietary parts or software. That's why I have upgraded my PC-based server/computer (Sound Science Music Vault) to one of the very low rpm fan models and installed it directly in my system.  

Should protect me from having another $3K boat anchor.  Of course if you know of source for a replacement display, I'd love to know about it.  
erik_squires
16,380 posts
 
@swampwalker Sorry I do not, however used or NOS Squeezeboxes do come up for sale on Audiogon and Ebay with some frequency.

I have been seeing NOS Transporters I was tempted to pick up, but with USB 2.0 outputs becoming standardized, a Touch is a better option. You can now convert the Touch USB output to 2.0 Asynch output and work with any DAC that supports driverless Mac/Linux installation.

Also, now they supposedly support DSD as well, with the latest LMS 7.9 builds. So I’m really really not motivated to move except to a PC. I’m getting a Mytek this week so I’ll let you know how it works.

Best,

Erik
erik_squires
16,380 posts
 
@mapman I did too, but after trying and failing to get my ARC DAC 8 to sound as good as it did in the store I have come to the conclusion that despite the reasonably good Stereophile measurements it was not working as well as I would like.

I strongly recommend either using it with a USB 2.0 DAC, or getting the Wyred4Sound Remedy. 

I'm using the Remedy, but I have a Mytek in the mail. ;) Now I'll have all that plus DSD and MQA.

We'll see!


Erik
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