Thoughts and opinions please

Posted by: True Blue on 28 August 2013

Good afternoon all.  With XMAS coming up (sorry to mention that word) and the (almost) yearly upgrade itch / fund available would like forum users thoughts opinions on the following. Wanting to upgrade my digital source

 

1. Add NDX but also need IPAD/ POD touch

2. Add XPS2 DR to DAC

3. Add used XPS 2 (non DR) and modify sonos with Wyred4sound mods

4. Add Uniti Serve SSD and I Pad mini

 

Most of these I know I can demo, however the Sonos mod I cannot.  The "source first" principle is leading me to the UnitiServe SSD (already have NAS drive), currently all CD's ripped  in ALAC. Would changing this have much of an impact on the sound?

 

What would the respected forum members say would give me the best VFM?  All above based on approx £3K budget.

 

 

 

Posted on: 28 August 2013 by james n

IIRC the Sonos mods still limit you to 96khz ( I think you can only set it to output at a single rate so you end up upsampling all your media) so that's the limit with the Sonos. Saying that if you are happy with this limitation then upgrading the Sonos and adding the XPS ( or an early used non DR 555PS is in this price range) to the DAC seems a sensible approach.  Alternatively as you already have the music on a NAS ( and a suitable UPnP server ?) the NDX would make more sense than the Unitiserve as an S/PDIF source and is something I use myself in this role.

 

James

Posted on: 28 August 2013 by james n

After a quick google it seems that the Sonos still can't play hi res files with the mod - perhaps a waste of money spending anymore on this particular source ?

Posted on: 29 August 2013 by gazla

Or how about a Mac Mini + iPad? 

Posted on: 29 August 2013 by Jon Myles

I'd take the iPad out of the equation.

Just buying an iPad/iPod Touch as a remote control is silly when they can do so much more.

Look at sound quality first. So UnitiServe SSD seems the obvious one.

Then look at how you want to control it.

 

Posted on: 29 August 2013 by hungryhalibut

I suggest you work out whether you want to stream, using nStream to control it all, or use nServe to control what the UServe plays. You already have a way of ripping to the NAS, so will you get value from a Serve SSD, which costs nearly as much as the NDX. I find the combination of nServe to load and edit, and nStream to play really easy, but my system is simpler and I didn't have to face the choice that you do, thankfully. You are welcome to come over to Emsworth is you like to get a feel of the apps and iPad if you like; my mail is my username at gmail.

Posted on: 29 August 2013 by Hollis Wong

I would upgrade the Sonos.

 

We  (me and a Cyrus fan) did comparisons in 3 systems (at home) over 4ish weeks. The modded Sonos is obviously more musical and have better bass and soundstage. 

 

Also, I would look into a quality filter/ regenerator for it. The power supply, as you would imagine is rather weak. I use a power inspired regen. This also makes a noticeable difference. 

 

I like the idea of an NDX, yet to hear one; but it doesn't have MOG/ Spotify atm, so I am not too tempted.