I'm interested in this topic as well. I am currently using a Brennan B2 with a custom power supply as my local music server with the optical output fed through a Theta Digital TLC Timebase Linque Conditioner into my MiniDSP Flex and then into my DAC. The Brennan is a Raspberry Pi based unit and presumably it is only reading 1s and 0s. I am considering upgrading to a Volumio RiVo but I have trepidation that there won't be a discernible improvement. I am curious of the community's consensus.
Local network HiRes storage and player
Looking to learn the best method for storing high resolution music files locally on your hardwired network and playing into a stand alone DAC>PassLabs system
*Currently I run an Eversolo A8 into a Luxman DAC and stream music. Looking to add local storage to have high res files stored locally.
1) Is it best to have separate storage device and player (two separate devices) which would then run into the DAC?
2) Or is there a good quality combo device that you have experience?
The Eversolo has storage but I am planning to replace it so it may be nice to get something that does all three tasks (a) streaming (b) storage (c) playing network stored files
All expertise with being a streamer and file storage user is appreciated focused on two questions - 1) what is best way of doing this device wise (separate eveyrhinf or combine) and 2) what devices are you using?
lastly, are FLAC files the ideal format to store or is there something better?
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@hifi_jed_1986 I am partial (as I have one for sale), but e.g. the Innuos Zen Mk3 server/streamer is an excellent choice for what you seem to be looking for, both A8 upgrade- and functionality-wise, w/o breaking the bank. It can have up to 4 Tb of storage (mine has 2 Tb), Innuous’ Sense software is known for how good it is, and the Zen is fully Tidal and Qobuz Connect compatible. It also has a built-in CD reader so it’s also easy to rip CDs with a minimum of fuss and work. |
Unless you have rare CDs that you can’t find on Qobuz or Tidal, I wouldn’t bother with ripping them. And the few rare ones you can rip using dbpoweramp free version into FLAC or WAV. If you already have a library of CD rips or high res music you can store it on SSD drive with a backup on another SSD or HDD. My music library is on SSD mounted internally in my Roon Nucleus One. It’s extremely rare that I play an album from that library. |
Many ways to (successfully) skin that cat. Answers to two questions might help.
In the meantime, you might look into Roon’s own website, Small Green Computer, and, at a higher price point, Grimm Audio and/or Antipodes. |
- 35 posts total