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Need Advice On A Network Music Player

I want to get into Hi Rez music downloads and need a player to make that possible. My initial research has identified the following as serious possibilities, but I can find no comparison reviews or anything to clearly differentiate them:



Logitech Squeeze Box Touch - $234.00

Cambridge Audio - Sonata NP30 - $599.00

Marantz - NA7004 - Network Audio Player - $799.99

Bryston - BDP-1 - Digital Media Player - $2195.00

My real concern is identifying what gives the best bang for the buck and still provides high quality sound output. The only purpose that I will be using this for is Hi Rez music downloads from HD Tracks, and some higher res music via USB thumb drives (such as the Complete Beatles Collection). I've read very positive reviews of all of these, but again, nothing comparing them in any way, so its extremely hard to gauge.



The only two concerns are that I have used Squeezebox software previously (when I owned a Transporter) and found it more difficult to use than I wanted to deal with, and hated the connection problems getting to their site. That's a negative to buying equipment from them. Also, over at the Hi Rez forum, they have many threads about how you have to spend about $400.00 modifying the Touch to get optimal sound. As far as the Bryston, as expensive as it is, Stereophile noted that the sound quality from it's USB input was not as good, and that would be a great concern for me.



I have Bryston BDA-1 DAC available for use with whatever I purchase. Any thoughts, recommendations, and expertise would be appreciated. I'm completely new to this game and could use the help. Thanks.
nightfall
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,842 posts
 
Touch + outboard DAC = hard to beat for internet radio and CD quality digital.

I am skeptical about the merit of downloadable high res audio files still these days. Larger high res files does not automatically equate to better sound. HD tracks does not provide any info about how their offerings are mastered last I checked, so how does one know what to expect? You might be buying all the extra expense and headaches of larger high res files for little or no benefit. ITs a crap shoot when the seller does not provide any details other than end file resolution. ANyone can take a standard mp3 file and upsample it to the highest resolution possible. Will that sound better? A little different maybe but you cannot add detail and resolution that is not there to start.

But for hires, if that's what you want, there may be differences in teh devices capabilities. TOuch specs for this are available. Not the highest but respectable as I recall. Check this for all and compare to determine value.
kbarkamian
647 posts
 
A stupid question perhaps, and sorry if I'm hijacking...

Can you connect a USB hard drive directly to the Squeezebox Touch, or does it solely work by streaming? If you can connect directly without any computer running, this changes the advice I previously had.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,842 posts
 
Kbar,

I believe you can connect a drive with music library direct to TOuch, via USB I would expect. I have read from others that have done this though that there may be quirks compared to network access, which is probably the most common approach.

I like using a network to access computer files. IT helps isolate the TOuch and audio system from the computers and computer devices. It's an insurance policy against noise that might result from connecting a computer device directly to your audio system. I run my Touch this way using a wireless network connection which is optimal in this sense and I can say that playback via the Touchs and external DACs ( I have one of each in two different systems) is always dead quiet.
kbarkamian
647 posts
 
Thanks Mapman. After posting the question, I read about a few quirks with connecting an external hard drive to the touch. I think it's mainly non-powered hard drives (portables?).

To eliminate the possibility of noise from the hard drive, an optical cable may be best. A good glass optical cable can sound quite good, as I've found with my Apple TV Gen 1.

I completely understand why you'd rather stream wirelessly. I stat away as I've had issues with signals and just don't like the computer running 24/7. I predominantly use my iPhone to surf the web/check email, and get more than enough of computers at work. I'd rather have a self contained setup. Just like everything else, it's all tradeoffs.

Thanks again for the info. My ATV will eventually run out of space. Trying to get background info as to which direction to go in the next year or so. Too bad I can't get everything and anything on impeccably pressed 180 gram vinyl!
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