Suggestions, Advice needed

M

Mr Peabody

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Nov 19, 2013
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Location
St. Louis, MO, USA
Here's what I'm thinking. I am thinking of setting something up so I can stream Tidal in my main system, see sig. The issue my #512 has no inputs to DAC. I haven't found a streamer/DAC combo yet. So I will end up buying a DAC.

So I'm wondering if it's possible to find a good sounding set up for streaming Tidal and such at a reasonable cost. (I know that's subjective ) Then just use that as another source, stream when the occasion hits me and continue spinning discs and LP's. No matter what I'll still spin. If the sound isn't good though I simply won't use it, that's why I don't have my cassette deck or tuner any more.

As much as I like the XP10, there are also preamp/DAC's to consider, especially if I decide to have the #512 and another DAC both in the system. This seems to only be a consideration if a preamp section could equal or best the XP10, or what's the point.

Or, do I go big and sell my #512 and buy a really good DAC, stream for now and use a transport for discs?

I like the music servers like the Wyred4Sound offers, I'm just not messing with a computer set up. I know the servers have them inside but to me it seems easier with a server.

Caveats: I will need almost total control with an iPhone or perhaps iPad. I have very little vision, the "I" units have accessibility which reads what I touch on the screen. Also, the simpler the set up the better.

So brainstorm for me and recommend some stuff to look into. Thanks
 
One possible setup is to keep your #512 as a CD transport, output digital to Esoteric N-01 or N-05. Both N-01 and N-05 support native Tidal. N-01 is already MQA certified for Tidal Masters playback. N-05 is still going through MQA certification.
 
Mr Peabody said:
Here's what I'm thinking. I am thinking of setting something up so I can stream Tidal in my main system, see sig. The issue my #512 has no inputs to DAC. I haven't found a streamer/DAC combo yet. So I will end up buying a DAC.

So I'm wondering if it's possible to find a good sounding set up for streaming Tidal and such at a reasonable cost. (I know that's subjective ) Then just use that as another source, stream when the occasion hits me and continue spinning discs and LP's. No matter what I'll still spin. If the sound isn't good though I simply won't use it, that's why I don't have my cassette deck or tuner any more.

As much as I like the XP10, there are also preamp/DAC's to consider, especially if I decide to have the #512 and another DAC both in the system. This seems to only be a consideration if a preamp section could equal or best the XP10, or what's the point.

Or, do I go big and sell my #512 and buy a really good DAC, stream for now and use a transport for discs?

I like the music servers like the Wyred4Sound offers, I'm just not messing with a computer set up. I know the servers have them inside but to me it seems easier with a server.

Caveats: I will need almost total control with an iPhone or perhaps iPad. I have very little vision, the "I" units have accessibility which reads what I touch on the screen. Also, the simpler the set up the better.

So brainstorm for me and recommend some stuff to look into. Thanks
Click to expand...

Do you use Roon? If you do, or are willing to consider it, that would open up a lot of options.
 
Mr. P

This unit offered for sale in the Marketplace will do what you want at a "reasonable" cost. It is basically and Auralic Aries and Vega in one chassis. Also has the ability to add either 2.5" or SSD hard drives if you choose. Works either wired or wireless and has all the necessary analog outputs and digital inputs.

http://www.audioshark.org/showthread.php?t=13836
 
The Wyred MS Music Server with one of their DAC's is an excellent choice depending on what you consider reasonable.

Ease of use is important. Like Nicoff said, you should highly consider Roon no matter which direction you decide to go. It is by far the easiest and most functional of the digital controlling software, in my view. Once you accept the step subscription cost there is no turning back... they are one of the most active developers going. Always improving and adding to their amazing system. By the way, works very well with iPad, iPhone as controller. Also works with Android products, Mac and PC computers, and my personal favorite, the Microsoft Surface tablet.
 
I don't use Roon now, I don't stream at all, unless you count Bluetooth in th car or other system.

If I bought a music server like W4S as example, would I still need something like Roon? I thought the programing was already there.
 
Roon is music controlling/organizing software. All digital music requires some type of software to play, JRivers, Squeezebox, etc. Roon is another of these types of programs, plus a whole lot more. Fantastic meta data and information about your music, for example.

Music Servers require software also. Most come with a compliment of software, such as the W4S does. This means the software is there for you to install and use, however programs such as Roon require a subscription. Many programs do, especially any of the good ones. Most have trial periods for you to try them out to see if you like them.

How Roon works is you have the main engine, Roon Core is what they call it. This is the program that actually serves the music. This is what is installed on the server. And then you have a controller device, iPad, Android Tablet, computer, etc., where the controller software is installed. This controls the server. It is actually much easier then it sounds. Your subscriptions entitles you to any and all of the various programs for various devices. For example, I have the Roon Core running on my Music Server and then I have the controller installed on my PC in my office, on my Android Tablet, and on my Microsoft Surface. Any of these can control the Core on my server, and therefore the music I am listening to through my system.

Hopefully this makes sense. It is a whole lot easier then it sounds and on the Roon website they have people from Roon who join in and assist all the time.

BTW- I do not stream either. I keep all of my music on my server and use Roon to play it directly connected to my DAC/system. Through Roon, however, you can use your Tidal subscription and play music streaming from Tidal, or Spotify, etc., for example. This is just something I personally do not do.
 
+1 for Roon. Excellent integration with Tidal.


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