I am looking for an audiophile music player to stream my lossless music files to my DAC. I need a device with an rj45 network connection to plug in my NAS drive and a coaxial/optical digital output to connect to my DAC. I’d like it to have the best quality digital output with the lowest jitter. I don’t need any analogue outputs or amplifications. Any suggestions?
Audiophile music player
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John Duncan
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JohnDuncan:Plenty, but budget is key.
Not sure how much i want to spend, say £1k. My badget can stretch quite considerably if it's worth it. Please feel free to make suggestions
Not sure how much i want to spend, say £1k. My badget can stretch quite considerably if it's worth it. Please feel free to make suggestions
John Duncan
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I'd start with the Logitech Transporter and Linn Sneaky DS at that money (ignore the fact that the Linn has built in amps and just use it as a player).
Higher than that and there are a few more Linn DS players - Majik, Klimax, Akurate - just depends on how far you want to go (12 grand in the case of the Klimax, I think). The NaimUniti and HDX are also worth a look, though offer more than you ask for here.
Other than that, not sure - intuitively I think I'd find it difficult to spend even a grand, when a humble Airport Express and then Apple TV have given me such good results...
Higher than that and there are a few more Linn DS players - Majik, Klimax, Akurate - just depends on how far you want to go (12 grand in the case of the Klimax, I think). The NaimUniti and HDX are also worth a look, though offer more than you ask for here.
Other than that, not sure - intuitively I think I'd find it difficult to spend even a grand, when a humble Airport Express and then Apple TV have given me such good results...
>I'd like it to have the best quality digital output with the lowest jitter<
You should look at the Transporter combined with an external word clock, but this assumes your DAC is of a class to generate/use an external master clock too.
You should look at the Transporter combined with an external word clock, but this assumes your DAC is of a class to generate/use an external master clock too.
If you can stretch your budget a long way then the Meridian Sooloos will do what you ask and a good bit more.
Closer to your budget then Squeezebox or Linn are probably the best route.
Closer to your budget then Squeezebox or Linn are probably the best route.
JohnDuncan:I'd start with the Logitech Transporter and Linn Sneaky DS at that money (ignore the fact that the Linn has built in amps and just use it as a player).
Higher than that and there are a few more Linn DS players - Majik, Klimax, Akurate - just depends on how far you want to go (12 grand in the case of the Klimax, I think). The NaimUniti and HDX are also worth a look, though offer more than you ask for here.
Other than that, not sure - intuitively I think I'd find it difficult to spend even a grand, when a humble Airport Express and then Apple TV have given me such good results...
Thank you all for your advice. The Logitech Transporter and Linn Sneaky DS are good options. However, both have a DAC built in - which I don't need - and the latter has amplification as well. As you say, I don't have to use these features but it's a bit of a waist, particularly in when considering the Transporter.
I don't think the Linn and Naim solutions would suite my setup. I already have the amplification and DAC and I like it a lot.
Apple TV might be an option although I don't like Apple very much. Are you aware of any reviews in relation the quality of the Apple TV digital audio output stage?
Any further thoughts in light of the above would be realy appreciated
Higher than that and there are a few more Linn DS players - Majik, Klimax, Akurate - just depends on how far you want to go (12 grand in the case of the Klimax, I think). The NaimUniti and HDX are also worth a look, though offer more than you ask for here.
Other than that, not sure - intuitively I think I'd find it difficult to spend even a grand, when a humble Airport Express and then Apple TV have given me such good results...
Thank you all for your advice. The Logitech Transporter and Linn Sneaky DS are good options. However, both have a DAC built in - which I don't need - and the latter has amplification as well. As you say, I don't have to use these features but it's a bit of a waist, particularly in when considering the Transporter.
I don't think the Linn and Naim solutions would suite my setup. I already have the amplification and DAC and I like it a lot.
Apple TV might be an option although I don't like Apple very much. Are you aware of any reviews in relation the quality of the Apple TV digital audio output stage?
Any further thoughts in light of the above would be realy appreciated
TheHomeCinemaCentre:
If you can stretch your budget a long way then the Meridian Sooloos will do what you ask and a good bit more.
Closer to your budget then Squeezebox or Linn are probably the best route.
The Meridian Sooloos fits the bill but it is too expensive (-: The Transporter may be a viable option. Do you have a view about the quality of its digital output stage?
If you can stretch your budget a long way then the Meridian Sooloos will do what you ask and a good bit more.
Closer to your budget then Squeezebox or Linn are probably the best route.
The Meridian Sooloos fits the bill but it is too expensive (-: The Transporter may be a viable option. Do you have a view about the quality of its digital output stage?
>Do you have a view about the quality of its digital output stage?<
It's bit-perfect, you can lock the volume at 100% in the digital domain, and good for 24/96. Jitter has been measured as very, very low, AFAIK Stereophile measured at a few 10s of pico-seconds.
It's bit-perfect, you can lock the volume at 100% in the digital domain, and good for 24/96. Jitter has been measured as very, very low, AFAIK Stereophile measured at a few 10s of pico-seconds.
John Duncan
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Yes, I think you're going to have trouble finding an 'audiophile music server' that doesn't have analogue outputs (and therefore doesn't have a DAC). You may therefore be better spending an awful lot less money and getting something that, as mentioned above, gives (alleged by somebody else, I can't be bothered proving it) bit-perfect digital output, and leave the rest to your DAC. Step forward Airport Express...
(I can't say how 'good' the digital output of the @TV is, but playing songs from its hard drive into a DACMagic gives me the best source I've had, I think).
(I can't say how 'good' the digital output of the @TV is, but playing songs from its hard drive into a DACMagic gives me the best source I've had, I think).
Has anyone have heard the HD Digitech HDX-1000 or Sonos ZonePlayer 90 via its digital output? I've also been contemplating these solutions but haven't been able to establish the quality of these units' digital output. Any comments welcome
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