View Full Version : Storing and playing music files
Hi,
I'm looking for suggestions for storing and playing music files without having to use a pc. I have a growing collection of hi-res music downloads stored on a laptop and played through a dac but find having to log-on a deterrent to listening. I haven't been able find any hi fi equipment which I could store and play digital files from, except one made by a company called Brennan. This machine doesn't play hi-res files and has an in-built amp, which I don't need. The closest I've come to finding what I want seem to be expensive streamers, and I don't stream music. Downloading (mainly from 7Digital) to pc is fine. I'd then like to be able to transfer files to a dedicated piece of hi fi that would store and feed my dac with music. Suggestions welcome, including corrective ones if I'm asking for the impossible.
John
Sherwood
13-10-2019, 18:03
Get a NAS drive and connect it to your router. Once you have copied your music files onto the NAS drive you can access the files from any music device connected to your home network.
Something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/WD-TB-Cloud-Home-Personal/dp/B074DXNT7T/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1J3QMW6JI73IE&keywords=wd+cloud+storage&qid=1570989709&sprefix=wd+clouud%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-3
Innuos zen make these among other companies. Look them up on Web there's plenty info. You get them with different size hdds and you can add one externally too I think. A few guys have them.
That's one option
Hi John
Been down the same route myself.
The real question is how deep are your pockets?!
The Zen Mini has built in hard drive, will stream to your dac and can rip cds also.
With their software it’s simple enough to add files to the internal drive.
All controlled by your pc or a phone.
That’ll be £900 please.
Alternatively you could go down the NAS (Network Attached Storage).
QNAP, Synology, WD all do versions. Get a 2 drive one for automatic back up from one drive to the other.
However then you will need a streamer to access this to play into you DAC.
I’ve had Linn streamers to play files from my QNAP twin drive.
Horribly expensive when a raspberry pi is now capable of equivalent sound quality.
It’s a wormhole you a peeping over the edge at!!
Cheers
Steve
Hi,
I'm looking for suggestions for storing and playing music files without having to use a pc. I have a growing collection of hi-res music downloads stored on a laptop and played through a dac but find having to log-on a deterrent to listening. I haven't been able find any hi fi equipment which I could store and play digital files from, except one made by a company called Brennan. This machine doesn't play hi-res files and has an in-built amp, which I don't need. The closest I've come to finding what I want seem to be expensive streamers, and I don't stream music. Downloading (mainly from 7Digital) to pc is fine. I'd then like to be able to transfer files to a dedicated piece of hi fi that would store and feed my dac with music. Suggestions welcome, including corrective ones if I'm asking for the impossible.
John
Light Dependant Resistor
13-10-2019, 20:57
one of these might do,
paste in this description in a Ebay page Touch Screen MP3 Player 8GB AUPHIL S5 APE/FLAC/WAV Lossless Music Player + FM +
partner it with a few accessories such as a stereo 3.5 jack to RCA cable , a 64GB TF Card, and a 3.5mm jack to headphone cable
I should have one arriving this week, and can let you know how it goes.
Thanks Chris. Sounds a bit fiddly but I'd be interested in how you get on. I would prefer to play to the dac using usb as this sounds much better than a wired connection.
£900 is a bit beyond what I want to spend Steve, which is in the £300/400 range. Also, my music is downstairs and the router upstairs, so don't know how that would work?
There are quite a few ways to solve your problem and I am sure you will be given loads of options. My answer would be to get a second hand ( you can’t buy them new anymore) Squeezebox Touch to plug into your DAC with a NAS or other storage device. https://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?110081-Looking-for-a-NAS-compatible-with-Logitech-Media-Server
Yeah...£900 is beyond what I would want to spend also.
However £3-400 would easily get you a dual drive NAS.
This could then sit next to your router (as mine does).
Then a Squeezebox could stream from that anywhere in the house.
Or (as a number of people on this forum do), you use a raspberry Pi and a Pi Digi+ to stream into your DAC drawing music from your NAS.
Apologies..just read through and realised that's exactly what Geoff (Sherwood)said before!
£900 is a bit beyond what I want to spend Steve, which is in the £300/400 range. Also, my music is downstairs and the router upstairs, so don't know how that would work?
AJSki2fly
14-10-2019, 18:01
Buy one of these and move copy you iTunes library and/music onto it, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Buffalo-LS210D0201-EU-LinkStation-Desktop-Black/dp/B00IAE2V3W/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=buffalo+nas+drive&qid=1571075548&refinements=p_89%3ABuffalo&sr=8-2
Get a raspberry pi with a dac, in box, load onto it Volumio then you can configure it to see your file on the NAS drive and stream music using Tidal, qobuz, or highresaudio
You plug the Dac using rca leads to your amplifier. Have a look at https://volumio.org/product-category/complete-system/
It sounds technical but it’s not hard to do and there are loads of people on here that can help you.
This thread reminds me of just why I am in a dither about the whole business of streaming and storing.
I would pay good money to someone who could suggest a solution to fulfil my needs. and I wouldn't mind spending twice the above if it was solid, simple, flexible, reliable, and with a good interface.
All I have seen for a couple of years is people buying stuff and not happy, trying to get it to work, buying something else to make it work, and seemingly delighted to have got something to work at least fulfilling their wants a bit.
Stratmangler
14-10-2019, 22:43
All I have seen for a couple of years is people buying stuff and not happy
That's coz those of us what have it working just fine thank you aren't posting all over the forums.
Squeezebox user since 2008, and very little going wrong to report.
Hi,
I'm looking for suggestions for storing and playing music files without having to use a pc. I have a growing collection of hi-res music downloads stored on a laptop and played through a dac but find having to log-on a deterrent to listening.
If all you want is to play stored files through your DAC I don't really understand what you have to 'log on' for :scratch:
Maybe I'm missing your point ... but perhaps your solution is simply a decent second hand desktop/laptop that you only use for playing stored music (ie not connected to the web).
Just switch it on and play tracks - simples .....
One of these would do the job just fine - just needs a cheap monitor and a 3.5mm optical or USB cable to your DAC and a copy of Audirvana installed - job done:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/APPLE-MAC-MINI-A1347-INTEL-2-40GHz-4GB-RAM-500GB-HDD-MAC-OSX-10-11-UK-FAST-POST/183844310225?epid=2216226864&hash=item2acdf98cd1:g:GrkAAOSwm2Nc~9J6
I have one set up in the shed - plays music just fine :)
A 500GB HDD stores a helluvalot of music :lol:
Buy one of these and move copy you iTunes library and/music onto it, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Buffalo-LS210D0201-EU-LinkStation-Desktop-Black/dp/B00IAE2V3W/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=buffalo+nas+drive&qid=1571075548&refinements=p_89%3ABuffalo&sr=8-2
Get a raspberry pi with a dac, in box, load onto it Volumio then you can configure it to see your file on the NAS drive and stream music using Tidal, qobuz, or highresaudio
You plug the Dac using rca leads to your amplifier. Have a look at https://volumio.org/product-category/complete-system/
It sounds technical but it’s not hard to do and there are loads of people on here that can help you.
This is all you need for an easy setup, fit and forget...
Buy one of these and move copy you iTunes library and/music onto it, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Buffalo-LS210D0201-EU-LinkStation-Desktop-Black/dp/B00IAE2V3W/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=buffalo+nas+drive&qid=1571075548&refinements=p_89%3ABuffalo&sr=8-2
Get a raspberry pi with a dac, in box, load onto it Volumio then you can configure it to see your file on the NAS drive and stream music using Tidal, qobuz, or highresaudio
You plug the Dac using rca leads to your amplifier. Have a look at https://volumio.org/product-category/complete-system/
It sounds technical but it’s not hard to do and there are loads of people on here that can help you.
I’m sure I’m missing something, but with this set up how do you see and choose music? Do you need a separate screen?
I’m sure I’m missing something, but with this set up how do you see and choose music? Do you need a separate screen?
a phone or tablet will do
a phone or tablet will do
Morning Grant. Presumably with software/ an app on the phone or tablet?
scotty38
15-10-2019, 08:43
At the end of the day these are the "facts":
1. You need to store the files somewhere - NAS, fancy audio device or your laptop
2. You need something to play the files - Squeezebox, RPI, fancy audio device or your laptop
3. You need something to control the play back, usually a phone, tablet or your laptop
"Logging on" to your laptop seems to me the least hassle road to take unless I'm missing something obvious....
Morning Grant. Presumably with software/ an app on the phone or tablet?A browser window will do with likes of volumio etc. Just enter volumio ip address and it should pop up in all its glory
I sometimes think that with hifi the simplest solutions get overlooked precisely because they are that, ‘simple’. The idea of fit and forget is not what a lot of people want because they enjoy the fiddling and tweaking. I’m probably beginning to sound a bit evangelical about the Squeezebox Touch but it really is an easy way in to streaming or playing music through your hifi that is stored remotely. The Touch is a touchscreen so you can see your music without a laptop, tablet or phone. You don’t even need a DAC because it has a DAC onboard so you can plug it straight into your amplifier using RCA’s. If you want to take a digital out and plug it into your DAC you can. Your music files are stored on your PC, laptop or NAS. That can be anywhere in your house that connects to your home network. You download Logitech Music Server (LMS) to wherever your music is stored and LMS will find it with a scan. The Touch screen which, is connected to your hifi finds your stored music library and you simply play it. As you become familiar with the LMS software you can use plug-ins to play Spotify, Tidal, Radio Paradise and so on. I cannot really imagine a more cost effective and straight forward solution.
I sometimes think that with hifi the simplest solutions get overlooked precisely because they are that, ‘simple’. The idea of fit and forget is not what a lot of people want because they enjoy the fiddling and tweaking. I’m probably beginning to sound a bit evangelical about the Squeezebox Touch but it really is an easy way in to streaming or playing music through your hifi that is stored remotely. The Touch is a touchscreen so you can see your music without a laptop, tablet or phone. You don’t even need a DAC because it has a DAC onboard so you can plug it straight into your amplifier using RCA’s. If you want to take a digital out and plug it into your DAC you can. Your music files are stored on your PC, laptop or NAS. That can be anywhere in your house that connects to your home network. You download Logitech Music Server (LMS) to wherever your music is stored and LMS will find it with a scan. The Touch screen which, is connected to your hifi finds your stored music library and you simply play it. As you become familiar with the LMS software you can use plug-ins to play Spotify, Tidal, Radio Paradise and so on. I cannot really imagine a more cost effective and straight forward solution.
Not being awkward here Andrew, but what you describe is not really what I would call 'simple' - it already involves the use of at least 3 discrete devices (including a functioning wired and wireless network)
It's no 'simpler' than the alternatives already mentioned (Zen, RPi, Brennan, etc) except of course that the Squeezebox isn't readily available :(
I think the problem for the OP is that there isn't one solution within his price range offered so far that would be truly 'simple' and no fuss
i.e. a standalone combined storage and player in one 'easy to use' box that's capable of HiRes playback.
Hi,
I'm looking for suggestions for storing and playing music files without having to use a pc. I have a growing collection of hi-res music downloads stored on a laptop and played through a dac but find having to log-on a deterrent to listening. I haven't been able find any hi fi equipment which I could store and play digital files from, except one made by a company called Brennan. This machine doesn't play hi-res files and has an in-built amp, which I don't need. The closest I've come to finding what I want seem to be expensive streamers, and I don't stream music. Downloading (mainly from 7Digital) to pc is fine. I'd then like to be able to transfer files to a dedicated piece of hi fi that would store and feed my dac with music. Suggestions welcome, including corrective ones if I'm asking for the impossible.
John
John
Given that you already seem to be a fan of Cambridge stuff I recommend you have a look at the Cambridge CXN (V2). This is slightly above you budget but Richer sounds are currently selling it discounted to £699. This streamer allows you not have to 'log on' in that you can choose albums, tracks, stations from its front panel or via the supplied remote controller. You can also, if you wish, use the Cambridge app which you can download to your android or apple phone/tablet. So lots of flexibility.
The CXN does have an internal DAC but you can output high rez music to your existing DAC via spdif out. Or perhaps you will like the Cambridge dac in which case you could sell your existing dac (to make up some/all of the extra over your budget).
In terms of your music files, if you did get the CXN, you will not need a nas or separate computer, just store them on a cheap USB hard disc drive and attach it to the CXN. Or use a high capacity USB flash drive.
The CXN will, like the Brennan you mentioned, also be able to stream from external sources such as Spotify, Tidal and thousands of 'radio' stations.
Personally I would get a CXN myself but for now it does not have full Roon functionality - but that is not something you are looking for.
Not being awkward here Andrew, but what you describe is not really what I would call 'simple' - it already involves the use of at least 3 discrete devices (including a functioning wired and wireless network)
It's no 'simpler' than the alternatives already mentioned (Zen, RPi, Brennan, etc) except of course that the Squeezebox isn't readily available :(
I think the problem for the OP is that there isn't one solution within his price range offered so far that would be truly 'simple' and no fuss
i.e. a standalone combined storage and player in one 'easy to use' box that's capable of HiRes playback.
John, the OP, has downloaded or ripped hi-res files and he is using a computer on the internet so admittedly I am taking some knowhow for granted. I would imagine his computer must be connected to a router, and therefor probably a home network, somehow, in order to connect to the web. The Zen and Brennan are cost prohibitive and I think the pi needs a bit more geekary and some sort of screen. Obviously I agree that the Touch is out of production but software updates are still ongoing so finding and installing LMS is not a problem. So, I am going to stand by my suggestion for a simpler, cheaper and more cost effective solution.
One of these would do the job just fine - just needs a cheap monitor and a 3.5mm optical or USB cable to your DAC and a copy of Audirvana installed - job done:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/APPLE-MAC-MINI-A1347-INTEL-2-40GHz-4GB-RAM-500GB-HDD-MAC-OSX-10-11-UK-FAST-POST/183844310225?epid=2216226864&hash=item2acdf98cd1:g:GrkAAOSwm2Nc~9J6
I have one set up in the shed - plays music just fine :)
A 500GB HDD stores a helluvalot of music :lol:
Another vote for the Macmini, I’ve been using one as my digital music source for over 10 years now, in fact I’m on my second one now, my first I couldn’t update past OS Snow Leopard so I bought a 2015 series one used off ebay about 3 years ago for £300. All my music collection is stored in itunes or as it’s now called in the new OS Catalina, “Music”.
I also stream Spotify and Amazon Music with it. A recent upgrade to a Solid State Drive (SSD) has also made it a very slick machine speed wise even with a relatively slow processor and only 4GB of RAM. Note the very latest Macs no longer have optical outputs so digital has to be via USB.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
AJSki2fly
15-10-2019, 16:42
John, the OP, has downloaded or ripped hi-res files and he is using a computer on the internet so admittedly I am taking some knowhow for granted. I would imagine his computer must be connected to a router, and therefor probably a home network, somehow, in order to connect to the web. The Zen and Brennan are cost prohibitive and I think the pi needs a bit more geekary and some sort of screen. Obviously I agree that the Touch is out of production but software updates are still ongoing so finding and installing LMS is not a problem. So, I am going to stand by my suggestion for a simpler, cheaper and more cost effective solution.
The Pi is very straight forward to set up, and as I suggested a pre set up box with DAC from Volumio is plug up and use, you just set up a logon on Volumio's website, you access The Pi using the Volumio web page on a browser on a computer to mobile device on which you can download their app simples! Their support pages are also very good, plus there are loads of us on here to help and advise. The hard and time consuming bit is get the NAS set up and copying the files over IMO.
The Pi is very straight forward to set up, and as I suggested a pre set up box with DAC from Volumio is plug up and use, you just set up a logon on Volumio's website, you access The Pi using the Volumio web page on a browser on a computer to mobile device on which you can download their app simples! Their support pages are also very good, plus there are loads of us on here to help and advise. The hard and time consuming bit is get the NAS set up and copying the files over IMO.
never managed a nas. i bought one but it wouldnt work..a synology... so it went back.. not sure if it was deffo faulty but it wouldnt bloody workk :steam: lol
you can easily attach an hdd to a pi tho. as long as its self powered it will work.
i prefer throwing the music off my laptop down the ethernet personally to my pi/digione and on to dac. volumio is nowadays simple to set up.
The Pi is very straight forward to set up, and as I suggested a pre set up box with DAC from Volumio is plug up and use, you just set up a logon on Volumio's website, you access The Pi using the Volumio web page on a browser on a computer to mobile device on which you can download their app simples! Their support pages are also very good, plus there are loads of us on here to help and advise. The hard and time consuming bit is get the NAS set up and copying the files over IMO.Using a Pi and Volumio does one need a NAS? Is it not possible to simply use a USB drive and plug it into one of the Pi's USB ports?
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Using a Pi and Volumio does one need a NAS? Is it not possible to simply use a USB drive and plug it into one of the Pi's USB ports?
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yup, but use a self powered hdd. that way you wont have issues.
AJSki2fly
15-10-2019, 16:58
Using a Pi and Volumio does one need a NAS? Is it not possible to simply use a USB drive and plug it into one of the Pi's USB ports?
§
As Grant says yes you can do that, but you need to consider how to back it up to make the music stored on it safe in case of hard drive failure, I use a NAS drive for flexibility and plug a secondary USB drive into it and the NAS drive if configured to incrementally back up to it on a weekly basis during the night. I also use the NAS to store other media and documents I need to keep, but do not want cluttering up my laptop. It is also possible to access the NAS drive remotely and securely when not at home.
As Grant says yes you can do that, but you need to consider how to back it up to make the music stored on it safe in case of hard drive failure, I use a NAS drive for flexibility and plug a secondary USB drive into it and the NAS drive if configured to incrementally back up to it on a weekly basis during the night. I also use the NAS to store other media and documents I need to keep, but do not want cluttering up my laptop. It is also possible to access the NAS drive remotely and securely when not at home.
Ah right, yes good points Adrian. I for one have my albums etc backed up in duplicate (once locally and once in the cloud in real time. 3tb and counting). But just considering John's (OP) requirement of something simple and not needing to 'log on' etc. For sure a NAS (or better still a server) will provide more flexibility as well as be more robust and like you I would recommend that route, but is beyond what John wants.
Ah right, yes good points Adrian. I for one have my albums etc backed up in duplicate (once locally and once in the cloud in real time. 3tb and counting). But just considering John's (OP) requirement of something simple and not needing to 'log on' etc. For sure a NAS (or better still a server) will provide more flexibility as well as be more robust and like you I would recommend that route, but is beyond what John wants.
i keep 4 hdd copies of my music. i update one pretty much every new one I get. the other 2 get done every month or so... currently what im doing. Its not overly likely all 4 will crash together...I hope:)
I expect that John will already know how to duplicate things given that he knows how to rip files to flac as well as download high res stuff.
Personally I like to know my important stuff is backed up outside my home due to risk of theft, fire, riot, earthquake, tsunami or general pestilence. :lol: Hence the cloud (crashplan in my case).
I expect that John will already know how to duplicate things given that he knows how to rip files to flac as well as download high res stuff.
Personally I like to know my important stuff is backed up outside my home due to risk of theft, fire, riot, earthquake, tsunami or general pestilence. :lol: Hence the cloud (crashplan in my case).
what cloud do u use?
what cloud do u use?
Er? As written - crashplan.
Er? As written - crashplan.
ok, thought that was just what you called the act of backup-ing..:) sorry.
Thanks everyone. I now know a simple one-box solution doesn’t currently exist within my price range. The Squeezebox Touch comes close, if they were still available, but I’d still need to set-up a NAS drive, and I’m not sure how the Touch, NAS and LMS would work together? The Volumio and Innuos look impressive but was hoping not to have to buy something with an on-board dac when I already have one. Pi’s require more diy than I have time or inclination for. I’ll pick through all the suggestions over the next few days, but if all else fails I can step back from the 'wormhole' for the time being and do what Mike suggests and use a non-networked laptop wirelessly connected to the dac until other options become available.
Stratmangler
15-10-2019, 22:32
I’m not sure how the Touch, NAS and LMS would work together
There's not a straightforward answer.
It depends on what else you want to have access to, and by that I mean external content providers.
My NAS has a version of LMS that it can run, however it won't access Spotify following the delivery changes Spotify made a while back.
The LMS fix won't run on my NAS because of its processor.
I ended up running LMS on a RasPi running piCorePlayer.
It's low power, and very slick in operation.
LMS is integrated to access the NAS for locally stored music files.
Online content provider access flys faster than sh1t off a shovel.
I think a good approach is to use a RasPi to run LMS, and connect to USB connected HDDs for local files, and point a genuine Squeezebox Touch at it.
I went the route I did because I'd been running the NAS as server for a good while, but if there's no NAS to start with there's no reason not to do what I suggest.
Perhaps I want the impossible.
Stratmangler
15-10-2019, 23:15
Perhaps I want the impossible.
Why not let us know exactly what you want things to do?
I failed mind reading at school.
Another vote for the Macmini, I’ve been using one as my digital music source for over 10 years now, in fact I’m on my second one now, my first I couldn’t update past OS Snow Leopard so I bought a 2015 series one used off ebay about 3 years ago for £300. All my music collection is stored in itunes or as it’s now called in the new OS Catalina, “Music”.
I also stream Spotify and Amazon Music with it. A recent upgrade to a Solid State Drive (SSD) has also made it a very slick machine speed wise even with a relatively slow processor and only 4GB of RAM. Note the very latest Macs no longer have optical outputs so digital has to be via USB.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Another vote for the Mac mini.. with Audirvana.
Mine uses the NAS as it’s library (and lately Tidal) and then plays to a number of raspberry pi set ups by UPNP.
It was a massive relief when Audirvava introduced the upnp playback.
I leave the Mac mini running all the time and can control the outputs to the pi’s using the audirvava remote app.
A bit of a learning curve, but easy enough to sort.
PaulBarnett
19-10-2019, 03:10
I just wanted to add - what seems complicated is indeed simple to start with, but then, over the years, you tweak things, and that's what makes it appear complicated. Here's what I did:
Starting from an analog system with just an old-fashioned cd player added: (I already had a nas, but was not using it for music)
step 1: I added a squeezebox touch. - audio out from its internal dac to my pre-amp. Nothing else, and this was an eye-opener - Now I could play my CDs (once copied to the nas, running LMS) controlled by the touch screen on the squeezebox. The convenience was great, and I convinced myself it sounded better than the CD player. And now had access to internet streaming/internet radio.
step 2: installed a squeezebox app on to my phone and tablet - now I didn't even have to get up to change the music.
step 3: added an external dac between squeezebox and pre-amp. (a beresford dac) - sound greatly improved
step 4: replaced squeezebox touch by raspberry pi/hifiberry digi+ - improved sound, and now on supported hardware (logitech by this time had dropped squeezebox support, but squeezebox software is open source, so no worries there)
step 5.... more tweaks
If I were starting from zero, I might do it differently (maybe an rpi+dac+attached usb disk running picoreplayer with LMS - single box straight into pre-amp). But my point is: Each step was simple. It only sounds complicated if you dont know how and why the system got to be they way it is today.
Another point with a rpi is you can add a cd ripper for little money and play cds on it too.
RPI software is a lot easier now, although it does help if someone can walk u through it
Been using a Raspberry Pi for the last few years and been rock solid, the people who tend to report issues with them tend to be those that try and tweak either the software or the device itself.
My Pi has been far more stable and useable than the £480 SoTM Streamer I owned at the same time.
However if the op isn't up to setting up a Pi ( which takes 10 minutes ) then the Bluesound Node 2i is his best bet.
Bigman80
19-10-2019, 09:14
Been using a Raspberry Pi for the last few years and been rock solid, the people who tend to report issues with them tend to be those that try and tweak either the software or the device itself.
My Pi has been far more stable and useable than the £480 SoTM Streamer I owned at the same time.
However if the op isn't up to setting up a Pi ( which takes 10 minutes ) then the Bluesound Node 2i is his best bet.Got to say, the Pi has been revalotory. Very stable and so easy to use, once you know how.
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