Too many CDs....

Another one for the NDX.. I like to keep computers well away from my audio now.. I did all that in the early days of streaming in the late 90s early 2000s.. The NDX is trouble free ( certainly a lot more so than a Mac or PC ) and you can concentrate on the music rather than other distractions.

You can always add a top class DAC to the NDX later.. The NDX makes a superb digital transport.. The better your amplifiers and speakers, the more this becomes apparent.

But if you want to play with the toys (and not necessarily a bad thing) then a computer and DAC can be a fun path.. Just remember Macs and most PCs are incredibly electrically noisy which will almost certainly set a ceiling on the associated audio quality.. But depending on system that may not be really noticeable.

Simon

All good and interesting answers...

To clarify a little, I have no intention of dumping any CDs, nor do I wish to remove all the CDs from the living room - If I can get a solution that will store the least played CDs away from the main collection but still leave the music accessible then I will be happy.

I'm thinking NAS/Streamer rather than PC/DAC at the moment but will listen to both solutions to see which I prefer.

Thanks again for the advice.

I'd go to a good dealer and look at the various options and find what works for you. I've had good results with an NDX and had various Mac 'n' Dac combinations. If going for the Dac type solution have a look at sources from Aurilic, Melco and Aurender which can be better than the computer solution. 

Try this one then...

NDX and CX2.2 for your CDs

Upgrade 1: nDAC - both sources switched to digital out.

Upgrade 2: PS for your nDAC. XPS is a minimum here.

Should be fun

Just occurred to me that if you don't want to pfaff about with a computer and ripping software that an nServe might be an effective solution.

It's outputs are not hifi for sure and it is a lot of money for something anyone with moderate IT skills can do with their eyes closed using a laptop and a NAS. But it would be a small, elegant and quick solution to your problem.

It would also let you take your time on choosing a streamer, at which point you could move the nServe to another room. If you really don't listen to a large number of discs very often, an ND5X may be sufficient. But I have a feeling once you start streaming some stuff, the rest will follow. For that reason I think it will take an NDX to make you happy.

There are so many digital music replay options now and it's easy to pay over the odds for equipment that's no better than some simpler systems. An nDAC/555PS system will set you back £9,000 without the storage costs. I would certainly advise considering the MAC/DAC option as it works exceptionally well in my 500 system. I have a headless MacMini/WD Thunderbolt Duo in RAID mode/Audirvana/Hugo/SuperLumina IC that works seamlessly with no NAS software issues to worry about. Your's for about £4000. A cheaper option would be to replace the SL IC with a Hiline.

Yet another variation on the mac n dac approach for those who do not want an RFI generator (i.e mac/pc) in the middle of their system is to use a NAS/renderer/dac. 

A very good example would be a NAS + Moon 180 MiND + good dac.  When my CDS3 finally expires, this may very well be the route that I take, as it will take the mac out of the equation.

Hope this helps, FT

Foot tapper posted:

Yet another variation on the mac n dac approach for those who do not want an RFI generator (i.e mac/pc) in the middle of their system is to use a NAS/renderer/dac. 

A very good example would be a NAS + Moon 180 MiND + good dac.  When my CDS3 finally expires, this may very well be the route that I take, as it will take the mac out of the equation.

Hope this helps, FT

So effectively you're swapping one computer for another, although the Mind comes ready optimised for audio duties. I wouldn't get hung up on the RFI aspect - computer audio done well is very good indeed. 

Indeed James, agreed on all points.  

The MiND is just that, a computer that is designed to fit in a music system, unlike most macs or pcs which radiate lots of RFI (they are explicitly designed to do so with wifi, bluetooth etc.) and has a decent, linear power supply.

Foot tapper posted:

Indeed James, agreed on all points.  

The MiND is just that, a computer that is designed to fit in a music system, unlike most macs or pcs which radiate lots of RFI (they are explicitly designed to do so with wifi, bluetooth etc.) and has a decent, linear power supply.

Understood - but you can disable those very easily with a few clicks and have a very 'quiet' headless unit. The Moon is a good way to go though (along with a number of other dedicated renderer / server solutions) and can be a good step up on the Mac in performance. 

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Another one for the NDX.. I like to keep computers well away from my audio now.. I did all that in the early days of streaming in the late 90s early 2000s.. The NDX is trouble free ( certainly a lot more so than a Mac or PC ) and you can concentrate on the music rather than other distractions.

You can always add a top class DAC to the NDX later.. The NDX makes a superb digital transport.. The better your amplifiers and speakers, the more this becomes apparent.

But if you want to play with the toys (and not necessarily a bad thing) then a computer and DAC can be a fun path.. Just remember Macs and most PCs are incredibly electrically noisy which will almost certainly set a ceiling on the associated audio quality.. But depending on system that may not be really noticeable.

Simon

+1: when i start my printer, my 300ps and supercap start to hum...

Whilst I agree computers like the MM can introduce noise the RFI issues can be addressed as James said by disabling the Bluetooth, WiFi etc and the noisy power supply by plugging into the home circuit, assuming one has a proper dedicated supply for the HiFi. If you don't have a dedicated supply then it doesn't matter as the HiFi will be affected by all the computers, fridges, printers etc in the house whether you use a computer/DAC system or an expensive streamer. 

There are a number of forum members who can attest to the SQ of my MM/Hugo set up.

Steve,

Can you let me know what you have done to improve SQ of the Mini, aside from disabling WiFi and BT? I am running roon from it, via a Hugo I have borrowed from my dealer. Any tips to get the best SQ would be much appreciated, especially WRT cables etc.

Thanks

Steve - the RFI, or perhaps more accurately the EMI, is not, in my humble experience from the wireless devices.. its from the unshielded PCBs, chips and wiring that will radiate - pretty much unimpeded. Certainly if you open industrial servers, perhaps designed to go in racks etc,  you will often see quite extensive internal metal shielding. In my experience I just don't see this in the typical consumer mac or PC

Simon

Agreed Simon and that can be addressed by not having the MM anywhere near the rack. Mine is about 2m away from the main system. 

Steve - 2m sounds sensible. Do you feed the DAC with fibre?

S

I have a USB regen and a Audioquest jitterbug between my Mac and Hugo, both provided improvements in the sound. the sound I get from the Mac mini, Audirvana and Hugo is far beyond anything I would get for a similar price, or for a significantly higher price imo  

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Steve - 2m sounds sensible. Do you feed the DAC with fibre?

S

I've tried various combinations but the simple USB route seems to work best for me. 

If you have an iPad/iPhone then an Auralic Aries Mini is a very discrete option. Insert 1 or 2 Tb HDD/SSD transfer ripped music from PC/Mac. Internal DAC is very good but can be improved by a LPS at reasonable cost (have an external DAC if you wish). Can be hidden away as operated over wi-fi. Streaming services (Tidal/QobuzWiMP) available and Airplay/BlueTooth too. MQA just down the road as well. This can then become the 'hub' for music distribution around the house.

Had mine for just over 3 months and very impressed.

Steve J posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Steve - 2m sounds sensible. Do you feed the DAC with fibre?

S

I've tried various combinations but the simple USB route seems to work best for me. 

 

Simon is quite correct with regards domestic computers but with a bit of care the results (as you've found) can be excellent. The final proof is in the listening.  

james n posted:

 ..... The final proof is in the listening.  

Indeed, can't say fairer than that...

Steve, I wonder in such a set up if that Melco noise filter might do its stuff... But does seem rather expensive for what it is.

Over the years I've tried various streamers, dacs, cables etc. etc., but the Mac Mini into dac via usb is the best solution so far. My system is pretty revealing of poor sources & this combination bettered my 555 CD player. As Steve notes, keep the 'puter away from the system, ideally connect it to a different mains circuit to your main system, disable blutooth etc. I've found this is a faultless system which can be tweaked with easily if you want and is easily set up.

dayjay posted:

I have a USB regen and a Audioquest jitterbug between my Mac and Hugo, both provided improvements in the sound. the sound I get from the Mac mini, Audirvana and Hugo is far beyond anything I would get for a similar price, or for a significantly higher price imo  

+1