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Best standalone music server?

So I am considering dipping my toes into the full digital world and was wondering what people here may consider as the best standalone music server, and here I am going to be specific.
I do not want to consider a home pc or mac based type of system at all!
Looking at adding one of the standalone models like for example the Wyred4sound ms1 or cocktail audio.
High on my list is ability to rip my cds directly at the unit itself, access to internet radio and other music apps (Pandora etc). High quality built in dac would be nice but if not then high quality digital out to run to an external dac. I will not be needing to access music files stored on another pc as my home pc is pretty old but fully functional for my simple needs. The only music looking to access from it right now are ripped cds and internet available music in whatever form.
So if it worked out well, yes it may be a replacement even for a cd player completely

Thank you
uberwaltz
jond's avatar
jond
6,056 posts
 
Sorry but you guys are wrong about Tidal its the total opposite of a rip off. Think of it this way how much do you spend a month on cds? In my heyday of buying cds I would easily spend $100 a month. Now for $20 I have essentially 250,000 or however many titles are on Tidal, probably more for the price of two $10 cds. I see that as a bargain as do most who've tried it and its cd quality and now some hi-rez stuff as well.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
@jond 
Everybody is entitled to their choices
Mine as I have stated is to have something tangible in my hands when I have paid good money for it.
Now just as an example, I bought some cd,s say and I decided I did not like them, well I am going to rip them to flac files anyway and then resell them.
And that is a choice I get by buying cd,s, to resell or not, at least I have an option.
I have nothing against anybody who chooses to go completely digital at all, it is just not my nature and that will NEVER change...lol.
I am sure Tidal has some good stuff on it but I am also very happy with my cd collection and the physical hunt for said cd,s on flea markets and the like
jond's avatar
jond
6,056 posts
 
uberwaltz of course you are entitled,  sorry I was just objecting to the characterization of Tidal as a ripoff. I should point out that this statement:

"Now just as an example, I bought some cd,s say and I decided I did not like them, well I am going to rip them to flac files anyway and then resell them.
And that is a choice I get by buying cd,s, to resell or not, at least I have an option."

Pretty much makes my point for me if you think about it , but I am certainly not here to argue glad you're enjoying your new vault so much! Cheers!
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
@jond

Of course I get your point, in fact I would have to concede the logic of it if all you want to do is browse without owning as this is exactly what the wife does with tv using Netflix and Amazon Prime for about $22 a month for the pair. And yes she watches some garbage that would never ever consider buying!
However most of my music cd purchases are well researched and I do not end up selling many. Yes I now have them stored on the vault and majority of the cd,s are now boxed up and hidden.
I would say "never" is a word never to use...lol
So who knows maybe I will check Tidal out one day but its one step at a time for this old fart!
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
As I said earlier I did think the bass was a little overblown from the vault but this was using the rca outputs.
I changed to the coax dig out feeding into the dig in of my esoteric and tbh I truly cannot tell them apart now.
My guess is the analog outs of the vault are not up to par but going digital out is the way to go.

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