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Network Audio Player - need some basic advice

I am a bit of a Marantz fanboy and currently listen to mostly vinyl and cd's.  I have over 500 of each and never seem to be short of listening options. I use a Marantz PM-11S3 integrated amp and an SA-8004 SACD player.

This weekend my boys pressed me on why I cannot access music online.  Being an old fart, I had no response other than to offer to play them some of my vinyl.

Shamed by my spawn, I tried to read up on what was offered by Marantz in this category.  With at least  four products (NA-6005; NA-8005; NA-11S1; HD DAC-1) spanning in price from $649 to $3,499, I quickly realized I had no idea what the basic selection criteria should be - there are so many formats I am unfamiliar with as well as a variety of input connections.  In addition, I am quite concerned about the obsolescence factor given how rapidly these formats seem to change.  I also do not understand why some have wireless connectivity and some do not and whether this is a big deal or not as my system is on a different floor than my incoming service.

 My SA-8004 has a USB port on the front and coax and optical inputs /outputs on the rear, plus an input labeled "USB DAC" which is an unusual shaped input unlike the usb on the front panel. The PM-11S3 only has RCA inputs.

Can someone give me ( or point me to) a basic primer on this topic? What are the essential features to look for?  I am a complete luddite, so it needs to be REALLY basic, i.e. the more acronyms used, the more my ears begin to bleed.

I love my other Marantz gear, and start with a bias towards the brand , but are they offering a good product line for this, or are they behind the curve.  If not Marantz, then what does more for the same money?  If I cannot plug directly into my internet connection, is there a device I can buy to make a wireless connection?

Given my preference for vinyl and cd's, I do not want to spend a ton of money for another piece of gear, especially if it will be obsolete in a year or two.

Thanks in advance for any guidance you can provide.

sjtm
stewart0722
184 posts
 
only 2700??

im pretty sure hes not investing that......

he can spend less on auralic by a factor of 5 and still hsve money for a hard drive
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,790 posts
 
+1 for audioman.  

Aries is not in the same league as N100H. You can probably get N100H on Agon for under 2K. 

Aurender iPad app is to die for and SQ is first rate for any streamer under 3K. 
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,568 posts
 
Get a used Sony HAP-Z1ES and don’t look back. You can get a used one for as low as 1200-1250.00. I had a dedicated computer and dac and an Aurender N100H and dac and I like the Sony much better. The Sony HDD app is much easier to use and the sound quality is superb. It has an A+ rating in Stereophile if you believe that sort of thing.
stewart0722
184 posts
 
I’ve had experience with Bryston BDP2, Sony HAPZ1ES, Aurender & Aries. The Aurender N100H is wonderful...

(If you have a USB DAC that will give you all the resolution the media player will send thru USB)

Original Poster’s SACD player will NOT......so he needs something besides a USB only DAC if he’s going to have any high res capabilities...
His DAC is limited thru USB to 48K. It also won’t do FLAC.....

To do 24/192 he needs to be able to use the coax or optical on the rear...

For his needs, I think the Aries represents the best value......is it as high performing as the Aurender? No......For the money? WAY BETTER VALUE and it gives him the capabilities that a USB only media player will not give him....and the interface I say is on par w/ Aurender.....

What media player do I use? I have played with several, but always go back to my Bryston BDP2. I have a 512G ssd internal drive along with an external 4TB drive.......As to original poster’s question concerning wireless, I just use a very inexpensive wireless bridge from DLink and it works like a charm. I even power it from the usb ports of the Bryston.....

If I ever upgrade from the Bryston, it will be to Aurender, but not a USB only solution as my CD Player also won’t do full resolution by USB (Estoeric K03)........the reasons for upgrade won’t have anything to do with sound quality, the Bryston is as good as it gets, it will have to do with slickening the interface and getting very smooth support for Tidal, which Bryston isn’t quite there with.....

As to the Sony HAP-Z1ES. It is the absolutely WORST PIECE OF JUNK you will ever use.......stay away......there is a very good reason there are a gazillion used ones on the market........getting your library into it takes 3 friggin weeks and if it crashes you get to start all over.....the sound quality sucks.......and the ipod/ipad interface crashes constantly.....it’s basically an overpriced BRICK......

I still think his needs would be best served by an Auralic Aries Mini....


jond's avatar
jond
6,056 posts
 
I second or 3rd or whatever the Auralic Aries Mini I think it's great and not just for the price. Upgrade the wall wart power supply to a linear supply like the Sbooster, around $300 and run it to a good outboard DAC and you have a very good sounding wireless system with a great interface. I wirelessly stream from my Synology NAS, think mini file server,  but most of my listening these days is via Tidal for all of $20 a month it's like the cd collection of your dreams. Plus pretty sure Auralic offers a free one year Tidal subscription.
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