I have been using the cocktail x50 for about 1 year now and I am very happy with it. Excellent interface, up to 12 terabytes of storage, mqa rendering, support for Tidal and Spotify and excellent sound quality overall. I also have the Auralic Aries in another system and I use a NAS drive to communicate with the x50. Excellent support.
Music Server - The Search Begins
I recently upgraded my amp to a Lyngdorf TDAI-3400, which incorporates the highest quality DAC I have owned, so it's gotten me to seriously consider adding a music server to my system.
I've been mainly playing records through my system for the past 8 years, so I really haven't paid much attention to the digital side of things. I need some help figuring out what's ideal for my needs.
The main criteria I have:
- Needs to be able to store a lot of music because I have thousands of CDs and downloads I want to store in one place
- Should have its own CD ripper
- Needs to be easy to use. I'd like to be able to navigate it without having to use a phone, tablet or computer all the time
- Must be reliable. Glitchy, buggy systems will end up being returned.
- Must sound good, but doesn't need to be in the top 5% of its class.
- Should be under $3K (but willing to consider higher priced if the benefits are really worth it)
Servers that I've been considering include the Cocktail Audio X50D, Sony HAP-Z1ES, BlueSound Vault, Melco N1. I realize that not all of these on my list include every criteria I listed above, hence my plea for help.
If you have experience using a server that you really like and that might make sense for me please share your experiences. Thanks so much!!
Peter
I've been mainly playing records through my system for the past 8 years, so I really haven't paid much attention to the digital side of things. I need some help figuring out what's ideal for my needs.
The main criteria I have:
- Needs to be able to store a lot of music because I have thousands of CDs and downloads I want to store in one place
- Should have its own CD ripper
- Needs to be easy to use. I'd like to be able to navigate it without having to use a phone, tablet or computer all the time
- Must be reliable. Glitchy, buggy systems will end up being returned.
- Must sound good, but doesn't need to be in the top 5% of its class.
- Should be under $3K (but willing to consider higher priced if the benefits are really worth it)
Servers that I've been considering include the Cocktail Audio X50D, Sony HAP-Z1ES, BlueSound Vault, Melco N1. I realize that not all of these on my list include every criteria I listed above, hence my plea for help.
If you have experience using a server that you really like and that might make sense for me please share your experiences. Thanks so much!!
Peter
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- 62 posts total
Wolf Audio makes excellent servers at many performance levels. My Luna is controllable from an iPad or the large monitor touchscreen attached to the unit. Support and service is excellent. https://wolfaudiosystems.com/ |
I just went to my friend ,you can go to any competent computer and repair shop ,build you ur own . for well under $2k you can get a much better setup with all name brand name top parts. I have 3 Western digital Solid state drives , spool disc drives which many still use, heat pipe cases which are under $350 N moving parts, no fans a built in ,seperate linearpower supply, or seperate dvd-cd drive or both DB power amp to rip your discs ,Excellent program and versitile ,Jrivers24 software to catalog your library,as well as now they offer many radio stations ,several such as Radio Paradise ,and JRivers that have high quality 24/96 Flac files for ,No extra money. Getting back to building you get a Top Gifabyte or other great name brand mother board, intel 5 or 7 processor, Corsair or other top names of memory.it sits on your rack like an amp .there are Hirez capabilities. None of these $3k serves can even approach this quality for build. That’s just me ,like with most speakers,and electronic unless you have $$ to buy the best on average 25%of the cost at most goes into the product, the rest markup and overhead. That is a fact .i owned and operated a Audiostore for a number of years and the stores get over 45% on average for markup. when you have custom built 60% or more goes into the quality of the parts. This is just something to consider. I am convinced as in modding premium quality parts Do matter,if you plan on keeping it . The Dac is seperate Anyway. |
@honeybee2012 I'm hoping to see the Innuos within two weeks. I did preorder, however, so my guess is general release will not be until October or so. I ordered mine through Tony Barnette at Ellington HiFi. I also bought my Lyngdorf through him and I've been really happy with his service and follow up. http://www.ellingtonhifi.com/ |
I auditioned one of the very expensive Green Computer servers. Also experimented with dedicated solutions like the Roon Nuc. I'm pretty good with computers and found I could build a PC with the proper hardware and software for MUCH less than any of the boxed solutions that sounded significantly superior. And BTW, it feeds a 2170 via OMG!! USB. I played with the Ethernet solutions, very expensive Ethernet solutions, and ran away from those too to USB. I know, blaspheme. The money wasn't an issue. All decisions were made on perceived performance. |
- 62 posts total