Dedicated Audio Server
Oct 18, 2008 21:06:11 GMT
Post by rickcr42 on Oct 18, 2008 21:06:11 GMT
The more I think about the direction to go in for my own "whole house" audio server the better a dedicated "box" looks
1-McIntosh server (my personal favorite but at $6K ? Nope !)
2-Olive Opus/Melody (quirky looking,not ugly,but quirky)
3-Slim Devices Transporter (maybe the best buy on the list)
4-Linn Kivor (I feel Linn products while nice are overpriced by far)
5-The Sooloos (not enough info to make a comment)
....but there is one problem-most are way too expensive by far compared to a more DIY approach so I have been taking a second look at DIY with the cMP/cPlay memory player especially looking good and even better,since it plays from a buffer should be capable of better sonic performance than any of the above "all-in-one" boxes OR any cobbed together system with a PC as the starting point (unless it too uses buffers to deliver the actual music).
Some background :
Computer Audio Asylum post: www.audioasylum.com/forums/pcaudio/messages/2/27041.html
cMP Home : www.spanglefish.com/computertransport/
Support Software download link page www.spanglefish.com/computertransport/index.asp?pageid=87991
I like to think of this page as kinda/sorta a one stop shopping page for all things computer audio so even if you don't do the cMP thing it is a good idea to check the links out and take what you need from them
Jitter Research imageevent.com/cics/cmpjitter
cMP cics Memory Player imageevent.com/cics/cmp
Building the "box" imageevent.com/cics/v03theartofbuildingcomputertrnsp
Suggested parts for the box www.zalman.co.kr/ENG/product/CategorySecond_Pic.asp
An example HTPC case build using the Zalman box www.xtremesystems.org/FORUMS/showthread.php?t=144282
I realize the cost is still "up there" and that you can get pretty good results with your multi-use/multi-task/all in one for everything computer but with an eye to cost cutting and smart decisions I think down this path leads to a superior digital audio player that you can integrate directly into ANY home AV system without it either looking out of place or being a pain in the ass to use being more traditional audio/video in operation
1-McIntosh server (my personal favorite but at $6K ? Nope !)
2-Olive Opus/Melody (quirky looking,not ugly,but quirky)
3-Slim Devices Transporter (maybe the best buy on the list)
4-Linn Kivor (I feel Linn products while nice are overpriced by far)
5-The Sooloos (not enough info to make a comment)
....but there is one problem-most are way too expensive by far compared to a more DIY approach so I have been taking a second look at DIY with the cMP/cPlay memory player especially looking good and even better,since it plays from a buffer should be capable of better sonic performance than any of the above "all-in-one" boxes OR any cobbed together system with a PC as the starting point (unless it too uses buffers to deliver the actual music).
Some background :
Computer Audio Asylum post: www.audioasylum.com/forums/pcaudio/messages/2/27041.html
cMP Home : www.spanglefish.com/computertransport/
Support Software download link page www.spanglefish.com/computertransport/index.asp?pageid=87991
I like to think of this page as kinda/sorta a one stop shopping page for all things computer audio so even if you don't do the cMP thing it is a good idea to check the links out and take what you need from them
Jitter Research imageevent.com/cics/cmpjitter
cMP cics Memory Player imageevent.com/cics/cmp
Building the "box" imageevent.com/cics/v03theartofbuildingcomputertrnsp
Suggested parts for the box www.zalman.co.kr/ENG/product/CategorySecond_Pic.asp
An example HTPC case build using the Zalman box www.xtremesystems.org/FORUMS/showthread.php?t=144282
I realize the cost is still "up there" and that you can get pretty good results with your multi-use/multi-task/all in one for everything computer but with an eye to cost cutting and smart decisions I think down this path leads to a superior digital audio player that you can integrate directly into ANY home AV system without it either looking out of place or being a pain in the ass to use being more traditional audio/video in operation