Maximilian

Finding the end-all consensus to this question would be impossible, however maybe with very narrow criteria there are a few choices that will stand out. The quality of digital output that feeds to an external DAC from our "perfect Device" is the focus here, everything else is secondary. There are plenty of appealing media server options in almost any price range, and equally appealing is the idea of building something tailor designed like the C.A.P.S. 2.0. It seems that it all comes down the preference but we're talking SQ here, features, interfaces, connectivity, CD ripping, analog outputs and Nas Connectivity are of no concern, this is less than a media server, simply a digital audio server. Criteria: 1. Bit transparency 2. High quality USB, SPDIF, or AES/EBU output to DAC 3. eSATA or equivalent quality and speed input for HDD 4. Low noise / High build quality My first Instinct is to build a very small fanless windows based PC with direct boot into a media player controlled by a bluetooth phone controller. I realize that using Windows may compromise reliability in the end, unfortunately I know nothing of linux and would like to avoid apple products. Cheers! -Maximilian

I have no need for NAS capabilities so that should be fine. This is troubling. Would the squeezebox consider 3tb a large drive? I assume so. I have Not bought anything yet, including the squeezebox, but I would like to know my entire setup before I buy anything so information like you just supplied is extremely useful for me. I don't really care what components make up my system but I would like to have bit exact playback of all my formats that doesn't require me to have my workstation computer on. Suggestions? AS far as I know the only two relatively hassle free ways to accomplish bit perfect playback of various formats is with the squeezebox or auraliti. Any information greatly appreciated.

Sorry for leaving out the specifics, I am still learning so forgive my lack of vocabulary and understanding, but I plan to have this HDD be dedicated to my music library, so the highest priorities are reliability and it being of good enough quality to be linked into what i hope to be a very well setup audio system eventually. I say squeezebox or auraliti because I know i want something that can handle all my various formats and be capable of bit exact playback that doesnt require me to have my pc on when i want music. It does not need network capabilities, but i like the way the NAS servers are designed to take several internal HDDs in a single enclosure which would allow for choosing specific drives that are known for being reliable. Is there something with the same format that does was not designed for network capabilities? Again, forgive my ignorance here, I am not sure how much the actual HDD affects SQ, but I plan to spend most of my disposable income on the system that will play from this storage unit so if need be I would prefer to spend more if it makes a difference. Thanks again! -Maximilian

My seagate External 1tb HDD is now full so I need to get a new one for futer music and backups. Eventually I will use this HDD straight into a squeezebox or auraliti, what is the best option for a HDD dedicated to audio? I know alot of people use audio servers, I do not know much about them but I dont need wireless capabilities, I would like something very reliable that can be left on many days in a row and is of good quality, expandability would be a plus. I think the typical external HDDs are not what most people would choose to use? Thanks in Advance!

Hey Chris, I actually do not yet have the T50rp's. Or any single componet of the configuration yet. My goal is to have this be somewhat of an endgame system for me which is why I have been holding off until I know exactly what I what it to look like to ensure everything is compatible. But I have read ALOT about those Fostex's and I can tell you that anyone I know with the budget for LCD-2's or 007's Tends to also have Modded pair of t50rp's so seems like a worthy $80 purchase. Plus you get to mod them Hey Paul, You said that without the network it is impossible to control the touch via droid app. is it possible to have the Touch on a network without an active computer? Would be extremely favorable for me to not need my computer running all the time. Side question, I have not even started looking into PSU's but with my new PC and all this audio equipment coming into my life I should obviously make sure it is all well protected. I know people use battery powered devices like the redwine black lightning and stuff like that to power one device. But is there one Power strip or type of power strip to look into that will ensure all my electronics are well protected? Thanks again you guys! -Maximilian

Hey Paul, I just want to Ensure that having a $300 player and s/pdif cable at the begging of that several thousand dollar chain is in no way inferior to a more expensive solution SQ wise. I got this Email which furthered my confusion about the Connection from the Source to DAC. "The touch can drive a DAC via SPDIF (coax or optical). This isn't balanced, not that many people care. Higher end digital sources can drive a DAC via a balanced output (AES/EBU?) like the logitech transporter. Other digital interfaces are also possible, it all depends on what your digital source and DAC support." Cheers!

Assuming I decided to spend a lot at of money and purchased... External HDD Squeeze box Touch Electrocompaniet ecd1 DAC Woo Audio wa22 balanced Headphone amp Audeze LCD-2 Balanced dual xlr Any weak links? or bottlenecks? Im very close to just building a system for the Touch but the connection from the Touch to DAC would be S/pdif and the rest of the connections would be xlr. I noticed the Auraliti has the option to have a aes16 card placed in it. Is this only for people who's DAC's only have this connection? The Info from the HDD to Touch is not too important I understand but is the digital to digital from touch to DAC matter? Again the ONLY purpose of the Auraliti or touch for me is to receive data from a HDD and send it into a DAC the Best Possible way. The network functions/ CD ripping do not matter so much to me. HDD > [best option?] > DAC Thanks again for your continuing patience Cheers!

I was confused because I read this In The review of the the squeezebox touch on CA. "Those not interested in connecting the Touch to a network can attach a hard drive directly to the USB port on the rear of the unit." http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Logitech-Squeezebox-Touch-Review Since starting this thread I have learned alot about Computer Audio and realized that there are so many options that the best thing to do is the narrow down my options as much as possible based on my needs. Maybe I should not make a new thread but if I had to change the Title it would read something like "Droid remote interface controlled Bit perfect playback to to balanced dual xlr headphones & eventually magnepan speakers" Am I right to think that something like i just described is the best possible way to experience digital audio files through a pair headphones? I have heard of upsampling and hirez but I dont know much about them. Cheers!

One of the Big selling points of the Auraliti and Touch for me was that I could have less drivers/software on my work computer and have music when i shut down the pc. Could I not connect the touch to My external HDD, DAC/preamp/headamp/headphones and have music that way? Honestly I was thinking with either to almost exclusively use my phone to control. Just curious, any comparison of the Touch Dac to that of the Xonar STX or Nuforce icon hdp? cheers!

Looks like the smartest way to do this then is to order my computer completely independent from my audio system. No sound card and no hard drive for music. I may move to the auraliti later but for now I will use the usb connection to an external DAC but I would like a DAC with the option to move to the EAS / EBU out option on the auraliti (this is better for a DAC with a EAS / EBU in option right?) Either way as long as my DAC/Headphone Amp/Headphones have balanced XLR outs and ins the digital information from the Touch/Auraliti will be sufficient for this via USB correct? Assuming that I will be using balanced Headphones with 2 xlr in's, Does this narrow down my options a bit? I know headroom, audio-gd, Woo audio and a few others make balanced headphone amps but to narrow it down even more maybe I can find a balanced headphone amp with pre amp funtions for running to the power amps and maggies? Still a bit unsure about the function of a pre amp in a system like this that will only ever have one source but with those narrowed down options what equipment do i have to choose from? Cheers!

I have spent a bit more time doing research and I have made the decision that Building a system designed for the Logitech Touch with the plan of replacing it with the auraliti eventually. What I find most of all appealing about the Auraliti is; -Automatic Adjustment for Bit Perfect playback (Many of my playlists are various formats) -Browse By folder (More organized than my tags) -Connect Directly to HDD Can The Touch do this aswell? This is all coming together slowly and very nicely (those amps look excellent aswell!) But the first piece is still The PC which it looks like with end up being almost completely independent from the system except for using the web browser occasionally to view my library. So Just to clarify before I do... A logitech touch or araliti will without doubt sound superior to foobar2000 (wasapi) on my pc? The HDD that stores my music should be kept external from my pc? Thanks again you guys! -Maximilian

I would imagine in my dream system using The Best possible connections and XLR headphones having a usb cable at the source would Seriously limit everything, or is that a misconception? Also does this mean that any time I need to add music/ edit tags i will need to disconnect the HDD from the auraliti and into to the computer? That is Fine Im Just trying to imagine On what physical screen my music library appears and what it looks like... I will have a large Screen connected to my PC. When the PC is on I will be able to navigate my music library on this screen with a keyboard and mouse right? When you say "not sure if the Auraliti has a web app" this makes me think that the Guaranteed control options are Phones and Ipads??? Edit : just saw your post ignore "Also does this mean that any time I need to add music/ edit tags i will need to disconnect the HDD from the auraliti and into to the computer?"

I swear im not as stupid as it appears just new to this haha. But I have to ask an embarrassing question here... Can You define "Source" "the Auraliti has to be co-resident with the source" "Computer > Source > DAC" In this Case the Auraliti or squeezebox what part(s) exactly? "fairly complex NFS Servers" Even if I only want playback in one room?

It s looking like the auraliti is my obvious choice Aes16e type sound cards are the same price as the entire Auraliti? the only reason you would ever buy one of these cards over the auraliti then is if you where using music production software? I have a huge library Which I constantly Edit RE-tag ect. If I have Auraliti connected to my music on an external HDD, How do I Edit the information on the HDD? Some of These tags are ugly and would be a nightmare to navigate through directly from a player. I have spent many hours labelling all my album folders and I usually navigate my music in windows

So I could Place the Auraliti in the same room as My PC and Controll it wirelessly via my PC and Droid and this will be significantly better sounding? And The webapp is As good/ better than foobar2000?