Looking for a player/transporter for my local files

[Mons_Ita]

Hello everybody,

My name is Filippo and I’m writing from Italy; after searching for a while (and without finding many solutions, like the topping m50 which isnt in production anymore) I decided to ask for help from who knows better and more than me

In my actual set up my FIIO M9 (and its 512gb microsd) is my main source - coax to Burton composer 3xp and then to my preamp - and I’m really happy about how everything sounds….BUT since FIIO’s app is a real pain in the ass (keeps losing wifi, doesn’t really sync playlists, playlists can only be done thru the M9 etc etc) its not really handy to control music since instead doing it from the app and my phone it ends up that I have to stand up and operate directly from the M9.

Basically Im looking for something (how would you call it?Player?Transporter?) to play ONLY my local files (not interested in streaming from tidal, Spotify etc etc) without having to use my macbook pro to access the music in my hd and to be able to control it with an app from my phone (android).
This “something” should have an usb IN to plug my 4tb hd (where all my music is), a usb OUT and coax OUT to feed the Burson Composer 3xp and a decent, usable app for android (a bonus would be some integration with my macboob pro to, for example, work on my playlists)
What it shouldn’t have is a built in DAC and other stuff related to streaming that I don’t need so to keep the budget as human as possible.

Any suggestion??

Of course whatever ill end up doing or adding it doesn’t have to affect the audio quality I have now ; if anything, I would like to improve it, infact since the M9 act as source and is battery powered i have really no noise, interferences or hum of any kind

Looking forward to hear what your suggestions will be and if you need any further info please do not hesitate to ask.


Tnx in advance to anybody who will help


Ciao e grazie,


Filippo.

 

[twinkletoes]

Welcome,

This might fit the bill about 600 GBP here.

Shanling ET3 MQA-CD Transport | OTIC

Shanling ET3 Compact CD Player: Unveil sonic perfection with top-loading CD drive, MQA-CD support, high-end connectivity, and wireless streaming. Elevate your audio experience today!

www.otic-audio.co.uk

Hopefully I have understood correctly!

 

[jjbomber]

Fiio R7 and plug your 4TB hard drive into that.

It's a bit confusing because you say the M9 is your source in part of the post, but in another part it's the files on the 4TB Hard Drive.

 

[Mons_Ita]

Welcome,

This might fit the bill about 600 GBP here.

Shanling ET3 MQA-CD Transport | OTIC

Shanling ET3 Compact CD Player: Unveil sonic perfection with top-loading CD drive, MQA-CD support, high-end connectivity, and wireless streaming. Elevate your audio experience today!

www.otic-audio.co.uk

Hopefully I have understood correctly!

Tnx a lot, really nice find and piece of kit; only worry is the eddict app, from what im reading looks like its affected from some of the issues i have with the fiio app.

 

[Mons_Ita]

Fiio R7 and plug your 4TB hard drive into that.

It's a bit confusing because you say the M9 is your source in part of the post, but in another part it's the files on the 4TB Hard Drive.

Tnx a lot for the hint, i thought about the r7 but i feel like im spending lots of money for a lot of hardware and features im not going to use.
About the M9 and the 4tb hd you are absolutely right, i omitted a passage: if i menage to find the right hardware i would ditch the M9 as source to switch to my 4tb hd where i have all my files without being limited to the 512 gb microsd.

 

[twinkletoes]

Tnx a lot, really nice find and piece of kit; only worry is the eddict app, from what im reading looks like its affected from some of the issues i have with the fiio app.

It’s constantly being updated I believe if that’s any consolation , I doubt you would us the app all that much,Edit looks like you would reading above, but the purchase decision is completely up you.

Schitt also do a cd transport that’s similar but a lot more expansive. And the usb can currently only be used with there dac as an output

There arnt that many transports with usb

 

[Mons_Ita]

Morning everybody
after few days of search and reading i believe i slimmed down the list to these 2:

- Project stream box s2 ultra - you can find one of these for 420 euros (including shipping) now on amazon
- Shanling ET3 - around 650 euros shipping included

Now my question is: price aside, which of the 2 you guys think has the better quality/components and therefore from which one i could expect to get the best audio out of?
The stream box s2 ultra has great reviews (both from users and reviewers) while ive read some "concerns" about the usb out of the ET3 about jitter/clock not at the same quality of the other outputs (upsampling to dsd isnt possible with usb out for example)

Looking forward to read your opinions and ciao

Filippo.

 

[skinnypuppy71]

Maybe have a look at the Novafidelity n15d....I'm not exactly sure what your after but the little n15d has a slot for a 2.5 inch ssd /up to 4tb I think and can stream from that as well as your local files, also takes a hdd plugged straight into it....absolute excellent little box that sounds fantastic.

Novafidelity N15D Network streamer

Changing a brand name can sometimes be tricky. When ‘BackRub’ decided to become ‘Google’, for example, it worked out just fine–mostly because no one had

hifiplus.com

 

[Mons_Ita]

Maybe have a look at the Novafidelity n15d....I'm not exactly sure what your after but the little n15d has a slot for a 2.5 inch ssd /up to 4tb I think and can stream from that as well as your local files, also takes a hdd plugged straight into it....absolute excellent little box that sounds fantastic.

Novafidelity N15D Network streamer

Changing a brand name can sometimes be tricky. When ‘BackRub’ decided to become ‘Google’, for example, it worked out just fine–mostly because no one had

hifiplus.com

Wow tnx a lot, that would be near perfect if it only had a usb out...

 

[skinnypuppy71]

Wow tnx a lot, that would be near perfect if it only had a usb out...

Just the coaxial and optical outputs , why the need for usb out? If it's just to get the higher res files to the burson, I don't think I'd narrow my choices so much, 192 kHz is plenty refined enough for our human hearing...IMHO.

 

[ckn]

Hello everybody,

My name is Filippo and I’m writing from Italy; after searching for a while (and without finding many solutions, like the topping m50 which isnt in production anymore) I decided to ask for help from who knows better and more than me

In my actual set up my FIIO M9 (and its 512gb microsd) is my main source - coax to Burton composer 3xp and then to my preamp - and I’m really happy about how everything sounds….BUT since FIIO’s app is a real pain in the ass (keeps losing wifi, doesn’t really sync playlists, playlists can only be done thru the M9 etc etc) its not really handy to control music since instead doing it from the app and my phone it ends up that I have to stand up and operate directly from the M9.

Basically Im looking for something (how would you call it?Player?Transporter?) to play ONLY my local files (not interested in streaming from tidal, Spotify etc etc) without having to use my macbook pro to access the music in my hd and to be able to control it with an app from my phone (android).
This “something” should have an usb IN to plug my 4tb hd (where all my music is), a usb OUT and coax OUT to feed the Burson Composer 3xp and a decent, usable app for android (a bonus would be some integration with my macboob pro to, for example, work on my playlists)
What it shouldn’t have is a built in DAC and other stuff related to streaming that I don’t need so to keep the budget as human as possible.

Any suggestion??

Of course whatever ill end up doing or adding it doesn’t have to affect the audio quality I have now ; if anything, I would like to improve it, infact since the M9 act as source and is battery powered i have really no noise, interferences or hum of any kind

Looking forward to hear what your suggestions will be and if you need any further info please do not hesitate to ask.


Tnx in advance to anybody who will help


Ciao e grazie,


Filippo.

Hi Filippo
You could try Audirvana which plays both streaming services (if you have subscription) and files on local disk.
Once you connect the removable disk where you have your music, Audirvana will link up with it, establishing the path. When you wish to play, Audirvana will connect to your library (the HD needs to be connected to your PC or laptop) and play.
The best thing is that Audirvana overrides the Dac of your laptop and enhances the music output. I just connect the HD to my desk/laptop, and play thru active speakers on my table. I use Klipsch 5 as the active speakers. I connect to the speakers from my headphone jack using an EP-RCA cable. If you can get a EP-Optical/Coaxial cable that too would be good.
Hope this helps.

 

[Mons_Ita]

Hello guys,

tnx again to all of you for your inputs!!
After few days of indecision between the stream box ultra s2 and the ET3 i found a good deal on a mint condition steam box ultra s2 and god if im happy with my decision!!!

Sounds really good (a big, clear and noticeable improvement over the fiio M9 via coax in almost every way) and works like a breeze!!
Im using it ONLY as transport for the music on my 2tb hd but it works really well; as suggested from Volumio community i switched off every other service or feature i dont use and i hardwired it for connection.
It lists the whole hd in few seconds, its responsive (both thru app and browser from mobile) and again, sounds damn good; i must also say that the "decrapifier" micro usb really does miracles when you play music straight from a computer.

Funny ckn (tnx for the input btw) mention Audirvana since right this morning i read that the the stream box ultra s2 got its "Plays with" Audirvana certification.

Anyway if you are in my same situation, give this little box a chance (not at the msrp price which is insane, but now on amazon you can find it around 399 euros)

Tnx again for all your suggestions,

Filippo.