Ideas for Hi-Rez Digital Player for 1TB USB drive?

[nickbaba]

I'm looking for recommends for a digital audio player I can use to play back audio files (standard and hi-res) from a 1TB external USB drive.

I have a decent DAC, just need a digital "transport" to access and play the files.

I tried a Bryston BDP-1 but couldn't get along with the awful User Interface, plus it was quite unreliable on playback with certain file types.

The market seeks to be for either portable players eg Astell & Kern, or digital network streamer thingys.

I don't really want to go the laptop route - hate using iTunes and don't do/own "PC"... so looking for a dedicated standalone (desktop) player with digital outputs (for my DAC) that I can plug into the wall (not run off battery I have to keep charging).

Basically like the Bryston BDP but not a Bryston BDP...

[Jimbo]

I'm looking for recommends for a digital audio player I can use to play back audio files (standard and hi-res) from a 1TB external USB drive.

I have a decent DAC, just need a digital "transport" to access and play the files.

I tried a Bryston BDP-1 but couldn't get along with the awful User Interface, plus it was quite unreliable on playback with certain file types.

The market seeks to be for either portable players eg Astell & Kern, or digital network streamer thingys.

I don't really want to go the laptop route - hate using iTunes and don't do/own "PC"... so looking for a dedicated standalone (desktop) player with digital outputs (for my DAC) that I can plug into the wall (not run off battery I have to keep charging).

Basically like the Bryston BDP but not a Bryston BDP...

Do you need to rip CDs as well?

[struth]

An rpi is ideal Pretty straight forward these days. Get a spidif board in it and your away. Works with a pc or tablet

[Theadmans]

I feel your pain with iTunes - that has to be the worst piece of crap ever foisted on the mass market.

To be honest I still like the Logitech Squeezebox Eco-system.

If you can find a Squeezebox Touch for a reasonable price - just buy it - you won't regret it.

After my SBT went pop after 10 years or so - I started building clones with cheap Raspberry Pi computers - a bit Techy but worth it.

[Sherwood]

Budget?

.... and how simple does it need to be?

Geoff

[nickbaba]

Budget is pretty decent, prefer to stay under 1k if poss...

Was looking just now at the Bryston BDP-Pi, which is based on the R-Pi but at Bryston prices... (1250 in the UK).

Don't need to rip CDs, have other gear for that.

Can be pretty simple, a USB in (for my storage drive), a toslink optical out, some kind of screen to navigate files...

[nickbaba]

Quite like the look of the Logitech Squeezebox Touch

Can it play hi-res files eg 24bit, 96khz FLAC/WAV/AIFF ?

Its not mentioned in the online manual what the resolution limits are

[Sherwood]

Quite like the look of the Logitech Squeezebox Touch

Can it play hi-res files eg 24bit, 96khz FLAC/WAV/AIFF ?

Its not mentioned in the online manual what the resolution limits are

The Logitech is a good performer but very dated now. I have an Rpi using a Digione board and it is very very good though takes a little time to understand how to set it up. I also have a Cambridge CXN v1 which is very good too, especially since the recent firmware upgrade to facilitate DASH and TIDAL streaming. The CXN v2 has a better processor. The Cambridge app is very good too. If you were to stretch your budget to £1,400 I would be looking at the Cambridge Azur 851N too.

Geoff

[Stratmangler]

Quite like the look of the Logitech Squeezebox Touch

Can it play hi-res files eg 24bit, 96khz FLAC/WAV/AIFF ?

Its not mentioned in the online manual what the resolution limits are

Yes, but don't use it as a standalone unit.
It struggles with large libraries, and the Spotify app no longer works.
You can get Spotify to work, but you'll need to run server on another computer, such as a Raspberry Pi with piCorePlayer installed.

The Squeezebox Touch is a great piece of kit in my opinion.

[Primalsea]

The Rpi is definitely worth considering, especially when you consider the cost. Performance is really good and you have the option for various DACs too.

[mikmas]

If I coudn't be bothered with the hassle of building and setting up an RPi solution myself, I would probably go for one of the various ready made jobbies offered by Audiophonics.

This one looks like it would be just the ticket and features the {much raved about) ALLO DiGiOne output board:
https://www.audiophonics.fr/img/cms/Images/Produits/12K/12429/thumbs%20allo%20DIGIONE%2016-9.jpg

Hopefully they can supply one with an English setting ;)


Audiophonics (https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/rasptouch/rasptouch-digione-touch-screen-reader-with-digital-output-p-12429.html)

[nickbaba]

The Cambridge Azur 851N looks very nice. Looks like the CXN has everything I need, though, and its quite a bit cheaper. Worth the upgrade?

[Sherwood]

The Cambridge Azur 851N looks very nice. Looks like the CXN has everything I need, though, and its quite a bit cheaper. Worth the upgrade?

You need to be the judge of that. The CXN is very good with an excellent interface, but to be honest, I don't think it betters an Rpi with a good audio board. If you are willing to spend a little time setting up an Rpi I doubt you will get a better sound with a CXN. I would say that Allo have the edge at present with either the Digione board (for which you will need a DAC) or one of their complete solutions including a DAC board.

Geoff

[JimC]

A cheap PC or Laptop running JRiver or similar.
A LOT less expensive and should do all you want.

Jim.

[Sherwood]

A cheap PC or Laptop running JRiver or similar.
A LOT less expensive and should do all you want.

Jim.

A lot less expensive than a Raspberry Pi and, say, a Digione board? Hardly! In any event the PC approach is far inferior to a RPi setup in terms of SQ.

Geoff

[Sherwood]

Is it? :scratch:

I have run both setups and in my opinion absolutely. The Digione operates at a much lower noise level and reveals detail and nuance I have not heard on a pc system or on some very expensive CDPs.

Geoff

[Stratmangler]

Is it? :scratch:

Which one are you querying, the Raspberry Pi/Digione combo, or the PC allegedly being inferior to the former in SQ?

[Gazjam]

Which one are you querying, the Raspberry Pi/Digione combo, or the PC allegedly being inferior to the former in SQ?

PCs sounding far inferior...
I’ve tried running a Pi but wasnt for me.

Each to their own though, but imo generalising a bit, sorry Geoff. :)

[struth]

I prefer my pc to my rpi

[Gazjam]

If I coudn't be bothered with the hassle of building and setting up an RPi solution myself, I would probably go for one of the various ready made jobbies offered by Audiophonics.

This one looks like it would be just the ticket and features the {much raved about) ALLO DiGiOne output board:
https://www.audiophonics.fr/img/cms/Images/Produits/12K/12429/thumbs%20allo%20DIGIONE%2016-9.jpg

Hopefully they can supply one with an English setting ;)


Audiophonics (https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/rasptouch/rasptouch-digione-touch-screen-reader-with-digital-output-p-12429.html)

Like the look of this one.
Squeezeboxes were so far ahead of their time, shame what happened to them.
Still run one here, great job in the office system.

[Stratmangler]

PCs sounding far inferior...
I’ve tried running a Pi but wasnt for me.

Each to their own though, but imo generalising a bit, sorry Geoff. :)

I use a Pi in my setup, but it's only running LMS for me.
I have yet to explore the possibilities of using a Pi as client.

[Stratmangler]

Squeezeboxes were so far ahead of their time, shame what happened to them.
Still run one here, great job in the office system.

Logitech pulled the plug because of the unprecedented (for them) tech support they had to provide for the Touch.

The embedded server thing was a train wreck for them, because it pulled in all the IT challenged folk that liked the idea of having a plug and play box. Let's face it, the only folk that have trouble running the things that way are ones that shouldn't be playing with them in the first place.
Those that are not IT challenged run a proper server/client situation, and this tends to be rock solid and dependable.

[Sherwood]

PCs sounding far inferior...
I’ve tried running a Pi but wasnt for me.

Each to their own though, but imo generalising a bit, sorry Geoff. :)

I can only report on my experience. The Rpi/Digione wiped the floor with my PC based system.

Geoff

[Gazjam]

Logitech pulled the plug because of the unprecedented (for them) tech support they had to provide for the Touch.

The embedded server thing was a train wreck for them, because it pulled in all the IT challenged folk that liked the idea of having a plug and play box. Let's face it, the only folk that have trouble running the things that way are ones that shouldn't be playing with them in the first place.
Those that are not IT challenged run a proper server/client situation, and this tends to be rock solid and dependable.

Yup, remember it well Chris - bloomin' shame too.
Glad I never flogged on the Transporter, still a great sounding bit of kit and use it daily.

[Gazjam]

Fairy muff Geoff, that's all any of us do. :)

Don't run a PC based system anymore, apart from the Linux box with Roon Server pushing music around the house, but I did find you can get a good sound from PC with paying attention to the right areas, particularly software tweaking and quality of power supply.

You can get into some real nitty gritty with this stuff, but you really can hear the results.
Nowadays prefer the scaled down "black box with tablet" approach, much better.




I can only report on my experience. The Rpi/Digione wiped the floor with my PC based system.

Geoff

[ReggieB]

I have a Simaudio Moon 180 MiND (https://www.hifiwigwam.com/moon-180-mind-network-streamer-review/) that I really like. The software (http://simaudio.com/en/product/mind-app/) is much better than other hardware solution I've tried. It just handles the streaming side of things - which I like as it means I can hook it to my DAC of choice (currently a Bryston BDA-1), and NAS drive. I currently use a couple of LaCie CloudBoxes NAS.

You can pick up a Moon 180 MiNDs on ebay for around £500 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Simaudio-Moon-180-MiND-Network-Streamer/253541871297?hash=item3b0845eec1:g:ZvEAAOSwz2Vam-Zj).

I played with a lot of Raspberry Pi setups and as much as I like them, I much prefer the Moon 180 MiND solution (even with previous DACs (Peachtree DAC-IT, and M2Tech Young).

https://www.hifiwigwam.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Moon-180-MiND-Slv.jpg

https://simaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/mind2-2.jpg

[JimC]

A lot less expensive than a Raspberry Pi and, say, a Digione board? Hardly! In any event the PC approach is far inferior to a RPi setup in terms of SQ.

Geoff

Second hand PC off ebay £30
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Windows-7-Dell-Optiplex-330-PC-Desktop-Computer-PENTIUM-DUAL-160GB-2GB-TOWER/273181653309?hash=item3f9ae5393d:g:0AYAAOSwrBJa3f3 k

Foobar, Free.

Job done, I thank you.
I much prefer the sound of my PC to a Pi.
Jim

[Sherwood]

Second hand PC off ebay £30
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Windows-7-Dell-Optiplex-330-PC-Desktop-Computer-PENTIUM-DUAL-160GB-2GB-TOWER/273181653309?hash=item3f9ae5393d:g:0AYAAOSwrBJa3f3 k

Foobar, Free.

Job done, I thank you.
I much prefer the sound of my PC to a Pi.
Jim

IIRC a Rpi with audio board sold for about the same on this forum recently. I know which I would go for on the basis of SQ, noise, and energy efficiency!

Geoff

[JimC]

IIRC a Rpi with audio board sold for about the same on this forum recently. I know which I would go for on the basis of SQ, noise, and energy efficiency!

Geoff

Fair enough.
I was only offering a suggestion for a ''....Hi-Rez Digital Player for 1TB USB drive?...'' as the OP asked for.

I know which I'd go for too. Now it's for the OP to decide which is right for them.

Jim

[mikmas]

Quote from 1st post by OP:


I don't really want to go the laptop route - hate using iTunes and don't do/own "PC"... so looking for a dedicated standalone (desktop) player with digital outputs (for my DAC) that I can plug into the wall (not run off battery I have to keep charging).

(emphasis added)

Which is why I suggested an Audiophonics standalone player ;)

[Sherwood]

Coming back to original post:

Something like a CXN for convenience..

An RPi system for SQ and VFM ..

Geoff

[hificricketboy]

I use a full Femto Auralic Aries feeding a Metrum Hex DAC. The Aries has a USB connection on it. I use WiFi to connect a NAS drive which works very well. Being WiFi it allows you to add streaming from a multitude of sources. It does need a suitable Apple product to control it - I use an iPad but I think you can use an iPhone, but you need to have the right version.

It handles many hirez file types. Virtually all my music is flac but I have a few higher res tracks as well.

You can add which interface you want. I am currently running MinimServer which is intuitive and easy to use.

Sound quality is better than my old Logitech Duet and various CD players I have used including Consonance Droplet 3.1 and Talk Thunder 6.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Stratmangler]

Sound quality is better than my old Logitech Duet

The Receiver was not the greatest sounding piece of kit.
Sonically it was on a par with the SB3.
The SQ stakes were upped considerably with the Touch, and the bar raised a lot higher if you powered it from a decent linear PSU.

[Jimbo]

I have a Simaudio Moon 180 MiND (https://www.hifiwigwam.com/moon-180-mind-network-streamer-review/) that I really like. The software (http://simaudio.com/en/product/mind-app/) is much better than other hardware solution I've tried. It just handles the streaming side of things - which I like as it means I can hook it to my DAC of choice (currently a Bryston BDA-1), and NAS drive. I currently use a couple of LaCie CloudBoxes NAS.

You can pick up a Moon 180 MiNDs on ebay for around £500 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Simaudio-Moon-180-MiND-Network-Streamer/253541871297?hash=item3b0845eec1:g:ZvEAAOSwz2Vam-Zj).

I played with a lot of Raspberry Pi setups and as much as I like them, I much prefer the Moon 180 MiND solution (even with previous DACs (Peachtree DAC-IT, and M2Tech Young).

https://www.hifiwigwam.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Moon-180-MiND-Slv.jpg

https://simaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/mind2-2.jpg

The Simaudio Moon is a great bit of kit, heard this streaming to a Chord Dave DAC - sublime!

[nickbaba]

Thanks for all the suggestions, gents.
After a bit of online research I'm going to try an Azur 851N, looks like just what I'm after. If it sounds good through the on-board dual-mono Analog Devices DACs (as all reports say it does) then I can sell on my current DAC (Bryston BDA-1) which will pretty much cover the cost. Found a brand new one on ebay for my 1K budget.