Storing DSD/PCM files and playing through a DAC


Folks,
Over the past few weeks, I have ripped my 140+ SACDs to .dsf files, using a Sony blu-ray player. I want to know a couple of things that you all prefer/have experience and would recommend:

1. Type of drive (HDD, SSD, NVMe, etc) to store the files for playback via DAC

2. If the player/DAC has a USB 3.0, would you connect the drive directly to the player/DAC, OR use a laptop and connect the laptop out to the DAC's USB input?

Currently I am using a Oppo UDP-205 as my player/DAC. But at some later point, I would like to rip my CDs also as digital files and play the files via a dedicated DAC. What software can I use, to keep the laptop near the DAC and control it via a app on the phone/tablet? Currently using foobar2000 to experience the playback of  .dsf files on the computer. Not yet attempted to connect the laptop to the DAC via USB. Also have got a few DSD albums that I have ripped, transferred to a flash drive and connected the drive to USB3.0 of the Oppo. Any advise?
128x128milpai

Showing 4 responses by milpai

@rego,I can have a NAS connected to my Router and I do have a hardwired connection in my audio room, if I need to connect the network cable to the Oppo or an external DAC.I have downloaded the Bubble UPnP on my android tablet. I will explore more on how to play music through a HDD that I can connect directly to the router. Does it mean that my Oppo/DAC becomes the renderer and the source would be the HDD?

@erik_squires,That was my thought about SSD and NVMe. Silent, but slightly pricey, which in the long run is fine.How do you like the Roon's sound quality? Based on your suggestion I did look at Roon and found that this might be something I would be interested. In fact the Oppo UDP-205 is Roon enabled. Does it mean that if I connect a SSD to the Oppo, I will be able to control it through the Roon app directly?
Agreed @johnss . My DSD files are currently on one HDD and a laptop. The new HDD/SSD would be exclusively for music.