2. digital
  3. 133948-23837

Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

I’m a hard core vinyl guy looking for guidance/advice to enter the digital world. (TNT, Lyra Skala, ARC PH5) My sole piece of digital gear is an Ayre C5xeMP (replaced my ARC CD2 that finally gave up the ghost).  

I acknowledge there is music I can’t hear/purchase unless its digital. (Have a sizable library of  CDs)  I also like the idea of streaming digital radio and having access of my CD’s from a server.  Finally, I get that digital puts out pretty good sound these days.

So what do I purchase? Looking at features, I really want something along the lines of some version of the  Naim Audio Unti Server. It rips, stores and broadcasts (server function in my lexicon), single box solution, and right price bracket. Only problem is it doesn’t have analog outputs so I can run directly from it to my preamp (ARC LS25).

What are your suggestions…help this old dog learn a few new tricks.


cmcdaniel5
lostbears's avatar
lostbears
479 posts
 

  I have given a bit of thought to this and I think the way to go is a streamer with built in DAC and hard drive.  Most streamers just have a USB output. USB is not a great interface for music. And some streamers have problems with some DACs  The Aurender won't work with my ARC DAC 8. So having everything in one unit is the easiest way to go. And having a hard drive means you can use a wireless network connection.

 I would suggest using a computer to rip your CDs. Use a program that verifies the rip like Exact Audio Copy. You want to rip your CDs properly without errors. You also want to make a backup of your music files. I use a NAS for all my music as well as my computer. You don't want to have to do everything all over again if there is a problem.

 I have all my CDs ripped to my hard drive but I still use my ARC CD7 most of the time for digital. It is just easier to drop a CD in the player. The CD7 also sounds better than my computer with ARC DAC 8. When I get a streamer this may change.

 Don't expect digital to sound as good as vinyl. My vinyl rig, ClearAudio Innovation with Benz Wood cart and Ref Phono 2se. Sounds much better than my ARC CD7. 

reubent
3,587 posts
 
@cmcdaniel5 - According to most of the posts I've read here on A-goN, the current "Value King" in an all-in-one streamer/ripper/storage box is the Bluesound Vault-2. It had a slot-loaded CD drive for ripping your CD's to it's built-in 2Tb hard drive. It is also a streamer that will stream your ripped CD's, stream from services like Tidal or Spotify, stream from Internet Radio such as Radio Paradise (my favorite!) and it has analog outputs (as well as digital outputs) so you can connect it directly to your pre-amp. It also plays (software enabled) MQA from Tidal.

The only potential downside to the Vault-2 that I'm aware of is that I believe it requires a hard-wired internet connection via an ethernet cable.

BTW, I don't own, or use, the Bluesound Vault-2. The above is all from memory, or past research, of the Vault-2. I'm sure some owners will drop in with their input shortly.....


audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Forget Naim.  Get a Sony HAP-z1ex.  It has everything you need, easy to use and sounds good.  Analog outputs.  This is the best way to get your feet wet if you are not technical.

I have seen these used at trade shows on megabux systems.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

tdimler
114 posts
 
I'm sure the Sony is a good piece, but it lacks the all important CD ripping function which the Naim has.  Big time error to leave this out of servers IMO.
More to discover