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  3. 1343518054

Simple way to play hi-res files

I'm attracted by the sound quality and storage convenience (no plastic cases) of hi-res downloads such as those available from HDtracks and am looking for a simple way to store and play them. Please forgive the newbie questions.

I'm aware of music servers such as Olive but think there must be a simpler/cheaper way. I don't need things like internet radio or the ability to rip CDs. (Maybe someday I'll copy all my CDs, but that's way off.)

My current SACD player (a Maranz) lets one plug in a USB key and play audio files, but it's finicky and supports a limited number of audio formats. Are there newer players out there that let you attach an external hard drive that you can buy at any office supply store and read the contents? That's about the simplest scenario I can imagine.

If I have to go with a music server, I'd appreciate suggestions. I care most about sound quality, supporting a wide variety of formats (especially lossless ones), rather than bells and whistles.

Thanks!
magister

Showing 1 response by lloydelee21

lloydelee21
1,202 posts
 
You could use your SACD player as a transport into a brad new DAC with all the flexibility you are looking for. and still go direct from your SACD player into your preamp.

remember - you generally cannot get sacd into a digital stream...because it is encoded. thus you usually need to play sacd within a dedicated sacd player. you cannot play sacd thru the digital out unless it is into an encrypted output that goes into a dac by the same manufacturer.

If you get a separate DAC with the flexibility you seek, then when you play USB, you go usb to dac to preamp. When you play sacd, you go sacd player to preamp. and you can experiment by going CD thru your marantz direct to preamp...or thru the dac to see if the dac is better.
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