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Best standalone music server?

So I am considering dipping my toes into the full digital world and was wondering what people here may consider as the best standalone music server, and here I am going to be specific.
I do not want to consider a home pc or mac based type of system at all!
Looking at adding one of the standalone models like for example the Wyred4sound ms1 or cocktail audio.
High on my list is ability to rip my cds directly at the unit itself, access to internet radio and other music apps (Pandora etc). High quality built in dac would be nice but if not then high quality digital out to run to an external dac. I will not be needing to access music files stored on another pc as my home pc is pretty old but fully functional for my simple needs. The only music looking to access from it right now are ripped cds and internet available music in whatever form.
So if it worked out well, yes it may be a replacement even for a cd player completely

Thank you
128x128uberwaltz
maurice1937's avatar
maurice1937
36 posts
 
Audioaanzee anyone. Would like to hear some opinions

mgreen27
147 posts
 

"Rip directly to the Sony Hap-Z1ES ???  Umm.... i don't see a CD drive on that thing.  I'd likely buy one if it functioned as a CD player too."

If you want one with a CD player, look at the new Resolution Audio. I'm probably going to get one myself. The only issue is that the CD drive can only be used for playback, and not ripping. And you really don't want to rip using an internal drive on a piece like that. High quality rips are very hard on the optical drive, and wear out quite often. Its best to just use external drives.

jond's avatar
jond
5,660 posts
 
I ripped my cd's on my laptop using dbpoweramp it was super quick and easy, 800 cds but I did it in spurts over time. All not on a 4TB Synology NAS. I hear what you are saying uberwaltz but trust me and others, do it right and do it once. You may end up ripping all your stuff on some box and having to rip it all again. Its not hard at all and its very intuitive and 500 cds are not really that many to rip. Happy owner of an Auralic Aries Mini here.
bond-san
37 posts
 
The Sony Haps are great units, but only stream Spotify as far as I know.  Future services maybe in the works.  You might look into the Auralic Altair.  It's a DAC streamer and if you add an internal HDD or SDD it becomes a very versatile server.  You can also use it as a preamp connected directly to a power amp.  It sells for under $2K so would fit in your budget.  Good luck with your search.
treebeard1
148 posts
 
Since you already have the cabling, you could get a Denon Heos link for $350 and run an ethernet cable from the router to Heos and then either analog or digital to you pre or DAC. Then get a Tidal subscription for $20/mo. Done.

If you search Tidal you may find most of your CDS are there. Heos has all the subscriptions, including Tidal, Tunein, Spotify, etc. Bluesound Node does too.
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