Anthony John Colbert Posted March 19, 2014 Posted March 19, 2014 Hi guys Thought i would seek some advice on this worthy forum. I was at a mates house the other day to listen to his new Maggies (mmg). He played me a few songs through his rotel cd player (rcd 985 i think). He then switched to his Sonos into a dac. I was impressed with the sound quality and i loved the convenience of being able to control the playback with the IPAD app. Ive been doing some research since about some options, streamers, pc based playback etc. Im thinking that whichever way i go i will need a DAC. My current cd player is a Rega Apollo 35th anniversary, which is a pretty decent little machine. Im after recommendations for a setup that will give equivalent or better redbook playback than my cd player and will be future proof 24/192, DSD etc. I dont have a whole lot of hi-rez stuff at the moment but the convenience of having my whole library at my fingertips is enticing. I was leaning towards a Laptop running Jriver, jremote on my ipad and a decent usb dac. Alternatively something like one of the new all in one streamers like the pioneer n50 Budget wise i would like to keep around 2.5k Thanks in Advance Colby
WhakPak Posted March 19, 2014 Posted March 19, 2014 This is all you need.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kaleidescape-KSYSTEM-120-Cinema-One-Player-Server-Refurbished-w-Warranty-/111299870109?pt=Televisions&hash=item19e9fd3d9d
Anthony John Colbert Posted March 19, 2014 Author Posted March 19, 2014 hmm dont know much about the kalidescape....google time
Jventer Posted March 19, 2014 Posted March 19, 2014 Consonance Reference 8 Google That and Osbornloudspeakers 1
LogicprObe Posted March 19, 2014 Posted March 19, 2014 Cheap way to start! http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/63115-the-wandboard-squeezebox-alternative-beginners-guide/ 1
audiomuze (R.I.P) Posted March 22, 2014 Posted March 22, 2014 Cheap way to start! http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/63115-the-wandboard-squeezebox-alternative-beginners-guide/ ...and a perfectly good way to stream audio long term. Already does DSD, just add the DAC of your choosing and you're sorted.
Steam Posted March 22, 2014 Posted March 22, 2014 (edited) I have posted in several other threads that I am a fan of the meridian MDMS (it was formerly called sooloos). Condensed all those posts below. If want to try it you can always come and try mine. It will also be the main source in the woodend GTG in April. Would certainly fit in your budget if you know where to look. http://hifi-advice.com/Meridian-MC200-review.html So long as you have an ipad this is exactly what you need. I had a squeezbox touch for a few months. Drove me mad with network glitches and constantly wanting to index etc. for the price it was great when it worked but... I then moved to a Meridian (sooloos) music server! Fabulous to use and the wife and daughter love it as well. Normall they don't care what kit I buy but in this case it totally changed the way we played music and made it so much easier to browse. Brilliant! If you want one you can get the base MC200 unit which provides full functionality for less than $2000 if you know where to look. The normal price is silly. And the local Victoria dealers are clueless. (If you are in vic I can always give you a demo. The last person that did that went off and bought one for themselves). mc200 stores your files on an hdd and acts a server. It has both analog and digital outputs. You can also add multiple other zones by adding ms200 units. All you then need is an iPAD and you have the regular sooloos interface. There is also the free meridian dbpoweramp plugin for ripping and getting great metadata. I saw a large number of servers at the hi fi show this weekend and the only one I have seen to equal it is the aurender. Oh also it does hi res tho not DSD yet. A software update I hope will ad that later on. It also up samples your files and uses the deapodising feature (can be turned off). The software updates are free and automatically tell you when they are available. Edited March 25, 2014 by Dr Nick
Damhooligan Posted March 22, 2014 Posted March 22, 2014 I would support your laptop idea. As to me is easy and very efficient. In your case the amount of storage is small so a nas is not yet needed. You can easily manage to find a laptop with enough storage without spending to much coin, leaving enough of your budget for a good dac.
astromo Posted March 23, 2014 Posted March 23, 2014 Why drop 2 & 1/2 gorillas straight up? Here are some ideas if you want to keep your laptop from being locked in: http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=87617.0 http://www.tranquilpcshop.co.uk/abel-h2-series/ I'm a JRiver user. The DLNA capability with Gizmo works well. From what I've read Jremote is an even more functional option. It's not clear to me what you're currently using for an amp. For me, that's the key - unless your budget includes upgrading in that area as well. If it has an S/PDIF optical or HDMI in, you could avoid a separate DAC to start with (depending on what your laptop is blessed with for output). If you are going down a separate DAC path, then there are plenty of cheap "intro" options. The interweb has a number of good sources, in addition SNA, to refer to for intel. I've got good mileage out of the fora on ComputerAudiophile and Interact (JRiver) but that's just a thin slice. Plenty more out there. The problem really is that the menu card over flows. If you want to lay out your whole budget straight up - great. I'd recommend taking smaller steps to start. 1
Guest Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 I hate being locked into having a computer on, to be able to play / access music myself. That's why I prefer my Wandboard setup, linked above (using NAS as the server, which is always on). My understanding of Kaleidescape also is that it is primarily and optimised for video / movies rather than music, I am also under the impression it doesn't do hi-res, and finally I'm not sure you can use any of your pre-existing content with it (according to AU agent for it). It's also damn expensive, therefore IMO, bad advice. Other suggestions are also expensive.I'd be opting for a Squeezebox Touch, or if more DIY minded, something like the Wandboard.
Damhooligan Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 I hate being locked into having a computer on, to be able to play / access music myself I don't see how the computer is any different from any other machine that is designed to stream. I use one laptop for just audio, and is no different from any other device, just turn it on when you want to listen to it, and turn it off when you are done.
Guest Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 The point is, if I'm simply listening to music, I don't need to turn on, wait for boot up, or control the computer. You know how it goes, you turn it on, then your virus program wants to do an update, then Windows Update kicks in and wants to do a reboot to finish installing, and so on.
blybo Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 The point is, if I'm simply listening to music, I don't need to turn on, wait for boot up, or control the computer. You know how it goes, you turn it on, then your virus program wants to do an update, then Windows Update kicks in and wants to do a reboot to finish installing, and so on. Ah see, my Macbook air just hibernates when I close it, then it's on within a few seconds of opening. No virus protection being a Mac but understand thats not a 100% fail-safe. Having said that I still use a Sonos Connect via my amps built in DAC as I tend to be sceptical of Hi-Rez music. I did try my redbook music from the lappy via USB to an Audiolab CDQ8200 directly into my HT's power amp and found it amazingly good, but my funds weren't up to the nearly $2k price point. 1
CryptiK Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 I'm seeing a few streamers that allow local USB storage too, so you could attach say a 256gb SSD behind it via USB and it will use this rather than a PC if you dont have an always-on NAS. 256GB is a lot of music, I'd be happy with that for the times I didn't want to bother with a PC. 1
rotur Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 The point is, if I'm simply listening to music, I don't need to turn on, wait for boot up, or control the computer. You know how it goes, you turn it on, then your virus program wants to do an update, then Windows Update kicks in and wants to do a reboot to finish installing, and so on. I have to agree...even as a Mac person. There is something about turning on your audio gear as opposed to turning on your PC//Mac. For me, there is still a disconnect between computers and audio. I'll use my MAc for casual lisstening from time to time, but to me, that's not its main function
Damhooligan Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 The point is, if I'm simply listening to music, I don't need to turn on, wait for boot up, or control the computer. You know how it goes, you turn it on, then your virus program wants to do an update, then Windows Update kicks in and wants to do a reboot to finish installing, and so on. The boot up takes more time then switching a device on , true. But that's about it. As you can have it set up as an audio only pc, you can disable those updates and unwanted additions you don't need. You can set it up so when you start it up, it will go straight to jriver, and it's ready to go. Just a matter of pressing power, and wait. I personally after start up just close the laptop lid, and control it from distance with mobile phone. I'm just saying that it doesn't have to be complicated at all.
WhakPak Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 My understanding of Kaleidescape also is that it is primarily and optimised for video / movies rather than music, I am also under the impression it doesn't do hi-res, and finally I'm not sure you can use any of your pre-existing content with it (according to AU agent for it). It's also damn expensive, therefore IMO, bad advice.. 1. My suggestion was within his budget. 2. Kaleidescape is optimised for both movies and music. 3. Kaleidescape M-Class does hi-res audio, if that content is on a commercially available BR disc it can play it. 4. You can use all of your pre-existing CD/DVD/BR content in the system.
Guest Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 No probs mate. Just a lot of that contradicts what I was told by the rep at the Tivoli evening. I stand corrected.
betty boop Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 Hi guys Thought i would seek some advice on this worthy forum. I was at a mates house the other day to listen to his new Maggies (mmg). He played me a few songs through his rotel cd player (rcd 985 i think). He then switched to his Sonos into a dac. I was impressed with the sound quality and i loved the convenience of being able to control the playback with the IPAD app. Ive been doing some research since about some options, streamers, pc based playback etc. Im thinking that whichever way i go i will need a DAC. My current cd player is a Rega Apollo 35th anniversary, which is a pretty decent little machine. Im after recommendations for a setup that will give equivalent or better redbook playback than my cd player and will be future proof 24/192, DSD etc. I dont have a whole lot of hi-rez stuff at the moment but the convenience of having my whole library at my fingertips is enticing. I was leaning towards a Laptop running Jriver, jremote on my ipad and a decent usb dac. Alternatively something like one of the new all in one streamers like the pioneer n50 Budget wise i would like to keep around 2.5k Thanks in Advance Colby I've just added the sony hap-s1 to my bedroom system. there are many such devices around. depends what your looking for, but will plug into whatver amp you have your apollo currently plugged into http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/55473-sony-dsd-server-hi-res-system/?p=1068458
peacewise Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 Passively cooled PC in a htpc case with ssd for storage, jriver and a quality usb capable dac. My lot comes under $2.5 k. I wait 28 seconds for my PC to turn on, SSD's are quick, damned quick. 1
Anthony John Colbert Posted March 24, 2014 Author Posted March 24, 2014 thanks for all the replies/suggestions guys. Been busy working so i haven't replied, but ive been reading. My current amplification is a Bryston pre/power combo (BP25, 4BSST), strictly analog, no digital inputs. Ive been looking into the stand-alone streamers such as the cambridge audio stream magic and the like. I would be selling my cd player to partly fund the change over to streaming/computer audio. The consensus that ive been picking up from my reading is that going computer-usb-dac will usually result in better sound. As for the kalidescape/htpc route, my hifi is nowhere near my tv so i would only be using part of the functionality. Going down the computer streaming path is party for convenience and also an opportunity to upgrade my digital sound, which lags behind my turntable setup by a fair margin at the moment. To that end im leaning towards a Windows 7/8 laptop, jriver with jplay plug in, usb converter to dac or a dac with a very good usb input (not always the case apparently). How many here run a similar setup, any suggestions down that path? cheers Colby
WhakPak Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 ...As for the kalidescape/htpc route, my hifi is nowhere near my tv so i would only be using part of the functionality.... Huh? and what part functionality can't you use, and because of what?
Guest Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 It's a visual based GUI I imagine. No TV = no control?
Anthony John Colbert Posted March 24, 2014 Author Posted March 24, 2014 Yeah. And the fact it's primarily a movie/home theatre server. The meridian sooloos would make more sense in my case 1
WhakPak Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 It's a visual based GUI I imagine. No TV = no control? No. Kaleidescape can operate in 2 modes, movies/music and music only. Music only mode does not need a display, can use iPad or Pronto to navigate the GUI (in either mode). The on-board DAC in a Kaleidescape player is better than any external DAC at similar price point. It's audio (and video) pedigree is outstanding, so good in-fact I found no need for an external DAC in my $100K+ 2-channel system, my Kaleidescape player analog out connects directly to the pre-amp.
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