From what I have seen the dedicated music servers are very expensive (too
expensive at this point). I strongly recommend a laptop (running iTunes), an
external hardrive, and a USB converter of some sort (check out the threads on
the PC audio forum for many discussions and recommendations on this. It is
cheaper, does the same thing, and I think, sounds as good (if not better) than
many of the expensive dedicated servers.
There are some very good USB DAC's being made as well (many threads on
this also--one USB DAC was reviewed in Stereophile a couple months ago).
If you must have a one box server, made by an audio company, Yamaha
makes a nice one (HD 1500?, I think) and I would not spend more than that at
this point on such a unit.
I speak from some limited experience as I experimented with a few different
USB DAC's and currently have a G4 laptop, 2 hardrives and a Wavetermial U24
as my digtial front end. Bested my Sony XA777 (redbook playbac) and MAC
changer.
My opinion of course.
expensive at this point). I strongly recommend a laptop (running iTunes), an
external hardrive, and a USB converter of some sort (check out the threads on
the PC audio forum for many discussions and recommendations on this. It is
cheaper, does the same thing, and I think, sounds as good (if not better) than
many of the expensive dedicated servers.
There are some very good USB DAC's being made as well (many threads on
this also--one USB DAC was reviewed in Stereophile a couple months ago).
If you must have a one box server, made by an audio company, Yamaha
makes a nice one (HD 1500?, I think) and I would not spend more than that at
this point on such a unit.
I speak from some limited experience as I experimented with a few different
USB DAC's and currently have a G4 laptop, 2 hardrives and a Wavetermial U24
as my digtial front end. Bested my Sony XA777 (redbook playbac) and MAC
changer.
My opinion of course.