music servers? other suggestions?

[ratso]

any others out there in the likes of squeezebox, sonos? meaning wireless streaming, one box device, easy to use, etc.

[DYohn]

Mar 11, 2010 22:26:56 GMT -5 ratso said:

any others out there in the likes of squeezebox, sonos? meaning wireless streaming, one box device, easy to use, etc.

The Roku is also popular, but from what I understand you really need to use an external DAC for good sound with it.

[bigred7078]

Apple TV, WD, PS3, Xbox 360, etc.

[mokes]

Best bang for the buck is Apple Airport Express - $99 and you stream music from iTunes on your PC/MAC. If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch then it can be a remote control, and you can see your entire music collection on it. All the basic streamers require an external DAC for highest quality, so the Express ends up being the most cost effective option.

[ratso]

thanx for all these suggestions. these are the ones i have heard of, was wondering if there are any out there that i haven't. although all of these will technically work, the only one that is technically a "music sever" is the roku and as mentioned it's kinda low end. i have been waiting for the touch because i would like something to play my hi-rez downloads on. none of them can do multichannel dvd-a's. where is the digital revolution?

[ratso]

(insert your own "maybe emotiva should build one" sentence here).

[Erwin.BE]

Mar 11, 2010 22:26:56 GMT -5 ratso said:

any others out there in the likes of squeezebox, sonos? meaning wireless streaming, one box device, easy to use, etc.

This is nice:
www.meridian-audio.com/sooloos/
A bit pricey though...

Just kidding, there don't seem to many contenders out there.

I added an Airport Express to my wireless network. At first, it was connected to the Yamaha AV, but the Yamaha, like most AV it seems, does not allow digital sources for zone 2 (office). Sound in zone 1 was good enough though. Hence came the DacMagic that's between the AE and the Yamaha as a source with analogue outputs. Control with iPod Touch is easy, but I still prefer the large iTunes screen from my iMac to browse through all the cover art. Maybe the iPad will be ideal for control.

Apple TV is not ideal in my situation because it's only 160 GB (I have 520 GB now and counting). But it does allow you to switch off your computer and/or play different content (AE is only capable of streaming the same song everywhere, I think you can use up to 16 or more AE at the same time)

For Apple users, Sonos seems the best solution for wireless streaming. I plan to have that in my new house after looking into all the wired + Keypad solutions from Russound ea. It will be wired anyway, but it's the ease of use, without all those Keypads ( 8 zones) that makes it so nice. The "muzak" zones (bath, terrace) will use the powered ZP120, the other zones will be used with the ZP90 paired with external DAC and power.

One thing you should know is that I think you are restricted to Lossless/Lossy compressed quality. If you would have WAV on your Mac (uncompressed, raw CD files) than it would be automatically turned into ALAC to stream it to the AE... The best way to avoid this would be to use a dedicated (headless) Mac mini server next to the stereo. Screen sharing would let you control it with another Mac, control with iPad would be ideal. This allows for higher bit-rates too.

[DYohn]

Mar 12, 2010 9:01:06 GMT -5 ratso said:

thanx for all these suggestions. these are the ones i have heard of, was wondering if there are any out there that i haven't. although all of these will technically work, the only one that is technically a "music sever" is the roku and as mentioned it's kinda low end. i have been waiting for the touch because i would like something to play my hi-rez downloads on. none of them can do multichannel dvd-a's. where is the digital revolution?

Also check out the Olive media server. A bit pricey but darn good...

[mokes]

Mar 12, 2010 9:14:53 GMT -5 Erwin.BE said:

One thing you should know is that I think you are restricted to Lossless/Lossy compressed quality. If you would have WAV on your Mac (uncompressed, raw CD files) than it would be automatically turned into ALAC to stream it to the AE... The best way to avoid this would be to use a dedicated (headless) Mac mini server next to the stereo. Screen sharing would let you control it with another Mac, control with iPad would be ideal. This allows for higher bit-rates too.

Huh? iTunes indeed converts any file/stream to Apple Lossless for the AE - nothing wrong with this at all! Your music retains its original quality - CD quality if it's a CD, 128kbps MP3 if it's a 128kbps file, just the transport is ALAC.

[hokienation]

I second dyon's recommendation with some caveats.

Buy a refurbished Olive Opus 3 that can be found direct from Olive or around the net (trusted sources of course). I did this and upgraded to a 500 gb drive. Plus, I downloaded an updated cd database, which has proven to be vary accurate. I couldn't be more happy with the simplicity and ease of accessing my music. I only paid <$300 for the unit. However, I do use an external DAC.

This thread brings up some great points. It blows me away how much some of these solutions cost for what they do.

[DYohn]

Mar 13, 2010 9:41:34 GMT -5 hokienation said:

I second dyon's recommendation with some caveats.

Buy a refurbished Olive Opus 3 that can be found direct from Olive or around the net (trusted sources of course). I did this and upgraded to a 500 gb drive. Plus, I downloaded an updated cd database, which has proven to be vary accurate. I couldn't be more happy with the simplicity and ease of accessing my music. I only paid <$300 for the unit. However, I do use an external DAC.

This thread brings up some great points. It blows me away how much some of these solutions cost for what they do.

WOW an Opus 3 for $300?? Lucky dog!

[RuggSkins]

Great information regarding PC/Music/Video can be found at:

www.computeraudiophile.com/

For music servers, Click on Equipment, Click on Music Servers

[Mischief]

For a DIY project I placed an ASUS Xonar sound card into an old PC. It has better sound in my system than any of the off the shelf units I have tried which include Sooloos, sonus, Apple TV, Roku and a few random others I would rather not mention.

First thing you do is strip all of the unnecessary software from the computer or simply do a fresh install. Download the ASIO driver to bypass windows completely, Microsoft seems to want to mess with the audio so we skip them.

I use Ultimate Jukebox with a $20 touchscreen I bought on Ebay, it looks like it was in a kiosk or perhaps a restaurant, it looks and works great and used units are easy to find.

Run the digital connection to your DAC or processor. This has given me fantastic sound, as good as my Oppo 83SE for CD playback even with FLAC files.

I will be upgrading to a small fanless PC this summer, they can be found for around $100 without OS. I have had zero problems with this setup and it streams to all of my DirecTv boxes and all of my computers without a problem over wireless.

My wife loves it because she can control it through remote desktop from any PC in the house. It is great on weekends when we just want to mellow out or during parties when the guests can load the queue from the touchscreen.

[dotvibe]

Using a ReQuest at my dad's place integrated into his crestron system. Quite a nice server system, and they now come with integrated internet radio.

[clarkdb17]

I'm using an Apple Mac Mini and running a media program call Plex. Plex is the best I've seen for a music/HT application. Beautiful interface with unlimited potential. It is based of XBMC and they should have an updated version out soon for multi-computer applications. I play movies off it in full 1080p and my music in lossless.

Check it out at: www.plexapp.com

[Porscheguy]

I'm using a Sonos system with an Apple Time Capsule as a server. Its great especially for the patio and master bedroom, because there is no need to go downstairs to power up the theater - I have a Zone Player 120 running the patio speakers and a S5 wireless speaker in the bedroom - just grab the controller and music at your fingertips - although I do need the theater on for the main theater and living room. I wish the ZP 120 had a little more power - and I'd get one for my living room as well. I'm being really critical here, the ZP120 has a class D design, but it sounds pretty darn good, ran my Snell Type J's with it and it did a decent job, not a lot of dynamics would be its biggest shortcoming and not real loud.

I could then run the whole upstairs off the Time Capsule without having to deal with either my theater or my iMac. Does the ZP120 sound like my Emo amps? Hell no. But it seems like upstairs is more casual listening.....

BTW, the S5 has great fidelity, bass response and nuance considering its size. The caveat is L/R channels in a single enclosure - not a lot of soundstage. Its great because its portable. I can bring it into another room or garage or out in my driveway when I wash the car. Too cool.

My girlfriend loves the fact she doesn't have to to mess around with the "setup" downstairs.......

[icenoir]

I think the squeezebox is great. you run your music on a small linux/atom box which is cheap.
now, the new touch is an amazing upgrade from what i heard- much better over digital and analog outs. plus 24/96 compatible. and you can just plug in a usb drive hd, stick or sd card. with no need for an independent server, the touch acts as a server and will feed other SB units.
i just ordered mine. ppl say the dac rivals standalone dacs. $300.
i may just dump my linux box and go with just the usb drive.

[benzone]

Bit late, but the French company Micromega makes the Airstream WM-10 Wireless DAC. It supposedly uses the Apple AirPort Express as it's core. It reviews well, but way too rich for my blood.

hometheaterreview.com/micromega-airstream-wm-10-wireless-dac-reviewed-/