Why I am not buying a network / digital media player !!!

Shivam

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I have searched high and low for various players that will suit my purpose. I have a lot of 24/192 flac files on my computer.

The drawbacks which I found in all the players I looked at -

Linn Magik DS - a built in amp which I felt a waste of my money since I already have amp.

Linn Akurate DS - No USB port and I can't connect a flash drive or a USB hard disc.

Marantz NA7004 - Doesn't play 24/192 files comfortably over USB.

Musical Fidelity M1 Clic - Cannot be controlled using an ipad or an android based phone.

Naim HDX - I don't want to rip discs. Why pay for something that I don't need ?

I still haven't looked at a lot of other brands. I'll update once I find out more.
Another thing - I have not yet found a quiet NAS too. Most of the good ones have fans in them. No passive cooling.
 
The nas can be in any other room
Try Logitech squeezebox or the sonos products

Cheers
 
Mods : After posting I felt that it should be better posted in Media and Streaming players. Can you please move this thread ?
 
24/96 maximum, for squeezebox, I think.

What are your essential requirements?

The easiest solution it to put your PC within cable's reach of your hifi and simply play from there, via a good quality interface or an external DAC.

More aesthetic may be to create a small, low-power, silent-PC audio server to be near the hifi and connect as above, and use your PC, elsewhere in the house, as a file server.

Of course, there are other variations. Main thing is, you are happy with your amplifier: there is no need to add another HiFi-name HiFi-price box to get your music to that amplifier ...
 
That's what I have been thinking too. I am happy with the system that I have. I just needed a solution for enjoying my 24/192 flac files. It seems that the market players still don't have the needed hardware solutions.

Maybe a good USB DAC and my computer will do the job.
 
If you can hear the difference between 96 and 192*, then I don't imagine you'll want to have the average standard PC fan noise, which then gives you the choice to make the PC quieter, or go for the tailor-made quiet-pc unit. It's still a PC, and it is still the answer to your question, and I guess it will cost a great deal less than any of the things you've already decided not to buy.

Personally, unless it is to be the centre of a multi-source digital system, I would buy a soundcard/interface rather than a "DAC". That is mainly because I want to be able to record as well as play, and partly because I remain, as yet, unconvinced by the must-have-a-stand-alone-DAC thing.

*I'm still unsure that I can hear the difference between 44.1 and 96, but my ears are getting a bit old.
 
I still can't hear the difference between 96 and 192 but I sure can make out the difference between 44.1 and 192 on my present system.
Presently I am using a Seagate hometheater plus with a small screen attached to it. The signal is fed using an optical connection into a no-name DAC and then line-level to my preamp.

I hate the fan noise so I am presently using a passive heatsink for my processor. All the components are taken care by heatsinks including the graphics card. I am underclocking the system. The cabinet itself is very open and the top has ventilation to let the hot air out.
Now I have to just find a power supply that is also fan-less. :-)
Once I get the system ready, I'll use this comp for music. In case it remains noisy, I'll wait for the time when some company comes out with a good streamer.
 
The reason why am looking for 24/192 support is because I have a good collection of these files from various record labels.
 
Shivam, it sounds like you are very well set up to use your PC, especially as you have dealt with the noise aspects already: you've done a great job. :) Your existing DAC does not go to 24/192?

Whilst I'm dubious about the 96 and 192 differences, If I had such a collection as yours, I certainly wouldn't want to spend money on anything less than the full 192 capability: it just wouldn't make sense. Even if I cannot currently hear the difference in 96khz, I still (since recently) digitise vinyl at 32/96. One day, somebody might hear the difference, or I might play the files on better equipment... it is a kind of "future-proofing" which costs nothing, except disc space.
 
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Shivam, it sounds like you are very well set up to use your PC, especially as you have dealt with the noise aspects already: you've done a great job. :) Your existing DAC does not go to 24/192?

It goes upto 24/192 but browsing files using seagate is tough. I want to browse using my computer now which is easier. My DAC doesn't have a USB input.

Two options which I had were - Buy a good digital / network player but unfortunately I have not found a good enough model to suit my needs. The other option is obviously the one that you have suggested and so I am now looking for a DAC with 24/192 support and good sound.
 
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