Digital Source Advice

[Holte Ender]

I have run high quality analogue systems for the last 40 years, but I need some advice to bring myself into the 21st century. I am planning on replacing my turntable, CD player and tuner with a streaming / network device, but I have no idea how to go about it.
I have purchased a pair of AVI DM1O active speakers, which contain a remote controlled preamp, power amp and 24/96 DAC. I also have an iPad Air 2, but no laptop. I would like a device that can play and rip my cd collection, play music obtained online and also have an internet radio facility for jazz fm, classic fm and radio 2.
I prioritise high quality sound over convenience, so I am looking for equipment recommendations and advice on how to set this up, either via this thread or by PM please.
Many Thanks

[Filterlab]

Sounds like a big change!

Have a look at Melco's range of equipment. They specialise in players which rip and store, as well as stream. Quality is incredible, sound as well as build, and they're compatible with mobile devices for control purposes too. I've heard a few models and they are exceptional.

[Holte Ender]

Many Thanks.
The budget is around £1000, but I am flexible if the improvement in sound quality warrants extra outlay.

[Filterlab]

Ahhh, you won't touch a Melco for that unfortunately. You need at least twice as much.

Have you considered a Mac mini with a USB DVD drive? That'll do everything you need and more. You can run it directly to your speakers digitally, it would work very well for your needs.

[Holte Ender]

No, I haven’t considered anything yet as I am completely in the dark. I will have a look at the Mac, though.
Thanks.

[BultyBoy]

Read my post on the Bluesound Node 2i which I have now pimped and fitted an Allo Shanty power supply, ones very good and seems to do everything.
I'm in Gloucestershire, you can come listen if you can wait till the June lock down ends or go to AudioT in Cheltenham where I bought mine. A pimped Bluesound is about £800.

[Filterlab]

No, I haven’t considered anything yet as I am completely in the dark. I will have a look at the Mac, though.
Thanks.

I work with Macs for a living, so I can soon find the right model for you.

[antonio]

I'm using a mini fanless pc, https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=fanless+mini+pc+windows+10&crid=1RNF207JOYUE1&sprefix=fanless+mini+pc%2Caps%2C465&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_3_15
controlled by a 7" touchscreen monitor (I would get a slightly larger screen if I purchased again) and only use it to play music from an external hard drive, total cost £250. You could certainly control something like Volumio from an i-pad and listen to internet radio, you would have to also buy a separate cd transport https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=cd+player+for+laptop&crid=3MPES6NG1PZDQ&sprefix=cd+player+%2Caps%2C386&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_7_10 but that could be put in a drawer when not in use.

[bob4333]

Roy, I note that you have no laptop, but do you have a desktop of any kind that you can use for ripping your CD's?

If so you need to add a UpNP/DNLA compliant Streamer (I think they all are now) and a storage device connected to it. Use the PC or MAC to rip the files to the storage device and use your iPad as a controller. There are lot's of free apps to put on your iPad and even those you pay for are often only a couple of quid for life.

The chain is therefore Storage into Streamer, Streamer in to DAC, all controlled by your Ipad. The PC/MAC is redundant after your file ripping/transfer.

I use a Cyrus Stream X2 which gives access to more internet radio than you could listen to in a lifetime.

Only word of caution is that just like vinyl replay the results can be very good indeed, but just like vinyl your wallet can take a bit of a hit getting there. If as you say "I prioritise high quality sound over convenience" then I'd advise making sure you are happy with the result before parting with your vinyl set up.

But it's a worthwhile quest. Ultimately vinyl is still king but it's so close that probably 98% of my listening now is via my streaming set up. :)

[Holte Ender]

Thank you for the responses. I don’t currently own a laptop or desktop, so I would need to steal my son’s or daughter’s laptop, which they use for school work! Of course, I could buy my own. I need to do some contemplating, as I now only own the Accuphase tuner and active AVI speakers.

[ianlenco]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned an Innuos Zen. There are various models but a new Zen mini would just about fit in your budget. It rips CD's, has internal storage and can be controlled via your iPad. Sound quality is very good indeed and would give you a simple solution.

[dave2010]

No, I haven’t considered anything yet as I am completely in the dark. I will have a look at the Mac, though.
Thanks.The new M1 Mac Mini is really good - apparently - though you might not need that for running your system. If it's only going to be used for the audio, then you can pick up second hand ones of previous models quite cheaply, and indeed some of the older ones do also have an optical drive so can be used for ripping CDs etc., whereas the new one would need a separate drive if you don't have any other way of ripping the discs. It's been a few years since those have had the inbuilt CD drive.

As a computer - which can run audio and video tools - the M1 based Mac Mini is reported to be excellent - though don't get the lowest spec one.

[Filterlab]

If you get a 2014 model with 16GB of RAM it will do you for many years. The internal drive can be upgraded on that year model too. If you go 2018 then the storage is fixed but the RAM can be upgraded very easily (well, certainly for a Mac tech). External storage is cheap, compact and easy to integrate.

No DVD drive on either, but a USB DVD will work perfectly and cost is only a few quid - and can be removed when not importing of course. The 2010 model was the last with an internal DVD drive.

My Mac mini is actually a 2010 which I upgraded to SSD and 16GB of RAM. I patched the OS to Mojave 10.14.6 which is still current, I may patch it to Catalina or Big Sur, but frankly I only stream from an internal library using Fidelia - so whether the OS is up to date or not is irrelevant. All simple stuff to do though, I can do it with my eyes shut so PM me if you want to go that way.

[Holte Ender]

PM sent to Simon at BultyBoy.