AudioAficionado.org  

Go Back   AudioAficionado.org > Audio & Video > CD Players, Digital Music & Servers

CD Players, Digital Music & Servers Aurender, dCs, Esoteric, Lumin.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-10-2018, 11:26 PM
jadedavid jadedavid is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 16
Default Silenzio vs Music Vault vs Hapzies vs ?

I currently have a Mac Mini with an external HD as my music server.
I am considering purchasing a new server wishing to gain in both sound quality and ease of use. I have quite a few CD's I would like to rip and further look into streaming Tidal/roon.
I mention the above units as they all have the built in ability to directly rip cd's.
Being rather digit challenged I find this as an attractive function.
The Silenzio with it's $4K+ starting price tag and The Music Vault are both out of my price range.
Don't know if the Sony would be an upgrade or just a lateral move.
Interested to hear if anyone has any info on an alternate unit available to meet my needs. Price range is stretching it to get to $2500.
I am familiar with the Lumin and Aurender units and both have good reviews but don't have built in rippers and I don't know how to do that.
Any help would be appreciated
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-10-2018, 11:34 PM
JMD JMD is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 421
Default

Another alternative is Innuos.

http://www.innuos.com/en
__________________
Jack
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-11-2018, 12:17 AM
SAPHANA's Avatar
SAPHANA SAPHANA is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 211
Default

This is a topic I am interested in.

In the past, I tried multiple approaches, then settled down with dBpoweramp (Ripping CD) + Roon.

I have 10K+ CDs. It's, a lot, I mean...a lot.

Initially I used iTunes to rip the CDs to Apple Lossless files, but found many were ripped badly: too many cracks and pops. The worst part is: you don't know what the quality is until you listen to the files. I am also not satisfied with the metadata (tags) grabbed by iTunes.

After multiple other tries and failures, I ended up with dBpoweramp, which runs on PC, and costs ~$50.

The advantage of dBpoweramp over iTunes is quality and metadata; the advantage of dBpoweramp over free Exact Audio Copy is metadata: it allows you to access 4 online metadata libraries, 3 of which are not free otherwise.

Now I have Roon, which has eased some pains of metadata management of my music library.

My current workflow: 4 CD/DVD/BD-DVD drives ripping CDs simultaneously on a PC, then importing to Roon. Results: for the 13K CDs I have ripped so far, only 1.7K of them cannot be identified by Roon, which I don't blame Roon because I know most of them are brand new CD releases from historical recordings.

So, the costs for me are just ~$50 ripping software + 4 drives + an old useless PC + $500 lifetime Roon membership.

Last edited by SAPHANA; 02-11-2018 at 12:36 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-11-2018, 12:21 AM
akfaulkner's Avatar
akfaulkner akfaulkner is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Kirkland,WA
Posts: 143
Default

What's wrong with your Mac mini? Is it slow to load or skipping?

I have a Mac mini with Nas SSD drives with roon server running on it. You can get a external CD drive (79$) and burn via iTunes directly to your Nas/external drive in a lossless format.

All in, I probably spent a 1000 dollars on my Mac mini with the Nas and CD drive...

The aurender may be much easier to use though (and u pay for that) but I couldn't hear a difference in my setup when I tried it and I am really comfortable rolling my own configurations so I didn't buy it. Ymmv
__________________
Living Room: Wilson Audio Sabrina, Devialet 120, Roon, Chromecast Audio
Family Room: Wilson Audio Yvette, Classe Sigma SSP, Classe CA-2300, Auralic Aries Mini, Chromecast, Roon
Home Server: Mac Mini, 1 TB SSD, RoonServer
Work Audeze LCD-XC, Audeze Deckard
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-11-2018, 12:27 AM
akfaulkner's Avatar
akfaulkner akfaulkner is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Kirkland,WA
Posts: 143
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SAPHANA View Post
This is a topic I am interested in, and in the past, I tried multiple approaches, then settled down with dBpoweramp (Rip CD) + Roon.

I have 10K+ CDs. It's, a lot, I mean...a lot.

Initially I used iTunes to rip the CDs to Apple Lossless, but found many were ripped badly: too many cracks and pops. The worst part is: you don't know what the quality is until you listen to the files.

After multiple other tries and failures, I ended up with dBpoweramp, which runs on PC, and cost ~$50.

The advantage of dBpoweramp over iTunes is quality and metadata.
The advantage of dBpoweramp over free Exact Audio Copy is tags: it allows you to access 4 online metadata libraries, 3 of them are not free.

Now I have Roon, which has eased some pains of metadata management of my music library.

My current workflow: 4 CD/DVD/BD-DVD drives ripping CDs simultaneously on a PC, then import to Roon.

Results: for 13K CDs I ripped so far, only 1.7k cannot be identified by Roon, which I don't blame Roon because I know most of them are brand new CD releases from historical recordings.

So, My cost is just ~$50 ripping software + 4 drives + an old useless PC + $500 lifetime Roon membership.
That's interesting, I have never had a problem with lossless format burning via iTunes. All sound superb.
__________________
Living Room: Wilson Audio Sabrina, Devialet 120, Roon, Chromecast Audio
Family Room: Wilson Audio Yvette, Classe Sigma SSP, Classe CA-2300, Auralic Aries Mini, Chromecast, Roon
Home Server: Mac Mini, 1 TB SSD, RoonServer
Work Audeze LCD-XC, Audeze Deckard
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-11-2018, 09:59 AM
jadedavid jadedavid is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 16
Default

Thanks to all for the responses.
The Innous looks cool, but again exceeds my budget.
My Mac Mini system works well. A close friend and audio dealer sold it to me. It was his original digital system. It came with a 4TB loaded external HD. It sounds really good. But like all things in this hobby we are always chasing "better".
Akfaulkner, it was interesting to hear that you kept your Mini system over an Aurender.
While at an audio meet recently the host was using a mini thru an EMM DAC to Avantgarde speakers and it sounded great.
Maybe I should just learn to rip (via db poweramp) and keep my mini while waiting for technology to clearly make a discernable leap in sound quality.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-11-2018, 01:36 PM
nicoff nicoff is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,531
Default Silenzio vs Music Vault vs Hapzies vs ?

Having a built in ripper may seem as an advantage but it is actually not that great. If you have lots of CDs the best approach is what Saphana did. You are definitely much better off ripping the CDs using a PC or MAC and dedicated software like DBPoweramp.

I used to own the Sony HAPZ1ES unit. It is a excellent music server and in your price range (cheaper if you buy a used one). The Sony integrates well with Spotify. The disadvantages of the Sony were lack of Tidal integration and it did not work with Roon.

I have now settled on a system that runs with Roon and have Roon endpoints in different areas throughout the house.

Oh, And by the way, the Sony would be an upgrade to your Mac mini. The Sony always works (no computer gremlins); a button turns unit on/off immediately and a nice app to control it via phone or tablet.

Last edited by nicoff; 02-11-2018 at 01:41 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-11-2018, 01:46 PM
Still-One Still-One is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Milford, MI
Posts: 32,466
Default

A reasonably priced alternative is the sonicTransporter i5 from Small Green Computer. For about $1400 you get a Roon ready unit with a 2TB SSD drive. This is a great option if you have a Roon ready DAC.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-11-2018, 02:07 PM
robfine's Avatar
robfine robfine is offline
Senior Member

 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Coral Gables, Florida
Posts: 1,067
Default

You should be able to get a used Bryston BDP-2 for not much money and then rip to NAS or external hard drive using XLD which is (free) and does a great job of lossless ripping. That’s what I am doing and it sounds great.
__________________
Office/Music Room
Dynaudio Heritage Special. Uptone Audio EtherRegen Ethernet Switch. Akasa NUC 10i7 with Roon Rock. Bryston BDP-3 Digital Music Player (with 4 Tb Internal SSD and Synology DS920+ NAS)-->Holo Audio May Kitsune Edition DAC-->Shunyata Sigma USB—>Gryphon Diablo 120 Integreted Amp w Transpatent XL PC. Oppo BDP-105D and BDP-203. Power: Shunyata Hydra Sigma S12 PD. Additional Cabling: WW Silver Electra PC, WW Electra PC, Shunyata Venom 3 PC. Digital: WW Starlight Ethernet, WW Gold Starlight AES-EBU, WW Platinum Starlight USB. IC and Speaker: WW Eclipse 8.

Bedroom System
Ipad with MusicStreamer App-->Schiit Jotunheim DAC/Amp—>Audeze LCD-XC, Focal for Bentley Radiance HO, Massdrop E-MU Teak HP. AK SE 200 DAP.

Mobile Survival Kit
Astell & Kern SP1000M. Noble Kaiser Encore IEM with Double Helix Balanced cable, Westone W80 IEM w ALOaudio Ref 8 cable, Westone W60 IEM, Shure se535 Ltd with Westone Bluetooth Wireless cable-amp. Mark Levinson No. 5909 Wireless HP.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-12-2018, 01:00 PM
4N6's Avatar
4N6 4N6 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 529
Default

https://www.smallgreencomputer.com/c...ap-roon-server

Price: $1997. Has internal storage and ripping capabilities.
__________________
Kevin

Last edited by 4N6; 02-12-2018 at 01:03 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Audioaficionado.org tested by Norton Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:22 PM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
©Copyright 2009-2023 AudioAficionado.org.Privately owned, All Rights Reserved.
Audio Aficionado Sponsors
AudioAficionado Subscriber
AudioAficionado Subscriber
Inspire By Dennis Had
Inspire By Dennis Had
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Wyred4Sound
Wyred4Sound
Dragonfire Acoustics
Dragonfire Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
Esoteric
Esoteric
AC Infinity
AC Infinity
JL Audio
JL Audio
Add Powr
Add Powr
Accuphase - Soulution
Accuphase - Soulution
Audio by E
Audio by E
Canton
Canton
Bryston
Bryston
WireWorld Cables
WireWorld Cables
Stillpoints
Stillpoints
Bricasti Design
Bricasti Design
Furutech
Furutech
Shunyata Research
Shunyata Research
Legend Audio & Video
Legend Audio & Video