Music servers

tonyb

Well, after a couple hours of getting aggravated at the wifes inability to put a cd back into the proper jacket last night, I pretty much decided it's time to stick 500 cds on a server. Since I have a trip comming up, this won't happen until this summer so I have time to research.
I'm looking for a system that will be wife friendy, easy to use. Something with a display, like a soonoos,q-sonic, olive. Something I can load cd's into, not download from a computer. Audiogon has a q-sonic now that seems would work. Any of you guys have any experience with any of these systems ? I was also looking at the Olive but seems it may have software issues as reviews run hot and cold on them. Also, these systems seem to lose value rather quickly,why is that ? New,some of these run 5-7 g's,and used are around 2-3 g's. Is the quality that bad ? Feel free to throw out any suggestions but keep in mind what the criteria is.

steveinaz

I always thought the Olive systems would be really cool.

coolsax

If you're looking for something that will rip itself I agree with the Olive suggestion... i especially like their new lower end model which looks like it just might be a higher end SB touch, though that one does not rip its own CDs ..

bikezappa

I always thought the Olive was a good product. I too have been looking for a music server to replace my three Sony Jukeboxs. They take up a lot of space.
I don't understand why a music server needs to cost more than $1000.
I would also want a video output to show what CD and track is playing.

ben62670

Take a look at Western Digital WDTV. It does tons of different formats.

tonyb

ben62670 wrote: »

Take a look at Western Digital WDTV. It does tons of different formats.

I don't see any offerings that allow you to load a cd into it Ben.

tonyb

bikezappa wrote: »

I always thought the Olive was a good product. I too have been looking for a music server to replace my three Sony Jukeboxs. They take up a lot of space.
I don't understand why a music server needs to cost more than $1000.
I would also want a video output to show what CD and track is playing.

I don't get it either, new, these products are out of reach for a normal joe, but used they are in reach. I like the bigger touch screens of the Q-sonic, from what I gather though, you have to load the whole cd, can't cherry pick your fav. tracks, and can't delete single tracks from an album. Thats wasted storage space. They may have upgraded the software to deal with some of these issues, just need to research more I guess.

adam2434

Another option could be an inexpensive laptop and USB DAC.


Pros:

High performance/storage vs. cost ratio.

Disc drive and display are built-in.

A program like Foobar is simple and easy to operate for music selection.

Portability of music collection.

Laptop could be used for other tasks.


Cons:

Not as elegant as 1 box server options.

Some learning curve for software.

Might be able to hear fan noise.

Face

http://www.meridian-audio.com/static/sooloos/

tonyb

Thanks Face, but that puppy even used is out of my reach. I was looking at this,
http://www.avguide.com/review/qsonix-q100110-music-server

Used, around2-3 g's with some beefed up units out there too. Would be nice to have the display next to the couch, big enough so I don't need reading glasses too. Do you see anything about these that I should be wary of ?

wattmeworry

I have a vortex box that holds 3000 cds in flac that cost 379, just put in disc and it will rip and find album art. I run it through my router to my squeezebox duet it runs problem free

coolsax

I forgot about Vortex boxes.. that is a good option for those on a budget.

BlueFox

tonyb wrote: »

Thanks Face, but that puppy even used is out of my reach.

I have to agree with that. I would love to have a Sooloos, but at $7,500 dollars for essentialy a PC with a nice interface is a bit to much. I really hope if Apple does start selling 24 bit files they also come out with a touch screen MAC interface like the Sooloos, but for around $1500 to $2000. All they need is the software to display album art, and allow song selection, etc.

dkg999

Lots of options. 1TB external HD and MediaMonkey with a cheap USB DAC. Same external HD option with a SqueezeBox Touch (assuming you have a wireless router).

Face

PC, wireless router, J. River, and Android based smart phone as a remote, doesn't get much easier than that. You can even add a NAS for more storage.

rdb2001

I would say get a NAS and a squeezebox touch and call it a day. You can get a NAS Case with 2-4 hard drive bays and some hard drives. That whole setup would set you back maybe 600-800 dollars depending on what NAS case you go with and what hard drives you go with. I do the same, just with apple Itunes.

Ricardo

Spending 2-3G sounds like a lot when you can have the convenience with a lot less. I am extremely happy with my squeezebox touch (2 of them already). Yes, you need to spend the time to rip your CD's but it's not that bad really.

Including a good DAC (only if you want sound equivalent to your best source) and additional hard drives it will run you around $1,000ish.

nspindel

+1 on Squeezebox

bikezappa

tonyb wrote: »

you have to load the whole cd, can't cherry pick your fav. tracks, and can't delete single tracks from an album.

All my Sony jukeboxs allow track delete. A feature that is near and dear to me. There are some tunes that I don't even want to hear again while playing on shuffle.

Some told me that the high cost of the severs may be due to patent issues.

EDUBAG

some people buy a usb external hard drive rip their cd's and let their pio elite do the dac and it can be controlled via the remote. the advantage of this is that you use the avr internal dac (wolfson in some and burr brwon in others)

another option that i have seen in a some high end audio stores is the mac mini going through an external dac that option should be well between 900 - 1200 bucks and i guess everybody loves their mac mini as server.

good lick and let us know.

renowilliams

Another way would be to use your media player to stream and use your bluray player to access music and video from your pcs.

bikezappa

Face wrote: »

http://www.meridian-audio.com/static/sooloos/

I wish I had the bread to buy that.

bikezappa

fastz28 wrote: »

ASUS DRW-24B3LT rom -- 2 Seagate Barracuda 7200 sata 1 tb each----
Audiotrak / Burson HD2 soundcard--AMD Radeon HD 6000 series

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Intel Core i7-990X Processor Extreme Edition-- XG Magnum 600 External Power Supply fanlass--Zalman Reserator 1 V2 Fanless Water Cooling System no fans and external power supply
asio bypasses all mixing- straight from jrivers to soundcard. This $405 soundcard youd have to spend $1500 in a usb dac for better sound. This music server is dead quiet.
will bring to polk fest and make many believers
Havnt found a music sever thats sounds better yet.

Wish I knew what this is?

WilliamM2

bikezappa wrote: »

Wish I knew what this is?

Sounds like a computer to me.

LuSh

Mac Mini ---> iTunes/Pure Music software

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> Arcam rDAC via USB

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> iPod Touch or phone for control. This system will be as easy to use as an iPod and provide sound you never thought possible from a computer. Just my 2 cents.

ben62670

tonyb wrote: »

I don't see any offerings that allow you to load a cd into it Ben.

You rip the files on your PC to an HD. Very easy and they are only $100. Add a DAC of your choice.

tonyb

Guys,appreciate the suggestions, but the criteria is, no computer involved, able to load cd's directly, and an easy to use touch screen thats not too small, or a remote I guess in conjuction with using the tv as a screen. No wireless router stuff, just want to load cd's into something to organize and play without connecting to a computer.

blueboxer

I hate doing it after you said no computer, but the Mac Mini might be tolerable. It is so compact, takes CDs, has USB, HDMI, and audio out and you can use an iTouch to control the itunes on it. The display is great as well.

pearsall001

I just started ripping all of my CD's into the dBpoweramp program, which then shoots them over to J. River Media Center for storage & configureration. Once they are all ripped I believe I'll be picking up the SONOS ZP90 for starters & expand as the need & funds allow. I'm really looking forward to the ease, flexibility & sound quality played thru my hot rodded Music Hall dac. Simple enough for even my wife to use!!!

LuSh

Tonyb,

By not adapting to computer, you will pay a HUGE premium by buying something that acts like a computer under the guise of audiophile equipment. Hence why Linn DS servers and Olive are so cheap (or cheaper) then retail when purchased used. Nobody will purchase these systems who are into great sound on a budget. You are doomed to over spend, if you're OK with that then no problem. BTW, I've auditioned a Meridian Sooloos system (a company I respect but don't personally like). I felt like it was a great computer system out of an Apple commercial from 1984. It was that bad.

BlueFox

anonymouse wrote: »

Why don't you just get a CD megachanger with an outboard DAC? I have a Sony 300 disc unit in the FM for 60 bucks. It looks like you do not really want to rip the CD's anyway? If you need a DAC, I'm considering selling mine too, so lets talk if you are interested.

While that would work, it negates the whole point of a music server. Being able to create play lists of favorite CDs, and/or songs, is a tremendously useful feature. Being able to, on a whim, jump to another song on another CD is great. A CD changer is a clunky, obsolete way to manage music. IMO, of course.