Zubin

Thanks rmel, what's a quad core Android box? I'm using JRemote on IOS as a controller.

Perfect. Thanks Serge!

Thanks! I'm hoping to find something that uses DLNA, just because it's one less step I have to take before playing, but I think I may have to resort to casting with Chromcast or a bluetooth adapter. Funny, WD customer service doesn't know if WDTV will play 24/96, and their website doesn't mention it, but I'll keep digging.

I'm having trouble finding a DLNA audio adapter that handles FLAC 24/96. The "WiFi Music Streaming Receiver/Soundmate" connects to my network via WiFi, to JRemote via DLNA and my Bose Wave Radio via 3.5mm cable. It works great for Mp3 or FLAC 16bit, but not 24/96. I'd love to hear if you've found one that plays FLAC 24/96.

Thanks David. Good points. I've read great things about both Synology and Aries, they're certainly in my consideration set.

Thank you both very much. You’ve given me exactly what I was looking for. Since you both agree that I’ll probably hear a difference, I think it’s worth pursuing. I spent more on speaker cables than the cost of a music server and was happy with a small SQ improvement. I’d put my music server in the listening room. Now I just need to decide if I’ll get better SQ from connecting to the DAC via coaxial, Toslink, HDMI or USB with an SPDIF adapter. I’d love to hear your thoughts. My music collection is FLAC up to 24/192, no DSD.

I’m considering buying a media server such as the Auralic Aries, CAPS Zuma V3 or V4 and Aurender X100L but struggling to decide if it will make a noticeable difference in SQ. I’m very happy with my current system (ease of use and SQ), but continuously looking ways to make it sound even better. I’m hoping the forum can help point me in the right direction. My current system: PC (outside of the listening room) running JRiver media server connected to DAC via DLNA/CAT 6a Ethernet cable controlled by JRemote PC running Windows 8.1 and lots of software/processes: Intel Quad Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge 3.5GHz G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB DDR3 1600 RAM ASUS P8Z77-V DELUXE Motherboard Samsung EVO SSD 1TB hard drive housing music Creative Sound Blaster Z sound card (ASIO) DAC: McIntosh MX-121 without the capability of a USB connection from a music server. It would have to be connected to the music server via HDMI, Toslink, RCA or Ethernet. My approach is that each change makes a small incremental SQ improvement, but added together, it equals fantastic sound. SQ is my foremost objective. By asking the forum, I’m trying to avoid buying and testing music servers (understanding that would be the surest way to know). I certainly couldn’t expect a definitive answer about SQ given its subjective nature, but I’d love to hear your best guess. I saw that Ted Brady is planning an evaluation of 3 approaches. Great article, but I have a feeling that after his next 3 installments are completed, it won’t address my question of how do they compare to my particular system (similar to “Category 1” without the Auralic Aries). I think my computer has a faster processor than any of the 3 music server options above, and sufficient RAM, which perhaps explains why I’ve never had any dropouts, clicks, etc. So my question is, if you had to guess, are the advantages of a dedicated music server (like no moving parts, EEC RAM, all unnecessary Windows processes turned off and perhaps a different type of cable) likely to make a noticeable SQ improvement vs. my current system?