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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
 
SJTM:

Auralic sells an upgraded linear power supply for around 300.00......
It just provides less noise, better regulation, which is important
when you're talking about clocked data.......it's just a nice way to 
go if you can.....but certainly not mandatory.....

As to a DAC, you already have a DAC.....inside your SA8004
It will do up to 24/192 resolution if you feed it through the coax
connection which you can do with the Aries mini....
stewart0722
184 posts
 
If you want an ALL IN ONE BOX solution, the Auralic Altair is it.....
it includes the DAC and streamer and also supports wireless.....
It's around 1700 

I'd still do the mini, and use the good DAC in your SA8004 SACD Player,
since you have it......
jond's avatar
jond
6,047 posts
 
@sjtm the sbooster sells for $370 and the Aries Mini is $499 so that's $870 but the good news is if thats too big an investment you can do it in stages. Also the other posters are right just use the DAC in your SA8004 you already own it and obviously like the sound. As far as DAC's go spend some time reading the threads here there are tons of them. My personal DAC experience is limited I have been very fortunate to come across a Yamamoto YDA-1 on here a few years ago and never looked back.
stewart0722
184 posts
 
SJTM:

If you decide you do not wish to use your SACD players DAC with the mini, you don't need to go to an external DAC as the Mini has a DAC!!

Here is a review for you that should clear a lot up.....the Aries Mini gets you a free year of Tidal, worth 240.00 or so, so take that into account as you evaluate........I think the linear PSU is a great addition.....

http://www.audiostream.com/content/auralic-aries-mini#lyP5WisRVwCb6UW5.97
educeus
26 posts
 
Alternatively....

Given that SJTM is just starting in the world of digital audio...why not go "old school"!  Find yourself a new or used Mac Mini.  That's what the digital audio community has been using for years until companies starting coming out with stand alone machines (still using mine along with some other newer stuff).  From that foundation, you have access to ALL the digital formats.  You can use old hard drives laying around for external storage.  You can stream Tidal...or virtually any other service, plus internet radio, plus podcasts, etc.  You can use iTunes to manage your music (highly convenient!).  Use a player like Audirvana or Roon (both sound fantastic) for actual playback. Sound wise, the Mac Minis compete with all but the best modern media streamers.  And there are a variety of apps to help control it all.  And best of all...it's just a computer, which pretty much everyone but my dad knows how to use!

You may (you will) need an external DAC...but those are ubiquitous at this point.  No need to spend more than a few Benjamins on one of those.

BTW, check the audioquest website primer on computer audio.  I read it a few years ago when I first got interested in computer based audio and it was very helpful..http://www.audioquest.com/computer-audio/


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