2. digital
  3. 1297380317

MUSIC SERVER - HOW DO YOU............

I have a all McIntosh system with Tannoy speakers and have decided to go digital. Recently purchased a MDA 1000 to replace my C46. Easily over a 1000 cd collection.

I need a way to store and play. What I want to do is store to a NAS or similar device, sit on the couch with a touch screen of some sort to scan and select my listening pleasure. Can be hard wired or streamed. I use FLAC. Don't care about internet look up of playlist and cover art.

I'm not a computer wiz nor do I want to be. Is there a system that does what I want, seems like from what I read most self built servers require that you spend more time configuring and dealing with online support then listening to music.

What do you suggest? Thanks in advance for your help.
fishcricket
fishcricket OP
3 posts
 
Thanks Guys, it's going to take a little while for me to digest your suggestions, however it seems the Mac Mini is unanimous. At this time I don't want to say any more for I will certainly show my computer ignorance. Also appreciate you not bashing me for not knowing how this works, I'm a civil engineer and thank goodness for the IT department.

One thing I forgot to mention is that my DAC has coaixal, optical and balanced digital audio inputs so is one type input better than the other?

Time for me to start really studying your responses, thanks again.
mmike84
309 posts
 
I agree with part of the above posts. If you go w/ a Mac mini as the server it has a toslink out you can use. That will be a simple approach, and I'm 99% sure your Dac accepts toslink. However toslink is not the best sounding connection method.
4est
507 posts
 
If you like your DAC, the Empirical Audio suggestion is along the lines you should be looking. There are other competitive USB/Firewire>spdif converters. I recommend BNC(over RCA) coax as the best connection method, optical the worst IME.
jimmdavis
63 posts
 
For what you've described, I say skip the computer (too broad a device for such a specific application).

You need ReadyNAS + Squeezebox.
http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.php/SqueezeCenter_on_ReadyNAS
nieuwen
60 posts
 
That's the thing, there are many different approaches you can take. Each with pros and cons. That is part of the challenge and yet part of the fun. You get to experiment.
It is not as overwhelming as it may seem!
It is really fun to sit on couch with your ENTIRE collection in your hands. You will rediscover your music, that is the fun part!
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