Media Servers/Network Players/Computer Audio/All-In-One Players

[callas01]

Computer Audio is where the mass is turning to now-a-days. Its convenient, doesn't require a bunch of storage of physical media, sound quality is vastly improved with lossless formats such as FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF and DSD. Even modern 320 kbps MP3s sound better then the MP3s of yesteryear. Then you add in the many different music server software systems you can download, Pure Music, Audirvana, Amarra, JRiver, MediaMonkey and Foobar2000 to name the more popular ones.

A few years ago, the Squeezebox was one of the most popular items in music streaming. Since then theres been many other brands, Naim, Olive, Cambridge, Marantz, Cocktail, Simaudio, Yamaha, Sony, Sonos, NAD to name a few, and they have products that range into all different price categories. Then of course you have places like computeraudiophile.com which will show you how to build your own computer music server and storage system at different price levels.

High quality downloads can be bought from places such as hdtracks.com, acousticsounds.com, of course being the biggest 2 online locations. Then there are smaller places to download music from like, bluecoastrecords.com, linn.co.uk, naimlabel.com, societyofsound.com. Other larger libraries of music can be downloaded at places like iTunes, google, amazon and such. I would be interested to see which is the first one to offer up hi-res files for downloading. I honestly can't believe that Apple or amazon hasn't made that move already, especially Apple considering that they have their music mastered for iTunes, which takes files from 16/24 bits and all sampling rates 44.1-192 and then masters them into 256 kbps AAC files, they could just leave the files in their original state for people who want CD quality or better better hi-res files.

Wireless and powered speakers like Audioengine, Dynaudio, Focal, Emotiva, Aperion, and the list goes on and on, that you can use with Computer Audio based systems. Be it on the desk or wireless set in front or behind your desk, or in another room. But whether they're a high-end brand or not, we know that computer audio is reaching all levels of manufactures as they offer wireless and powered speakers for this market.

Lets not forget apps on phones and tablets that allow for control over your home network for playing and changing music, or input devices.

So if you have computer audio related questions or comments, ask away and lets begin a discussion. If theres something that I missed please bring it up. Talk about your favorite music that you've downloaded, discuss a DAC you want to buy, Headphones, speakers, amp's, or whatever, its an open discussion forum with no boundaries, just the same way, computer audio occurs in many many forms.

[Blue Bull]

Funny you should post this. Last month I was asking about a music server component for about $600.00 I could buy but never did a definitive answer. I like the Sony HASP-1(I believe) but it lack of digital output leaves a lot to be desired. Any other word on a similar component would be appreciate.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Blue Bull

Funny you should post this. Last month I was asking about a music server component for about $600.00 I could buy but never did a definitive answer. I like the Sony HASP-1(I believe) but it lack of digital output leaves a lot to be desired. Any other word on a similar component would be appreciate.

for the digital output are you trying to connect to a dac or to an AVR?

[callas01]

that would do what you wanted

http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Audi...audio+streamer

[prerich]

I'm going to move this thread to the computer audio thread !!! We do have one ya know!!!

[callas01]

Originally Posted by prerich

I'm going to move this thread to the computer audio thread !!! We do have one ya know!!!

I saw that after I created the thread, I meant to pm you to move it. Thanks David.

[Spurrier Sucks]

Originally Posted by Blue Bull

Funny you should post this. Last month I was asking about a music server component for about $600.00 I could buy but never did a definitive answer. I like the Sony HASP-1(I believe) but it lack of digital output leaves a lot to be desired. Any other word on a similar component would be appreciate.

You ever settle on something? This would be a cheaper option for me to just add a source to my existing setup and not a complete overhaul but it wouldn't be as much fun!

[Servingthemusic]

Hi Folks:

First post here. Invited by one of your esteemed members. Music servers and DACs are in heavy focus for me now.

Here are some of my recent reviews of products I think are ready for primetime:

http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-me...ly-review.html

http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-lo...rs-review.html

(page 68/Simaudio MiND 180 D)
http://www.tonepublications.com/MAGPDF/TA_066.pdf

http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-au...r-dsd-dac.html

Regards.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Servingthemusic

Hi Folks:

First post here. Invited by one of your esteemed members. Music servers and DACs are in heavy focus for me now.

Here are some of my recent reviews of products I think are ready for primetime:

http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-me...ly-review.html

http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-lo...rs-review.html

(page 68/Simaudio MiND 180 D)
http://www.tonepublications.com/MAGPDF/TA_066.pdf

http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-au...r-dsd-dac.html

Regards.

Hey Marc!!!! I'm just seeing this post for the first time!!!! Thanks for the hook up with Burson!!!!! To the rest of the computer audio people here at Blu-ray.com, I can vouch for Marc!!! You guys think I know something - Andre, is highly respected over at Whatsbestforum.com, hometheaterreview.com and several other places!!!! He's a welcome and informative addition here at Blu-ray.com!!!!!