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Best standalone music server?

So I am considering dipping my toes into the full digital world and was wondering what people here may consider as the best standalone music server, and here I am going to be specific.
I do not want to consider a home pc or mac based type of system at all!
Looking at adding one of the standalone models like for example the Wyred4sound ms1 or cocktail audio.
High on my list is ability to rip my cds directly at the unit itself, access to internet radio and other music apps (Pandora etc). High quality built in dac would be nice but if not then high quality digital out to run to an external dac. I will not be needing to access music files stored on another pc as my home pc is pretty old but fully functional for my simple needs. The only music looking to access from it right now are ripped cds and internet available music in whatever form.
So if it worked out well, yes it may be a replacement even for a cd player completely

Thank you
uberwaltz
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
4,946 posts
 
@ctsooner
Thank you for all posts on this thread as I find your input to be both inciteful and extremely beneficial!
I agree that the vault would not be and is not my main source of music but only because the rest of the system is pretty well sorted!
But it does exactly what I wanted, my daughter loves it too and it is so easy to use and the sound quality is pretty darn decent tbh.
Yes my esoteric still sounds better but it damn well ought too!
I feed the vault by digital coax through my Mc C48 out to my BAT VK600SE and into B&W 804D speakers and I am very happy with the results.
Discovered a lot of great internet radio stations using the vault as well.
Some may say not having a remote for it may be a downside but the BLUOS app on both android and apple is so simple and well thought out who needs a remote? And direct from this app you can access tidal, spotify and a number of other paid subscriptions if you need to.
Pretty slick for the total cost of around $1000 brand new, $1200 is list but enough peeps are selling at discounted price of $1000 which is what I paid.
wanders
20 posts
 
ctsooner, thanks for the comments. Didn't realize the Vault 2 was not wireless capable. 

uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
4,946 posts
 
Thought I would look into Tidal and as I saw was offering 30 days free trial thought I would give it a whirl.
Very well laid out and a breeze to use INSIDE the Bluos app on my phone.
Just another very useful feature of the vault.
jond's avatar
jond
3,400 posts
 
@uberwaltz ha glad you finally broke down and gave Tidal a spin I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
soundsrealaudio's avatar
soundsrealaudio
642 posts
 
So not to be labor a point. The Melco has been rated Class A, big deal right? So it has 4Terabytes of storage plus as many external as you could want. Plus, and it is a big plus it has integrated software that is easy with a capital E to use. Is it as good as the Aurender, probably. It doesn't rip. Using AccurateRip technology you get the most exact CD importing. It even works with worn or damaged discs that might otherwise be unplayable.  To rip grab the Buffalo BRXL-16U3 for CD ripping ion Melco Music Libraries for $159.00. Check it out.
I dumped my computer, couldn't stand the beta versions software BS. 

http://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/melco-ha-n1a-part-1/


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