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What's my ideal music server? Read and recommend please

Right now I use a MacBook Pro as my server, and it drives my DAC. My MacBook Pro is getting cranky, it's storage is so full I don't have space to do a current Mac update and I am beginning to think better sound quality can be achieved than a MacBook Pro via USB to a DAC. I use JRiver media center, v.27, and right now, my JRiver and MacBook Pro aren't working properly together as I keep loosing the proper MIDI setting and get no audio output.

I'm aware of the Aurender N100H. I know that uses a USB output and I'm starting to wonder if USB is my best bet. Then I see the Aurender N100C which has a digital coax out, but that output is derived from the USB, so what's the point?

My wish list- probably no less than 2 TB storage; got to be easy to use in terms of getting music into it and playing music (downloading music from say HDTracks to JRiver is the bleeding edge of my technical skills); sound quality has to be first rate. I would also be interested in a server that has a BNC output, as a regular coaxial output can never be a true 75 ohm connection but a BNC can be. 

So- what should I have on my short list? Recommend away please, and thanks-
128x128zavato
bgoeller
73 posts
 
I used MacBook Pro with JRiver for years with no hiccups. Am curious what you mean by "losing the proper MIDI setting", MIDI shouldn't enter into it unless you are trying to configure it to play .midi extension files. But I don't know all the ins and outs of JRiver so am willing to become better informed.

That being said, I solved my storage issue by getting a 1TB SATA SSD and a SATA to USB cable and simply plugging that in to the MacBook. 2TB Samsung SSDs are under $200 at this point. 

This allowed me to more easily manage files because it was portable, I didn't have to setup a full NAS or deal with home network challenges. 

If you are generally happy with the MacBook / JRiver combo, I say keep it. I moved on because I dropped my MacBook and wasn't interested in replacing it. After considering most of the down market dedicated server options, I decided to just go with an old phone that had a memory card slot and use JRiver Mobile, via USB to my DAC. 

Good luck.
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millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Had to be fast to catch that one.
mgrif104
335 posts
 
There are a good number of threads attempting to answer this question and you might find it beneficial to look through this forum toward that end.  

The Aurender N100H is a very good unit - in terms of quality, it’s the middle range of the three servers I have.  And, all are better than a MacBook both in sound quality and in utility. 

USB is a fine interface if your DAC has it implemented well.  If so, there’s no reason to shy away or look for an SPDIF output. My best server has both outputs and USB is the better of the two.  But, it’s really DAC dependent. 

There’s a used NAD M50.2 here on Audiogon.  The BluOS system is also quite good. Though many would argue that Aurender’s conductor is better, BluOS is very good if you use Ethernet instead of wireless.  The M50.2 has a disk drive so you can rip to the internal hard drive, or use it as a player. And used, it’s a quite a bit less than an N100H new.  If I were starting again, I look seriously at it.  

Of course there are others, again - worth browsing this forum. 
zavato's avatar
zavato OP
1,391 posts
 
Thanks! I’ve looked at other threads- looking for the most current thoughts on this topic 

the Aurender has been recommended to me a number of times 
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