Alternative to the Core (with internal hdd)

Richard Choong posted:

nbpf posted:

Richard Choong posted:

If one were to look for an alternative to the Core (with an internal hdd) and a digital output (to say an NDS), what would it be?

Do you want to feed the NDS via SPDIF (optical or electrical via BNC) or via LAN?

My initial sense is to feed the NDS via SPDIF. In my previous tests, I noticed that the SQ was distinctly better using the SPDIF vs via LAN. Hence the idea to have the songs stored locally on a local hdd as opposed to a NAS (which I have now).

In this case it seems to me that you basically have two alternatives:

1. Try a Core-like commercial "music server" with outstanding SPDIF output. You will probably want to focus on devices that have a BNC connector and removable drives. Apart from the systems already suggested, you could have a look at Bryston and 3beez. I cannot provide first hand experience on any specific server but there are a few points that you might want to consider:

1.1 The problem of feeding the NDS via SPDIF has been partly discussed in https://forums.naimaudio.com/topic/roon-with-nds

1.2 When I was looking a little bit into music servers a couple of years ago, I ran into solutions that seemed to be based on rather obsolete software and hardware platforms. While I am rather critical of Naim's new (and old) server design, I am sure that one can find much worse solutions out there. Thus, some care is required.

1.3 The "Well tempered computer" site has an overview of music servers. It is incomplete and outdated but it gives you an idea of what has been around and, in some cases, still is: many good examples of rather expensive systems that one would not want to have even if one would get them for free. You can also find information on music server setups on the CA site, search for c.a.p.s.

1.4 Make sure that you do not invest into a system that gets you "locked in" software-wise. Many will disagree, but I believe that a music server should be on one hand very flexible but also "minimal". Things that you (I) do not need on a music server are: displays, desktop + windows managers, metadata editing functionalities, web browsers, video tools, etc. Things that you need are, among others and beside music replay applications with support for internet radio and internet streaming services: wireless, support for remote login, backup and functionalities for importing and exporting music collections.

2. Setup your own headless "music server" and connect to the NDS via a USB->SPDIF bridge (reclocker, isolator, etc.) Here I can provide some first hand experience since this is the route I have been following. Points that you might want to consider if you follow this path are:

2.1 Setting up a music server that runs smoothly 24/7 and requires no maintenance is not difficult but requires some discipline and a little bit of computer literacy. You want to start with a software platform (Linux, OS X, Windows, etc.) you feel comfortable with. 

2.2 A very good way to gather some experience on setting up a music server is to use Raspberry Pis. This is a very low cost platform that might actually offer all what you need in the end. One of the advantages of the Pi is that it boots from a micro SD card. This means that you can very easily play around with different systems and make full mirror copies of your systems. I have setup a Pi with a 500GB microSSD card as a mobile music server. I keep another one as a backup solution for my music server. This is a headless, fanless fitPC3, also running a UPnP server (MinimServer) and a UPnP renderer.

2.3 A Raspberry Pi with a Hifiberry Digi+ Pro with BNC connector should already be a very decent SPDIF source and can be setup to run as a Roon endpoint, a UPnP renderer (and server, of course) or as a MPD player. You could try to setup one and then compare its SPDIF output to that obtained by putting a high quality USB->SPDIF bridge between the USB port of the Pi and the NDS.

Bluesound Volt has the features, and a nice price. I have never seen or heard one, but I am satisfied with my Node 1 into Ndac. With a Node you also get most of the available streaming services.

Claus