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Network Music Player or CD Player-Opinions Wanted

My current audio system consists of a Linn Turntable, Linn DMS Speakers, Sony CDP-XD707ES CD player and Naim Electronics. Everything is circa 1984 except for the CD player which is early 1990's. I have never had any problems with the system and it still sounds great. But after all these years it is time for a change. My music collection is albums and CDs. Every time I play an album, it reinforces why I bought the Linn/Naim system.

Besides changing the amp, pre-amp and speakers, I am definitely going to invest in upgrading my turntable. The opinions I am interested in receiving pertain to the digital side of the system. I have nothing against a high end digital network player, except most of the music I enjoy listening to is 1970's, 80's and early 1990's hard rock, metal, "Big Hair", new wave/dance music (mostly high energy). To my ears, an album still sounds better than a CD playing the same exact music. If faced with the following scenario, what would you do?

At least from what I have researched so far, the type of music I enjoy listening to is mostly available in CD format, and for streaming. It is not available in a high resolution downloadable format. I am not interested in MP3 or a low quality music download format. So if I want to build up my music collection, I will probably have to buy CDs. While streaming is convenient, I want to own the music. Some will say that the CD is a dying format, and the network player is the future. That is fine if all of the music one listens to is available in a high quality downloadable digital format. What does one do if the music that person listens to is not available in a high quality downloadable format? It makes no sense to me to buy CD's only to spend extra time transferring them to a hard drive. I don't mind changing a CD every 45 minutes or so. I am more interested in sound quality. When faced with this same situation, would you find it unreasonable to invest in a newer high end CD player vs. being coerced by a dealer to purchase a network music player, transfer my current CD collection to network storage and continue using my Sony CD player for the occasional CD. What good is the hardware if the software is not available? The turntable investment is justifiable. I can only justify the network player if all of my originally recorded analogue music is available in a high quality digital format. Otherwise, I feel investing in a higher quality CD player is just as important as my high end turntable. Convenience is nice, but without the sound quality, I feel like I am wasting my money. If anyone knows where I can purchase my type of music in a high quality downloadable format, please reply. Your opinions are wanted as high end audio these days is a costly endeavor and any advice would be greatly appreciated.
vpm
grey9hound
1,112 posts
 
You can also buy a pc and use something like jRivermedia Player.http://www.jriver.com/audio.html You can rip discs to the hard drives(s). You can also play music from networked drives or any device connected to your network, wirelessly or attached or any drive or storage format that is on the network.
I bought a dell precision T5400 and did this. It works Great.
you will need a seperate Dac and it would sound best with a Usb to SPDIF convertor like this http://www.amazon.com/Musical-Fidelity-V-LINKII-24bit-Converter/dp/B006JH2XQ2
davide256's avatar
davide256
399 posts
 
grey9hound, I don't think you looked at the op's system quality and stated intentions. What you describe would be a downgrade, closer in sound to the Linn Genki I have that's gathering dust. If the OP wanted to go the route of async usb, they should be looking at a CAPS Zuma media server and at least an audiophilleo async usb converter. Personally I prefer streamers as less trouble to get the best sound. After 2 years of tweaking PC's with Jriver, I'm fed up with it, the only role left in my system for one is CD ripper, music downloads, and "super NAS" feeding my streamer while I sit back with Kinsky remote control and choose my music without the annoyance of Gizmo limitations.
larryi
3,945 posts
 
I am a big fan of using a music server. The ease of access is much more than a matter of not having to get up every hour or so to change the music. I like the ease of browsing my collection on my iPad and "discovering" recordings I have long forgotten that I even have in my collection; I can easily sample these recordings by playing a track or two. I also like making temporary playlists of selected tracks and albums. My server, a Naim NDS, also links to a music data base that provides a constantly updated "booklet" on most of the CDs in my collection (includes description of the album and artist, reviews of the disc, and a constantly updated discography of the artists). These features are particularly useful for a larger collection (I have nearly 4,000 CDs loaded on my server).

The downside is that it really doesn't quite sound as good, to me, as my old CD player. The Naim server is their current top-of-the-line server. My player is the Naim CDP555, their top CD player. I actually prefer the sound of the CDP555 (more weight in the sound).

davide256's avatar
davide256
399 posts
 
larryi, consider these steps (1) make sure your NAS is on gigabit wired network with the Naim as wifi will degrade your sound (2) consider using a CAP's Zuma as media server with asset UPNP and a Red Wine Lightening battery power supply to fix the power supply issues that leach low bass for a media server. Just a $50 Ankar battery
powering the 2 2.5" HD's in my media server makes an audible difference in low bass weight.
grey9hound
1,112 posts
 
@Davide256
grey9hound, I don't think you looked at the op's system quality and stated intentions.
The Op's thread title does say opinions wanted.
Network Music Player or CD Player-Opinions Wanted
My pc running jRivermedia with the McCormack DAC-1 Deluxe sound really good. You are welcome to come and hear it for yourself. Then you can give your opinion.
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