Which music server would people recommend?

[Klafha]

1. I mostly play my local files and don't have any streaming services at the moment. This is because I'm very particular about having the best versions of the music I listen to. I have a hard time with many remasters.

2. 2TB or 4TB pre-installed SSD/M.2 NVMe storage

3. Roon Core (not necessarily)

4. Budget around 4000 Euro

I currently have a Zen MK2, but it's acting a bit strangely and I think it's only a matter of time before it breaks completely. I've looked at the Inuuos Stream1, but it's also a streamer and I already have that in my Naim NSC 222 preamp.

 

[J007B]

Hello Klafha and welcome to WBF. I have a Lumin U2 (not the mini) and love it. The price new is a little over your budget at $5000 US, but you can find them as demo's for less. They don't come with SSD"s installed but I use an external NAS loaded with DSD files and it is seamless. Lumin does make an external drive to match. Lumin is a great company, firmware updates all the time, lots of support.

 

[Klafha]

I don't want too many boxes so both a server and NAS would be too much.

 

[Charles S]

I recently had a streaming system installed. I am very pleased with the result. My audiophile buddy recently purchased a Hi Fi Rose151 streamer. It's a very fine instrument. He 's on vacation but the box is open and the 151 is ready for installation as soon as he returns. It sells for slightly less than 5K US dollars. An internal SSD is available. I had a Samsung 4T SSD installed into my Rose RS130 Network Transport. It works perfectly and saves a lot of space. I have all my downloads stored on it. The Rose 151 is a significant improvement over the 150B which was widely respected. If you can afford it, it's my recommendation. However another streamer you might want to consider is the new McIntosh DS200 Streaming DAC. It will be fully competitive with the 151 and currently Mcintosh can't keep pace with the orders for it.. It sells for 4K US dollars. However there is no internal SSD option. I asked why and the reply was that most folks didn't want to pay for this option. McIntosh feels an external drive SSD is totally adequate. I looked into this and they are less expensive and apparently work just as well.

Best

Charles

Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest

Amps: McIntosh: MC3500MKII (2); MC1.25KW (2); MC2.1KW Anniversary
Preamp: C-12000 Anniversary
Sources: MCD12000 Anniversary; MVP881; MVP851; MR87; Marantz 510LV; Lenovo Yoga laptop
Speakers: Wilson Chronosonic XVX
Sub-Woofer: Wilson Thor’s Hammer; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover
Cables Main System AQ: WEL Signature speaker cables; 24’ balanced IC; balanced 1-meter Dragon IC ; WEL Signature digital, Coffee digital coaxial cables; Diamond optical (2); Diamond USB; Dragon (5 HC, 3 source cords); Thunder & Monsoon power cords
Cables Subwoofer System AQ: Redwood speaker cable; Wolf balanced subwoofer IC; Wind balanced IC to ActivXO; Hurricane HC; Firebird HC; Firebird Source; Dragon HC, power cords
Power Conditioners: AQ Niagara 7000; Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines.
Streaming System: Hi Fi Rose 130RS Network Transport; Samsung internal SSD; Audioquest Wel Signature digital balanced 1-meter IC; Audioquest Diamond 1.5-meter USB cable; Audioquest Dragon 2-meter source power cord; HDMI cable 24’ for music videos
Isolation: Wilson Pedestals; Bassocontinuo McIntosh Ultra Feet; X-material plinth
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD)
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes

 

[tedwoods]

1. I mostly play my local files and don't have any streaming services at the moment. This is because I'm very particular about having the best versions of the music I listen to. I have a hard time with many remasters.

2. 2TB or 4TB pre-installed SSD/M.2 NVMe storage

3. Roon Core (not necessarily)

4. Budget around 4000 Euro

I currently have a Zen MK2, but it's acting a bit strangely and I think it's only a matter of time before it breaks completely. I've looked at the Inuuos Stream1, but it's also a streamer and I already have that in my Naim NSC 222 preamp.

The Stream 1 is also a server with either 2 or 4TB preinstalled, but you can also buy it without storage and install your own, should you wish so: https://innuos.com/stream1/

 

[Klafha]

I'm not a big fan of Hifi Rose and their big display. And McIntosh is out of the question since my Naim has a DAC and there is no internal SSD option.

A dealer told me a story about a man who had an Innuos Statement. He then tried to put a Samsung SSD external USB into his system one day and he was very amazed. He thought it sounded almost as good as his Statement. He is now considering whether he should sell it. What he misses about USB is the Sense App/Roon option.

I have tried a Samsung SSD external USB myself and it actually sounded good. But you miss some Sense/Roon/ to keep it in order.

But at the moment I think it will be the Innuos Stream1 I will go for

 

[Gunnar]

Why not a Melco? The N50-H60 or if you can find a N50-S38S as demo. Add their Ethernet cable. A very good cable in its price range.

 

[ssfas]

Stream1

Trying to exclude a streamer is self-defeating. It effectively comes for free, whether Roon Transport once you have loaded Roon Server, or Innuos Sense if you choose to use it. The Stream1 is their first machine with user-installable SSD.

What about the Roon Titan?

 

[GeoffR]

SonicTransporter from Small Green Computer?
I7 version with options up to 8tb is around your budget. Roon Core included.
I have the I5 with 2TB, USB directly into my DAC with approx. 250 cds loaded, which hardly makes a dent in the storage capacity.

 

[Charles S]

I'm not a big fan of Hifi Rose and their big display. And McIntosh is out of the question since my Naim has a DAC and there is no internal SSD option.

A dealer told me a story about a man who had an Innuos Statement. He then tried to put a Samsung SSD external USB into his system one day and he was very amazed. He thought it sounded almost as good as his Statement. He is now considering whether he should sell it. What he misses about USB is the Sense App/Roon option.

I have tried a Samsung SSD external USB myself and it actually sounded good. But you miss some Sense/Roon/ to keep it in order.

But at the moment I think it will be the Innuos Stream1 I will go for

I like the large display a lot, but different strokes for different folks. It's good that you have strong opinions. I have read about Innuous. They have recently come out with new gear. They appear to be ultra high end, being hand crafted and with lots of technology. You seem to have made a wise decision.

In reading about Innuous in some detail, it would seem that this company offers all kinds of interesting options. I am relatively new to streaming but I am retired and have time to read, so it seems that if I had unlimited funds, Innuous might be the company I would go with. However, the Rose RS130 or 151 is South Korean and might offer a better value for the money than the European company, I don't know. One feature I have been impressed with is the Fiber Connect Ethernet option, which converts the copper ethernet signal to an optical signal before it enters the streamer, thus removing all noise. I am using this and it really works. In addition, the RS130 has a unique power supply consisting of a super capacitor for battery level noise floor, whereas Innuous relies on tremendously overbuilt power supplies with hundreds of thousands of microfarads of capacitance. I'm not sure if this is really necessary but Innuous is absolutely amazing in build quality. For me, I think I have achieved with the 10MHZ OCXO clock, Fiber Connect (optical fiber) Ethernet port, Samsung internal 4T SSD, and super capacitor power supply everything I need for excellent performance at a decent price, about 5,200.00 US dollars. However, my needs are significantly different from
yours.

Best

Charles

 

[Klafha]

Why not a Melco? The N50-H60 or if you can find a N50-S38S as demo. Add their Ethernet cable. A very good cable in its price range.

Melco might also be an option. Unfortunately I won't be able to listen to it.

Stream1

Trying to exclude a streamer is self-defeating. It effectively comes for free, whether Roon Transport once you have loaded Roon Server, or Innuos Sense if you choose to use it. The Stream1 is their first machine with user-installable SSD.

What about the Roon Titan?

So I'll be locked to Roon and I don't want that. I also think Sense sounds better than Roon on Innuos products

 

[Klafha]

With the Sense app I don't have to pay for Asset, MinimServer or JRiver either. Now I'm thinking about what to do, but Stream1 is definitely my first choice