Speaker Advice Please :-)

[tkr001]

 

Low Orbit;126843 wrote:

 

 

 

Er. Server based not difficult?

 

 

 

CD playback. Turn CD player on, choose CD, hit play.

 

 

 

Server. Turn PC / Mac on. Wait to boot. Choose program. Decide what you want to listen to or hit random.

 

 

 

Of course if it's a standalone box like an Olive for example then it's a different story, but until PC's are (almost) instant on and run near silent *and* trounce standalone CDP's without having to tie a couple of thousand dollars worth of box to them to do so then I'm still in the CDP camp for my main listening.

 

 

 

Cheers, Shane.

 

or if you have a setup like mine Freenas box (made from old bits, the only real cost is the disk storage but you could build from new for less than $500) with files and running squeezebox server to squeezebox duet running permanently in another room

 

Pickup controller, select what you want to listen to and enjoy. Make playlists queue albums etc without getting out of the chair. Not difficult at all.

[TheBlueMushroom1553552749]

Ditto sort of system: have a home server running NASLite-2, client is a fanless PC booting from a CF card running Foobar2k.

 

You don't need to spend massive $$ to get an excellent DAC: mine is an Anthem digital pre-proc: this has beats my Audiolab 8000 transport/DAC combo hands down, and holds its own against my Enlightened Audio Designs 9000-III standalone DAC (the Anthem has better soundstaging, the EAD slightly better bass extension).

Bought 2nd-hand, total cost at my door, less than $500NZ.

 

The beauty of this system is, with all due respect to Low Orbit, is that its significantly more user-friendly than a CD-based system: the machine boots faster than my amps power up (I've got them on staggered timers to avoid massive current inrush on startup), I don't need to fuss with lighting to find the right disc and the missus is more comfortable with drag-and-drop than replacing CDs into their correct covers...or any covers at all

 

tkr001's points re playlist build and picking albums are highly valid-for me, the other big bonus is that I can control the music machine via VNC on the big screen if there's a party- and no-one can trash my music in the process

[Shane Hanify]

 

tkr001;126859 wrote:

or if you have a setup like mine Freenas box (made from old bits, the only real cost is the disk storage but you could build from new for less than $500) with files and running squeezebox server to squeezebox duet running permanently in another room

 

 

 

Pickup controller, select what you want to listen to and enjoy. Make playlists queue albums etc without getting out of the chair. Not difficult at all.

 

Hence my disclaimer about the Olive / stand alone boxes.

 

There is no doubt these are more user friendly when multiple people are using them, but setup is quite extensive.

 

 

TheBlueMushroom;126874 wrote:

Ditto sort of system: have a home server running NASLite-2, client is a fanless PC booting from a CF card running Foobar2k.

 

 

 

You don't need to spend massive $$ to get an excellent DAC ...

 

 

 

The beauty of this system is, with all due respect to Low Orbit, is that its significantly more user-friendly than a CD-based system: the machine boots faster than my amps power up (I've got them on staggered timers to avoid massive current inrush on startup), I don't need to fuss with lighting to find the right disc and the missus is more comfortable with drag-and-drop than replacing CDs into their correct covers...or any covers at all

 

 

 

tkr001's points re playlist build and picking albums are highly valid-for me, the other big bonus is that I can control the music machine via VNC on the big screen if there's a party- and no-one can trash my music in the process

 

You both make some valid points, and if you have a PC lying around it can be utilised as a dedicated music server. I have my little media box set up for this purpose - and it was built on a shoestring - but my CDP still trounces it (just) and I would need to spend several hundred dollars on a DAC to change that.

 

Just for the record it's USB HDD to (win2000) media box through a reasonable soundcard with coax out into a 2 box 16 bit DAC then into whatever amp it's connected to at the time. It runs pretty quiet, but still not near silent.

 

Anyway, back to the OP again, the MA RX-1 was mentioned again. Although the OP's amp would drive these, I expect as with almost all MA speakers it would be happier with more horsepower. I know mine are happiest fed off my largest amp.

 

Cheers, Shane.

 

My Main PC which is an all purpose rig doesn't even come close.

[Electra]

 

tkr001;126859 wrote:

or if you have a setup like mine Freenas box (made from old bits, the only real cost is the disk storage but you could build from new for less than $500) with files and running squeezebox server to squeezebox duet running permanently in another room

 

 

 

Pickup controller, select what you want to listen to and enjoy. Make playlists queue albums etc without getting out of the chair. Not difficult at all.

 

I am most certainly with TKR on this one - nothing could be more simple. More to the point, no media to get damaged, no having to get up between albums.....