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Need Advice On A Network Music Player

I want to get into Hi Rez music downloads and need a player to make that possible. My initial research has identified the following as serious possibilities, but I can find no comparison reviews or anything to clearly differentiate them:



Logitech Squeeze Box Touch - $234.00

Cambridge Audio - Sonata NP30 - $599.00

Marantz - NA7004 - Network Audio Player - $799.99

Bryston - BDP-1 - Digital Media Player - $2195.00

My real concern is identifying what gives the best bang for the buck and still provides high quality sound output. The only purpose that I will be using this for is Hi Rez music downloads from HD Tracks, and some higher res music via USB thumb drives (such as the Complete Beatles Collection). I've read very positive reviews of all of these, but again, nothing comparing them in any way, so its extremely hard to gauge.



The only two concerns are that I have used Squeezebox software previously (when I owned a Transporter) and found it more difficult to use than I wanted to deal with, and hated the connection problems getting to their site. That's a negative to buying equipment from them. Also, over at the Hi Rez forum, they have many threads about how you have to spend about $400.00 modifying the Touch to get optimal sound. As far as the Bryston, as expensive as it is, Stereophile noted that the sound quality from it's USB input was not as good, and that would be a great concern for me.



I have Bryston BDA-1 DAC available for use with whatever I purchase. Any thoughts, recommendations, and expertise would be appreciated. I'm completely new to this game and could use the help. Thanks.
nightfall

Showing 6 responses by nightfall

nightfall OP
133 posts
 
"My advice? Don't bother. I get the best results running high Rez from a macbook (decibel software) into a Musical Fidelity V Link and out into the Dac."

Well, I don't have a Mac, but is this option viable from a Windows PC?
nightfall OP
133 posts
 
Thanks to all for the input. I've seen nothing but raves about the Bryston, and am not averse to going that direction. It's just with the high cost of Hi Rez downloads, I'm simply not certain how far I will go with this.

I would love to buy the whole Stones catalog, for example, that HD Tracks is offering, but that's just not going to happen at $30-50.00 each!
nightfall OP
133 posts
 
Richard,

Your observations on both units are greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for the perspective.
nightfall OP
133 posts
 
Richard,

I'll be interested in hearing your thoughts after spending the time with both units. Also, you mention it being nice to play high rez files without having to turn on the pc. Aren't the files stored on the pc's hard drives?
nightfall OP
133 posts
 
"Given this statement, I certainly would not invest at the Bryston level until you're sure. The Touch is a great, inexpensive, way to get your feet wet here and, even if you get the Bryston (or other device) later, you can always use the Touch in another room of your home, etc."

Good advice, I suspect, except that the Logitech/Squeezebox software does not play well with Windows PC's. Thats one of the key reasons I dumped my Transporter. And why both of my friends that own them have them working with Linux boxes.
nightfall OP
133 posts
 
"Do you have a DAC? If not, then the NA 7004 may be a more logical purchase than the sbt"

I do own an excellent DAC, the Bryston BDA-1. My original thoughts, if I went with the Marantz NA7004, was to bypass its internal DAC and use the digital out to route its signal to the BDA-1.
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