High-Resolution Digital Music Server Choices

Hi fellows, I would like to ask those in the known which of the below is the better way of hosting HR ( 24/192 ) digital music playback :-

1) Laptop PC via USB
2) Mac Mini via USB
3) Dedicated music only media player.

As for no. 3, if it is better then 1 and 2, please inform me the make and price.

Thanks in advance

shbeh

I am also keen to know as I have not try 1) & 2).

if u already own a laptop, then No 1 is the way to go cos u don't hv to spend extra.

if u already own a mac mini, then No 2 is the way to go for the same reason.

however, if u r starting from scratch, then u hv to decide whether to go the windows or the mac os way.

with windows, u hv a larger choice of music players like foobar, media monkey, winamp, j river etc.

but take note that not many dacs can accept 24/192 via usb. many cheaper ones can only handle 16/48 via usb and i know that the new ayre qb-9 can accept 24/192 via usb. even the benchmark that i am using can only accept 24/96 via usb.

Thanks sflam,
I have tried out deck top PC using J River with window vista operating system, the dac that I have bought can handle up to 24/192.
I found that desk top pc is extremely inconvenient and I am looking to find a host that is better sounding among the three options mentioned above. Any body ever compared the sound quality of dedicated digital music player ( I can only think of Bryston BDP-1 now ) compare to PC host or Mac host ?

Thanks

when i tested the bryston bdp-1, it sounded better connected to the bryston dac with aes-ebu compared with the laptop connected to the bryston dac via usb.

bear in mind bryston dac's usb accepts 16/48.

to level the playing field, i played ripped cd 16/44.1 files from the bdp-1 to the dac via aes/ebu and the same files from the laptop to the dac via usb.

at that time, the bryston combo sounded richer and fuller. however, the usb cable at that time was the stock cable. now i am using a furutech usb cable which makes the sound fuller and richer.

it's all a question of matching. the bryston combo matched very well, and the bdp-1 linked to the benchmark did not sound as good (but the connection was not aes/ebu but a low-quality coax to bnc).

if u can, get a bdp-1 and find out if it matches your dac.

someone just told me that with the bdp-1 linked to a weiss, some hires files could not be processed.

My biggest gripe with the Bryston is that it does not read Chinese

sflam wrote:someone just told me that with the bdp-1 linked to a weiss, some hires files could not be processed.

Seem that cPlay also encounter similar problem with the Weiss DAC202 as described here.

The Olive O6HD might be an option here:

http://www.olive.us/products/music_servers/olive6hd/specs.html

@shbelmal
If you do not have phobia with China made audio product, you may want to consider HiFiDiy APE Player. It handles 3 type of storage medias HDD, SD and USB and plays 44/16 thru to 192/24. This player is connected to my Weiss DAC202 via the SPDIF coax and it performs well.

DrWho wrote:@shbelmal
If you do not have phobia with China made audio product, you may want to consider HiFiDiy APE Player. It handles 3 type of storage medias HDD, SD and USB and plays 44/16 thru to 192/24. This player is connected to my Weiss DAC202 via the SPDIF coax and it performs well.

I have my Mini Ape Player to my Wyred Dac2 using spdif. It accepts Wav, Flac, Ape and other compressed format.
44/16 thru 24/192 but got some issues with 24/96 vinyl rips.

Sounds better than from Macbook / Laptop.

Forget about Olive or SB Touch, they are lifestyle item, for the mp3 generation.

VS126 wrote:

DrWho wrote:@shbelmal
If you do not have phobia with China made audio product, you may want to consider HiFiDiy APE Player. It handles 3 type of storage medias HDD, SD and USB and plays 44/16 thru to 192/24. This player is connected to my Weiss DAC202 via the SPDIF coax and it performs well.

I have my Mini Ape Player to my Wyred Dac2 using spdif. It accepts Wav, Flac, Ape and other compressed format.
44/16 thru 24/192 but got some issues with 24/96 vinyl rips.

Sounds better than from Macbook / Laptop.

Forget about Olive or SB Touch, they are lifestyle item, for the mp3 generation.

Sometime ago a friend tried his MacMini via firewire in my system. The MacMini sounded inferior compared to my transporter. The APE sounds very close to my transporter but less superior. APE is good value for $$$.

Try changing the RCA analogue output of yr ape to WBT and you will get a surprise.

My player came with an in built DAC board. I have removed it. The player now acts only as a digital streamer.

The HiFiDIY APE player looks similar to Musical Fidelity CLiC universal music player. But I guess comparing the price between them, I guess CLiC is considered lifestyle product as well.

Anyone use Linn here?

What about iPod with Wadia Dock...

I am using Wadia 170i dock. Connected to my old MF XDAC via coaxial. Some of my music is MP3 at 320kbps 48 kHz. There are some difference in the details compared to lossless files.

Why the DAC in Wadia not good? Or does it just a transport. Is MF VDAC is the new version of XDAC right?

Wadia is just a dock. It takes the digital files from your ipod and let external DAC do the processing. There is also an option for normal RCA connection and you can use the iPod onboard DAC.

I would not say VDAC is a replacement of XDAC as XDAC is a model of 12 years ago. In between VDAC and XDAC, there were many other DACs by MF.

I still keep the XDAC because it also decided HDCD which I have a collection of it.

If Wadia just a transport then it's a pretty expensive one. Might as well just use RCA to mini jack cable and connect ipod directly without the dock

Yeah I know VDAC is not a direct replacement but it's on the same level is it? I was thinking of getting one but not sure if 1k is worth the price.

To be frank, if you are using new gen ipod touch or iphone4, yes I do agree RCA to mini jackis sufficient as their onboard DAC to me is quite decent. But the older ipods (i am using the an ipod from 2005), thats when Wadia is good.

If you wait for KLIAV 2011, I am quite sure you can get the VDAC for below RM1000.

Thank you all for your valuable input.
I really don't care where the player's country of origin is as long as it sounds good. After all, that is what all of us audiophile look for. Good quality sound.

elhefe wrote:To be frank, if you are using new gen ipod touch or iphone4, yes I do agree RCA to mini jackis sufficient as their onboard DAC to me is quite decent. But the older ipods (i am using the an ipod from 2005), thats when Wadia is good.

If you wait for KLIAV 2011, I am quite sure you can get the VDAC for below RM1000.

I thought the 5th generation iPod (iPod Video) has the best DAC of all (it's Wolfson) but the new one simply doesn't cut it except you get bigger storage. I wonder how much VDAC is selling in SG. Should be cheaper I think but hard to say since their currency has gone up.

I have the Linn Majik and it sounds plenty good to me.

"Almost" as good as listening to LPs "live" but with the convenience.

I see that VS126 is using a picture of my acoustic diffusors as his profile pic. I have a pair installed at my room's first reflection points.

hifikrazy wrote:I see that VS126 is using a picture of my acoustic diffusors as his profile pic. I have a pair installed at my room's first reflection points.

Custom made?

elhefe wrote:

hifikrazy wrote:I see that VS126 is using a picture of my acoustic diffusors as his profile pic. I have a pair installed at my room's first reflection points.

Custom made?

Custom made with extensive testing...

Then you need to be shot lar. You got the 'thing' facing the wrong way ! Damn frustrating.

My room not so symmetrical so after much trial and error, I found that what works best is one side facing in, and the other side facing out. The facing out side seems to absorb too much of the high frequencies.

It's not because it was too distracting ?

hifikrazy wrote:I see that VS126 is using a picture of my acoustic diffusors as his profile pic. I have a pair installed at my room's first reflection points.

I thought it is a planar speaker.

I am planning to hang a picture of that on my wall instead. But I will hang it the other side facing out !

tycham wrote:

hifikrazy wrote:I see that VS126 is using a picture of my acoustic diffusors as his profile pic. I have a pair installed at my room's first reflection points.

I thought it is a planar speaker.

I would have to disagree... What's in the pic is anything but planar, based on the dictionary description of planar meaning "flat, 2 dimensional".

Hi All
Here's my setup for High Res Streaming Digital Music Setup

Sonos ZP-90 Mod by wyred4sound (48/192)
http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/539960

Hegel HD10 DAC (24/192)
http://www.hegel.com/hd10.htm

Jolida 302 Tube Amp


The music library is stored on a NAS and streamed wireless via Sonos BR100

The Hegel DAC takes in USB too ... you can just plug-in laptop USB out to it too.