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External HD question

I currently have a 2TB external drive connected to a little netbook that streams to an Airport Express (then to a DAC Magic/Brio-R). Sounds great.

I would really love to cut the streaming out of the picture. I would really also love to *not* have a laptop--however small--sitting next to my stereo (not to mention that it is my understanding that XP is not great for a direct connection).

What is the minimal product I would have to buy to accomplish as-direct-as-possible of a connection to my DAC? I imagine it would have to have some sort of operating system, GUI, and inputs/outputs...I have been told that some Logitech products may do this, but frankly, I am trying to keep everything of very good quality.

I am afraid that a chorus of people is going to say either "get windows 7 and suck it up" or "get a mac mini." Isn't there some tiny little box out there that fits my description without paying for a new mac?

As always, I am sorry if I have duplicated anything from a previous post--I tried to search around.
dcowen1234
sufentanil's avatar
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sufentanil
782 posts
 
My understanding is that the squeezebox touch can use certain NAS units (external hard drives with some networking logic incorporated into it) and remove the need for a computer. Otherwise, the server software runs on just about any computer and operating system.

Michael
rbautista
97 posts
 
Sufentanil,

Yes you can run the server software on certain NAS devices, but the NAS device may be under powered if you want to use the optimal settings. For example, it's recommended to have the server stream the FLAC as PCM so the SBT doesn't have to do the work. For some, streaming native FLAC as opposed to PCM the difference was minor.

Dcowen1234, I tried using the SBT built in server to use the external HD and I don't recommend it. You'll just end up frustrated. That was the first thing I tried and ended up hating it. Scanning the library took too long and sometime it would crash. Once it crashed, it would have to scan again since it didn't run all the through the first time. I ended up reviving my old Dell Pentium 4 computer with XP and installed the Logictech Media Server and haven't run into any issues since them.
dcowen1234 OP
9 posts
 
wow I'm so glad to have that input. I'll just probably get a Mac Mini and do some different cabinetry so I dont have to see all of it. Plus then I can use PureMusic. Thanks everyone for input!
But I still feel like some company could probably fill a certain void if they would create a simple elegant box that served to simply hold a bare bones linux OS with the sole purpose of interfacing with a HD or NAS and producing a high quality digital output for audio. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'd buy it. Hell, I'd build it if I knew the first thing about stuff at that level...
sufentanil's avatar
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sufentanil
782 posts
 
Dcowen, that's pretty much exactly what I do. I use a computer I built several years ago from a few parts from Newegg for $4-500 or so, and run Linux. It runs the Logitech media server and has worked flawlessly for years.

But the Mac Mini is a slick solution, and is inherently a low-profile chassis that will work well near the audio gear.

Michael
mwheelerk
121 posts
 
What you might be looking for is something like the Bryston BDP-1 Digital Music Player. It is based on Linux OS and it's sole function is high quality playback of digital audio files. There are others out there including the Auralitti on which the Bryston design is based.
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