@david_ten I have only heard good things about Wolf Audio. But equipped as I need it, their entry level price is a budget buster.
Help me pick one of four music servers/streamersreqi
Sorry about the sloppy title; can't edit it, fat fingers.
On a tight budget, but looking to take my digital playback chain up a notch.
Current system is Vortexbox appliance to router via ethernet, wifi to Squeezebox Touch to older modded Beresford DAC (max 96/24) via S/PDIF coax, RCA analog out to preamp. Sounds very good, all things considered, but I know I can do better and modernize. Plus will soon bump up against the 1 TB hard drive capacity in the VB appliance. I use dBPoweramp on a networked laptop to rip CDs, and a network attached Sweetvinyl Sugarcube SC-2 to rip vinyl. I also plan on subscribing to Roon. Since I will not run an ethernet cable from my router, I will be using a powerline extender to provide the ethernet connection. I hope it will be sufficient; it works fine with the Sugarcube. I am not really interested in any resolutions beyond 24/192. I have a Qoboz subscription, and want to add a radio function to it (still can’t believe it doesn’t have one). Roon will do that, I believe.
Here are the top contenders, all under $3000, with some pros and cons. Some of these options will necessitate the purchase of a USB-capable DAC. For that, aside from the $3K max, I am looking at a Schitt Gungnir (opinions on the DAC welcome as well, but the $1300 price is my absolute max). This must be a turnkey solution, as I am at the ink and quill level technologically.
1. Roon Nucleus with 4TB ~$2250
Pros: Well-regarded, Roon core, silent, affordable. Drive is SSD, can output to a USB DAC directly
Cons: No DAC, no internal CD ripper. Not sure if I can rip files to the internal storage drive via my networked laptop.
2. Innuos ZenMini Mk3 with 4TB with LPS power supply ~ $2550
Pros: Internal DAC (not sure of quality), Roon Core, carried by a local, trusted B&M dealer
Cons: Reputation for drop outs and frequent required restarts, internal drive is a less reliable spinning HDD (I have heard the difference a SSD can make for file playback), Gapless playback through analog out?
3. Lumin D2 - no internal drive - $2300
Pros: Good reputation for Sound Quality, Internal DAC, Gapless playback, can use with current backup HDD until I need to move to a larger one.
Cons: No internal hard drive, not sure it is a Roon Core, will have to purchase external SSD for file storage when I get near 1TB.
4. Melco N100-h50 with 5TB internal drive $? 2TB model is $2100, so I assume 5TB still comes in under $3K.
Pros: Good reputation for Sound Quality and easy user interface, can output directly to USB DAC, Roon Core (?)
Cons: May be the most expensive in the group, still requires a USB DAC
Not looking to get flamed here or ignite a flame war, just valid opinions of experienced users. Open to other brands provided they meet my requirements, especially price ceiling. Thanks in advance.
On a tight budget, but looking to take my digital playback chain up a notch.
Current system is Vortexbox appliance to router via ethernet, wifi to Squeezebox Touch to older modded Beresford DAC (max 96/24) via S/PDIF coax, RCA analog out to preamp. Sounds very good, all things considered, but I know I can do better and modernize. Plus will soon bump up against the 1 TB hard drive capacity in the VB appliance. I use dBPoweramp on a networked laptop to rip CDs, and a network attached Sweetvinyl Sugarcube SC-2 to rip vinyl. I also plan on subscribing to Roon. Since I will not run an ethernet cable from my router, I will be using a powerline extender to provide the ethernet connection. I hope it will be sufficient; it works fine with the Sugarcube. I am not really interested in any resolutions beyond 24/192. I have a Qoboz subscription, and want to add a radio function to it (still can’t believe it doesn’t have one). Roon will do that, I believe.
Here are the top contenders, all under $3000, with some pros and cons. Some of these options will necessitate the purchase of a USB-capable DAC. For that, aside from the $3K max, I am looking at a Schitt Gungnir (opinions on the DAC welcome as well, but the $1300 price is my absolute max). This must be a turnkey solution, as I am at the ink and quill level technologically.
1. Roon Nucleus with 4TB ~$2250
Pros: Well-regarded, Roon core, silent, affordable. Drive is SSD, can output to a USB DAC directly
Cons: No DAC, no internal CD ripper. Not sure if I can rip files to the internal storage drive via my networked laptop.
2. Innuos ZenMini Mk3 with 4TB with LPS power supply ~ $2550
Pros: Internal DAC (not sure of quality), Roon Core, carried by a local, trusted B&M dealer
Cons: Reputation for drop outs and frequent required restarts, internal drive is a less reliable spinning HDD (I have heard the difference a SSD can make for file playback), Gapless playback through analog out?
3. Lumin D2 - no internal drive - $2300
Pros: Good reputation for Sound Quality, Internal DAC, Gapless playback, can use with current backup HDD until I need to move to a larger one.
Cons: No internal hard drive, not sure it is a Roon Core, will have to purchase external SSD for file storage when I get near 1TB.
4. Melco N100-h50 with 5TB internal drive $? 2TB model is $2100, so I assume 5TB still comes in under $3K.
Pros: Good reputation for Sound Quality and easy user interface, can output directly to USB DAC, Roon Core (?)
Cons: May be the most expensive in the group, still requires a USB DAC
Not looking to get flamed here or ignite a flame war, just valid opinions of experienced users. Open to other brands provided they meet my requirements, especially price ceiling. Thanks in advance.
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- 18 posts total
I like my SGC sonictransporter https://www.smallgreencomputer.com/collections/audio-server/products/sonictransporter-i5 Mine has an internal 2TB SSD. I just connect a $25 external CD ripping drive to the SGC, to rip CDs straight to the sonic with the ripping software that comes with the SGC. Works great. I have it across the room from my audio rack/stack, next to the modem and ethernet switch where it’s hooked to the network. I run CAT6 from the switch under the rug to my rack, where it feeds a Microrendu (I may upgrade that to an Ultra), which feeds my DAC. I use SGC’s power supply. I considered many options, including the ones you cite and a few more. For me, the SGC offered the best value for the excellent sound quality. FWIW. Bundle: https://www.smallgreencomputer.com/collections/recommended-solutions/products/premier-server-player-... |
I recently picked up a pre-owned Roon Nucleus. I wanted to put my Aqua La Voce S3 DAC in my main system and try out Roon. I am very happy with ease of use with the Nucleus and sound quality is excellent. Maybe better than my analog rig. The Nucleus was great for me because I can use the La Voce with Roon, even though it's not Roon certified. I have two other streamers (TEAC NT-505) that are Roon certified and can use them all from the same Roon interface. I already have my digital library available on my network, which I can also access with Roon, so the hard drive in the Nucleus didn't matter to me. My Nucleus only has .5 TB, which I'll probably never use. |
@bondmanp There is a used Wolf Audio Alpha 2 listed for 2.8/3.0K Not sure if it meets all of your requirements. I’m assuming 3K is your budget for the server/player. If storage is an issue, go with a unit that allows you to add on as needed (for example, Antipodes) OR external storage, OR card / usb drive based storage. If you want to avoid adding a switch, choose a unit (network player or DAC) that offers a wireless receiver OR go with a bridged Ethernet server. You have multiple ways to go about this. |
- 18 posts total