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Need Advice On A Network Music Player

I want to get into Hi Rez music downloads and need a player to make that possible. My initial research has identified the following as serious possibilities, but I can find no comparison reviews or anything to clearly differentiate them:



Logitech Squeeze Box Touch - $234.00

Cambridge Audio - Sonata NP30 - $599.00

Marantz - NA7004 - Network Audio Player - $799.99

Bryston - BDP-1 - Digital Media Player - $2195.00

My real concern is identifying what gives the best bang for the buck and still provides high quality sound output. The only purpose that I will be using this for is Hi Rez music downloads from HD Tracks, and some higher res music via USB thumb drives (such as the Complete Beatles Collection). I've read very positive reviews of all of these, but again, nothing comparing them in any way, so its extremely hard to gauge.



The only two concerns are that I have used Squeezebox software previously (when I owned a Transporter) and found it more difficult to use than I wanted to deal with, and hated the connection problems getting to their site. That's a negative to buying equipment from them. Also, over at the Hi Rez forum, they have many threads about how you have to spend about $400.00 modifying the Touch to get optimal sound. As far as the Bryston, as expensive as it is, Stereophile noted that the sound quality from it's USB input was not as good, and that would be a great concern for me.



I have Bryston BDA-1 DAC available for use with whatever I purchase. Any thoughts, recommendations, and expertise would be appreciated. I'm completely new to this game and could use the help. Thanks.
nightfall
richardfinegold
196 posts
 
Nightfall, as I noted earlier, I think that some of the networking issues with squeezebox that existed a few years ago (which I also encountered) have been cleaned up since Logitech acquired Slim Devices. You shouldn't use your past experience as your only guide on this product, and I say this as one who had the exact reservations that you have.
All of these devices (include Bryston) will play high rez files from a usb drive so there is no need to turn on your computer. They also play files from your computer as well.
I haven't had time to really play with the Marantz, but the little that I've been able to use it since my last post has been very rewarding.
richardfinegold
196 posts
 
Just listened to the Marantz for another hour. I also own the Marantz 8003 SACD/CD player, which has been replaced now by the 8004 (see another thread under this folder). The 8003 , 8004, and the NA 7004 all use the same cirrhus logic Dac chips. The sound of the NA 7004 playing standard res files is similar to the 8003 playing redbook CDs. The NA 7004 does sound different than the 8003 playing SACDs. They both sound great but I give a slight preference to the SACD. Is this due to the DSD encoding for SACD? Can't say.
Marantz dealers are easy to find. If they can't demo the NA7004, then see if you can get a demo of the 8003 or 8004, which are very close to the NA 7004.
Do you have a DAC? If not, then the NA 7004 may be a more logical purchase than the sbt
nightfall OP
224 posts
 
"Do you have a DAC? If not, then the NA 7004 may be a more logical purchase than the sbt"

I do own an excellent DAC, the Bryston BDA-1. My original thoughts, if I went with the Marantz NA7004, was to bypass its internal DAC and use the digital out to route its signal to the BDA-1.
richardfinegold
196 posts
 
Well you have a fine DAC. Probably another reason you were interested in the Bryston transport.
I listened a bit to the Squeezebox today using the Marantz NA 7004 as the DAC. Perhaps not to surprisingly, the combo sounds a lot like the NA 7004 on it's own. I therefore would conclude that the Squeezebox is relatively neutral conduit that doesn't add any colorations. The only difference that might be there is a slight roll of on the very top end--extremely subtle.
You won't go wrong with either the Touch or the Marantz. If you buy the latter make sure that your unit plays high res files from a USB drive before you bring it home.
grit
3 posts
 
I own a Bryston BDA-1 and currently use an unmodded Sonos player. My Rotel 1560 receiver is the weakest link. Speakers are B&W 804 diamonds. I also recently had the very good fortune of demoing Bryston BDP-1 alongside my Sonos, connected to the BDA-1 via AES/EBU.

The Bryston BDA-1 made an incredible difference in the quality of the music through the Sonos. There was just clearly no comparison, and I could never recommend the BDA-1 enough.

The Bryston BDP-1 made a startling difference over the Sonos. Music had an unsuspected 3-dimentional feel to it. The same music (my bit-accurate CD rips via dbpoweramp) sounded... live? There was a distinct location to each instrument... not a "general" location. I did try a few recordings and was underwhelmed though. I don't think this is ANY fault of the BDP-1. Rather, I think it's the source material. It did NOT make them sound bad. Rather, it just didn't improve them as much. With respect to sound quality, I can't recommend the BDP-1 enough for active/critical listening.

Again, that was all comparing Redbook CD music, not HD. I can only assume the HD music is at LEAST as good, if not more so.
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