Time to put all the CDs in storage. How to get CD quality sound digitally?

[Dave_]

Ok thanks.

Would that be able to store/run iTunes?

Reason I ask is that I don't want my mac in the lounge, hooked up to the amp etc.

Are there any options to run iTunes on a streamer or NAS?

Personally I'd forget about Apple, this Is one area they particularly suck!

They're only interested in streaming, if you push media from an iDevice to another Apple/Airplay product or streaming from icloud.

Streaming from networked storage is PITA with Apple as it requires a PC running iTunes.

If it were me i'd just buy a Sonos, as it requires no server s/w to be running, you just point it at your music directory

 

[Overdose]

Do you want to be able to play your music without having your Mac on? If you don't mind leaving your Mac on, the easiest way to do all of this is to stream from your Mac to an ATV or AEX and then add a DAC at a later date, if you feel the quality is not up to scratch.

I would have no concerns over sound quality and the ability to use the AEX as a print server and wireless network extender adds additional functionality.

I've just added an AEX to my network for just this reason, although I don't stream music, that comes direct from the Mac mini.

I control my iTuns in much the same way as you would control yours, ie screenshare and/or mobile iTunes apps.

Your Mac could then be the music hub and be accessed by others on the network (at least, that's what I do).

The fact is there are lots of options and all will get you where you are going, but the cost will vary. I would say though, that if you already use Apple products, then adding more is made easy by their simple integration.

 

[BillDay66]

With all due respect to the other ideas put forward, personally can't believe no one has suggested adding a Sonos Connect to your system as another source along with a NAS and your'e all done for about £350 - £400. You can of course add an exotic DAC later when you feel the need. All will be controlled via your ipad / galaxys and you will almost definatley start going multiroom when you see how great it is.

You can rip your library to lossless with your mac, store the files on the NAS and thats it, I wouldn't think about ripping to anything other lossless even if you cant hear the difference, with 1tb NASs available for £90 - why do you need to save space? Once on the NAS your mac can be turned off.

theoretically you wont be able to tell the difference between this set up and your cdp..but thats another argument.

 

[BillDay66]

Beat me to it!

Ok thanks.

Would that be able to store/run iTunes?

Reason I ask is that I don't want my mac in the lounge, hooked up to the amp etc.

Are there any options to run iTunes on a streamer or NAS?

Personally I'd forget about Apple, this Is one area they particularly suck! They're only interested in streaming, if you push media from an iDevice to another Apple/Airplay product or streaming from icloud. Streaming from networked storage is PITA with Apple as it requires a PC running iTunes. If it were me i'd just buy a Sonos, as it requires no server s/w to be running, you just point it at your music directory

 

[Craig M.]

Beat me to it!

I know, I mentioned Sonos on the first page!

 

[BillDay66]

Beat me to it!

I know, I mentioned Sonos on the first page!

So you did, missed it trying to keep track of all the convoluted apple solutions and far too many acronyms on offer! :?

 

[Craig M.]

Right, ok Craig M. thanks again!

So if I have this right, your set up is pulling apple lossless straight from your Nas and the music interface which will make sense of those files can be controlled by an app via iPad or iPhone right?

Yes, strictly speaking it's the nas pushing rather than the ATV pulling, but yes.

Does that 2 second gap crop up when playing a full album? Not sure I fancy that tbh!

The gap is the same as you would get playing a normal cd when one track ends and the next begins, so most albums will play just as they do on your cdp. But if you have a live album, for example, where one track might merge into the next with no pause in the music (or crowd noise), then at the moment it still puts the standard gap between tracks. I'm hoping Synology address it in an update, but it only effects about 5 out of over 400 of my cds.

 

[p_m_brown]

Thanks Billday66. I like the look of the Sonus idea as I get it especially with the RCA outputs!

I was only on about apple as I find it pretty easy to get on with. I am not precious about using iTunes as the UI.

So, a bit more research into Sonus and then I will need a nas. Any recommendations? Would any old drive from pc world do the job?

 

[MajorFubar]

How would you select and control your music? The Seagate drive can't run its own software, and the AE isn't a media server as far as I can tell. The difference between a nas and sharing a HDD plugged into your router, is the nas actually has a processor and ram - it's in essence a computer.

Some USB-NAS adaptors are are able to run as media servers/iTunes servers. Such as this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gigabyte-NAS-Adapter-2-x-USB-for-Hard-Drive-iTurns-UPNP-Printer-Server-SAMBA-/190714166092?pt=UK_Computing_Other_Computing_Networking&hash=item2c67733b4c

Sometimes it doesn't hurt to think out the box (pardon the pun), particularly if a solution can be found which does what you need for less money.

 

[Craig M.]

True. I initially suggested the nas because it can function as a media player in it's own right with a dac. The UPnP servers still require some form of streaming hardware.

Edit: I need to type faster! That was in response to Major.

 

[BillDay66]

Thanks Billday66. I like the look of the Sonus idea as I get it especially with the RCA outputs!

I was only on about apple as I find it pretty easy to get on with. I am not precious about using iTunes as the UI.

So, a bit more research into Sonus and then I will need a nas. Any recommendations? Would any old drive from pc world do the job?

Ive got a WD MyBookLive single 1tb. nothing fancy, about £100 I think, still store a library on my pc so its backed up and its quicker to rip to my pc library then let my back up software transfer it to the NAS later - works perfectly, can't really see the point of some of the more expensive ones on offer - not for what I want it for anyway! I went on ebuyer and picked whatever the special offer was that week!

Been working perfectly for a couple of years now (probably just given it the kiss of death ..I know)

 

[The_Lhc]

Thanks Billday66. I like the look of the Sonus idea as I get it especially with the RCA outputs!

I was only on about apple as I find it pretty easy to get on with. I am not precious about using iTunes as the UI.

So, a bit more research into Sonus and then I will need a nas. Any recommendations? Would any old drive from pc world do the job?

SonOs. Sonos will work with almost any NAS, it doesn't require anything beyond a standard network share. It also does gapless playback without any trouble.

 

[Dave_]

iTunes servers are usually nothing of the sort though, many NAS make the claim, but still require iTunes to be running on a computer

 

[BillDay66]

http://www.ebuyer.com/245543-western-digital-my-book-live-1tb-1x-1tb-nas-drive-wdbacg0010hch-eesn

 

[p_m_brown]

There is a 2tb one here!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003XFUXQK/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=electronics

 

[p_m_brown]

Quick update for you.

Loving the Sonos idea but doing this in baby steps so just ordered a posh Synology 212j Nas enclosure, a 1tb western digital red drive and an AirPort Extreme.

As soon as I get to grips with that lot, I'll pick up a Sonos Connect, a bridge and another hdd unit for backup.

No doubt I'll be back on here tomorrow seeking your advice!