2. digital
  3. 191559-170489

Music server recommendations needed.

I have a large CD collection (4000 - 5000+) and so far I have only been managing my digital music files on my MacBook Pro through Apple Music only. (Partially digitized from my CD collection, partially commercially bought digital music files.) The music is largely an exhaustive jazz collection totaling some 6000 albums, by my estimate.

 

I need to digitize and collect all of my music on a music server. Ideally I would like to do this in just 2 components - a CD player and a Music Server, or a Music Server that comes equipped with a good CD player. The ability to effortlessly digitize the CDs, and then properly catalog, search and listen to my digitized music is the end goal. The CD player must be able to play SACD media. Would be nice if I can keep the DAC out of the music server. I'd like to keep the cost reasonable, but at some level I don't know what is reasonable either. Whatever I pick, I want it to stay for the long haul. What would you knowledgeable folks suggest as a solution?

I currently own a Jay's Audio CD player connected to a Benchmark Audio DAC3 HGC and Galion Audio TS120 SE integrated tube amp and Triangle Antal speakers.

 

Thanks,

Amit

 

amitb
zuman
5 posts
 

Read the whatsbestforum.com posts on the Pachanko Constellation server/players. Some people have compared them favorably to the Taiko Extreme, but at a tiny fraction of the price. I have the Pachanko Constellation Mini SE, and it was a massive upgrade over my NAD M50.2. I got it with the Stellar external power supply for about $4k total.

Pachanko's secret weapon is their CEO, however. He responds personally to owner questions via WhatsApp and will personally configure systems remotely upon request.

The Constellation doesn't have a ripper, but it's very easy to upload files to it from a computer.

mikhailark
387 posts
 

Frankly it is only worth ripping if something is not available in streaming. Rather than ripping 16/44 CD you can have 24/96 stream on Tidal... It has been a long time since I listened to any of my ripped CDs.

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
5,147 posts
 

@amitb 

What’s your budget?  You can go from really cheap to holy cow, I can buy a car for that.

panzrwagn's avatar
panzrwagn
604 posts
 

I'm curious about something called the Brennan B3. From their website:

"Martin Brennan is a Cambridge University physicist. He  has designed more than twenty silicon chips and written over a million lines of code.

Martin designed and built his first audio amplifier as a teenager. 

He designed the JB7 in 2007 as a better way to enjoy his CD collection.

B2 superceded JB7 - adding internet and Bluetooth. B3 is the latest and fastest generation of player."

So he certainly has the bona fides. Anyone actually have hands on experience with one of these?

vinylshadow
523 posts
 

24/96 sounds worse than 16/44 if the original music was recorded in 16/44, which is nearly always.

Upsampling music almost never sounds better than Redbook. 

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