- Introduction |
- Hardware |
- Software |
- Sound Quality |
- Reference |
- Enjoy
An introduction to computer audio
Music servers
This are stationary iPod's.
They are called music servers as most of them support multi room so can act as a server for other players but all of them are able of direct playback.
The idea is nice, you have 1 box who does it all.
Comfort is the name of this game.
It has de look and feel of conventional audio equipment. Connect it to your amplifier just like a CD player and there you are. Some brands even stresses that it is NOT a computer.
What do you get?
Well, a computer running Linux or Windows with some proprietary software to manage your music collection and in general a very small display and a sound card.
These are the internals of a Merdian - Sooloos Source:One
From left to right:
- switching popwer supply
- VIA Epia PC
- RME Hammerfall DSP 9632 PCI sound card
Price €3,600.00
A silent PC combined with a high quality sound card or a outboard DAC will probably:
- equal or outperform most of these dedicated boxes in sound quality
- offers a better interface
- at a lower price.
But you do have to do your own homework.
Buying a music server means a couple of engineers has done your homework.
A great comfort but, yes, engineers need payment too.
Arcus DAR 300
| Specs | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20 kHz |
| Distortion factor | < 0,002 % |
| Channel separation | > 102 dB |
| Signal-to-noise | > 103 dB |
| Audio inputs analogue | 1 x stereo cinch |
| Audio outputs analogue | 1 x stereo cinch |
| Audio inputs digital | SPDIF (coaxial and toslink) |
| Input sample rate | WAV: 8 - 48 kHz |
| Audio outputs digital | SPDIF |
| Video outputs | VGA |
| Weight | 15 kg |
| Dimensions incl. feet’s | 44 x 8,8 x 38 cm |
| Power supply | 110 / 230 Volt |
| Disc drive | CD/DVD-Drive |
| Used memory | Audio formatted memory with damped suspension |
| Memory size | 160 GB, 500 GB, 750 GB |
| Backup function | Yes |
| Cooling | Heat pipe System without fan |
| Networking wired Ethernet | 10/100 m/bits |
| Networking wireless | By USB-stick |
| Encryption | Following Rules |
| Other ports | USB 2.0 |
| Finishes | Silver, black |
| Technology platform | Linux |
| Supported media | CD, CD-R/RW, DVD (only playback) |
| Audio support | MP3 (32 kBit/s - 320 kBit/s), WAV, FLAC |
| Supported formats | TCP/IP, UPnP AV, DHCP, AutoIP |
| Supported data systems | FAT, FAT 32 |
Bladelius Design Group £4,850.00
Bladelius Design Group is offering a totally new replay system. The Embla offers a silent playback system without any moving mechanical parts when playing from the built-in flash memory. The Embla is built from the ground up as a high performance audio playback system.
Unlike computer based playback products the Embla is based on our proprietary audio DSP design, allowing complete control over the timing and reading of the discs. The Embla is designed as a true audiophile unit from the ground up and it's not a modified computer that can copy discs. Not only is the Embla a playback system but it also includes an analog preamplifier, a world class DA-converter based on our reference CD-player, the Gondul M. The DA-converter also carries a switchable digital filter with analog behavior. Insert a CD and you have the option to play directly from the disc like a standard CD-player or you can store the disc on the internal flash
| Specs | EMBLA |
|---|---|
| Distortion | < 0.001% |
| Data rate | 32 bit/192kHz |
| Digital inputs | 1 AES/EBU 1 RCA 1 TosLink 2 USB 1 RJ45 1 Bluetooth |
| Analog inputs | 1 pair balanced 2 pairs unbalanced |
| Digital outputs | 1 AES/EBU 1 RCA 1 TosLink |
| Analog outputs | 1 pair balanced 2 pairs unbalanced |
| Control | Touch screen Remote |
| Weight | 12 kg |
| Dimensions | 440×445×125 mm (W×D×H) |
Boulder 1021 Disk Player € 24.900
- FORMATS: CD, MP3, WAV, Flac, Ogg, AIFF & others
- DATA RATE: Up to 24 Bit / 192 kHz
- ANALOG OUTPUT: 2 pairs 3-pin Bal, Adaptable to Unbalanced
- DIGITAL OUTPUT: 3-pin AES, Adaptable to SPDIF
- VOLUME: 80 dB range in 1.0 dB steps
- DISPLAY: 640x480 VGA 15-pin connector
- INTERNET: RG45 Ethernet connector
Cambridge Audio - Azur 640H Music Server
Network: ethernet
160GB HD
Formats:
- Uncompressed PCM
- Windows Media Audio
- MP3
- AAC (MP4)
- .wav .snd .mpa .mp2 .mp3 and many other common music files also supported
Not a server (streaming audio not supported)
Colorado vNet - Vibe
IP-based digital distributed audio system.
Colorado old model Vibe was a hard disk player. The new model is a true server solution.
The Color Touch screen includes a Class D amplifier.
Network: ethernet
6 independently- controlled streams
500/750 GB HD
Escient Digital Media Managers
Network: ethernet
160 - 750 GB HD
Supported Audio Formats:
ENCODE: MP3, FLAC
DECODE: PCM, MP3, FLAC, WMA, AAC
Streams: 4 (probably proprietary format)
Internet database: Gracenote
Hifidelio Wireless Music Center
Yes, you can connect it with a cat 5 cable to.
Network: ethernet/ Wifi
80 / 160 GB HD
OS: Linux
Player software: Hermstedt
Streaming: UPnP AV(Twonky Vision)
Recording
- MP3 and MP3 VBR
- RAW data formats: AIFF, PCM, WAV
- FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)
Playback and Multi-room streaming
- MP3 and MP3 VBR
- RAW data formats: AIFF, PCM, WAV
- OGG/Vorbis
- FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)
- AAC (MPEG4)
Supported sampling rate for recording: 44.100 Hz
Supported sampling rate for playback: 44.100 Hz
Hush DigiFi H-DF200
- Bit perfect ripping with AMG lookup for Artwork and Extended Data such as Performer, Composer
- You Control how much Music you can Store
- Add more NAS drives and DigiFi rips to them for unlimited storage
- You Control what Formats you want to Rip to and Play
- DigiFi prefers WAV but transcodes any existing music to the best format your players support.
- DigiFi transcodes hi-def audio files for ROKU and SONOS
Technical Specification
- XP embedded
- 2 Terabytes of Local Storage (1TB Mirrored)
- Full Size 19” Silent Fanless Case by Hush
- Powered by the award-winning DigiFi software
- Supports up to 24bit 192kHz WAV, WMA inc lossless), MP3, FLAC, AAC.
- Rips (bit perfect), encodes, stores in WAV, FLAC*, WMA and MP3 locally and on connected NAS Drives.
- Creates global playlists across the whole music library for playout through streaming players including Linn DS, Sonos® and other (supported) UPnP players
- Locally plays out single stereo stream for monitoring
- Utilise a push technology for rapidly changing data to maximise synchronisation across multiple interfaces
Loewe Reference media center
Part of the Reference line including electrostatic speakers, subwoofer and a 52-inch LCD TV
Formats
- Playable disks: DVD-Video, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW (Video Mode), Audio CD, CD-R/RW, CD+R/RW
- Playable formats: CD-DA, FLAC (losless Audio), WMA, MP3, AAC, WAV, PCM
RAID operation for data security
Database: Gracenotes
Connectors
- Antenna FM
- Audio analogue L/R In/Out
- Audio analogue Out ( 5.1 channel output)
- Audio digital In/Out
- Component Video Out (cinch)/ Composite Video Out
- HDMI In/Out
- Headphones
- LAN
- RS 232 (RJ12)
- USB 2.0
- WLAN
- iPod/iPhone Dock
Nuforce Music Server MSR-1 (Sonata Edition) € 2250,-
- Audio output – Zone 1 Audio RCA, Zone 2 Audio RCA
- S/PDIF output – 44.1 – 96kHz Coaxial 75-ohm output RCA
- Video output – 15-pin DB Sub-15 (VGA) output
- 500GB 2.5” quiet, low power consumption hard disk
- USB – 4 ports
- Network – RJ-45 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
- Standard ports – PS/2 style Mouse, Keyboard, RS-232
- Power: External 90-240VAC, 12Vdc input
- Power consumption: 45W
- Operating Temperature - 0 to 55 degree C (Ambient)
- Nominal temperature: 36 to 40 degree C
- Chassis is made of high-grade anodized brushed aluminum to reduce audio resonance
- Noise level: < 25dBA
- Dimensions: 2.35”H x 8.5”W x 15”D Weight: 7 lbs.
Remote control and/or touch screen (not included).
Player software: J River.
Olive 4HD $ 1999
DAC
- Proprietary, high resolution DAC featuring Texas Instruments' 192khz/24-bit Burr-Brown PCM1792A
- DAC may be used as an outboard DAC for any digital music source. With 24-bit/192kHz oversampling, noise and distortion are ultra low.
Processor
- Ample processing power for multi-tasking
- Simultaneous recording of and listening to CDs
- Flawless encoding and decoding of lossless audio format
- Fast management and access to extensive music libraries
Color LCD
4.3" wide-aspect ratio, high-resolution touchscreen (480 x 272 pixels)
Hard Drive
- Ultra-quiet 2TB drive, cushioned in 8 layers of noise cancelling padding.
- Holds almost 20,000 HD tracks or 6,000 CDs in original CD sound quality
Design
- Energy-efficient design and heavy-gauge, heat dissipating aluminum enclosure.
- Passive cooling without noisy fan
- Ultra-quiet operations. Be the only one whistling to your music.
TEAC CD-R/RW
- High fidelity CD audio playback
- Protective lip on CD slot to eliminate noise from internal components and protect CDs
Networking
Wired - Gigabit Ethernet
Wireless
- 54 Mbit/s (802.11n)
- Encryption - WEP + WPA, 64- and 128-bit
Audio Outputs
- Analog: 1x RCA, 24k gold-plated
- Digital: 1x digital output S/P DIF optical Toslink, 1x digital output S/P DIF coaxial cinch, 24k gold-plated
Digital Inputs
S/P DIF optical Toslink, 24k gold-plated
Audio Formats
WAV, FLAC, MP3 (128 and 320 kbit/s), AAC (128 kbit/s)
Bit rate: 16bits, 20bit, 24bits, Sampling Frequency: 10kHz up to 200kHz
Other Ports
1x USB 1.1/2.0
- Backup your music library to an external hard drive
- IR Input. Connect an external IR Receiver to control your Olive 4HD if it is behind solid cabinet doors.
Pinnacle Audio Folio £2,399.00 (250 GB) - £2,799.00 (750 GB)
| Audio | System | ||
| Bit Depth | 24-bit | Storage Options | 2x250GB, 2x500GB, 2x750GB (RAID 1) |
| Sampling Rate | 96kHz | Power On | < 30 Seconds |
| Frequency Response | 22Hz-22kHz,-0.4,-0.4dB | Power Off | < 10 Seconds |
| Dynamic Range | 104dB (A-weighted) (D/A) 100.4dB (A-weighted) (A/D) |
Power Consumption | < 40W (Max) |
| THD | < 0.002% | Supply Voltage | 120/230 VAC 60Hz/50Hz |
| Audio Formats | Wav FLAC (lossless) MP3 Ogg Vorbis |
Control | Wireless touchscreen control Wired Ethernet (direct commands and web control) Serial Port Integration libraries |
The Antenaeum (£4,500) is technically identical but has storage up to 1.5 TB (Raid 1).
Resolution Audio Cantata music center €5.800
- slot-loading compact disc drive
- USB up to 96 kHz / 24-bit
- Ethernet link for iTunes and UPnP libraries
- S/PDIF inputs (AES/EBU, RCA, Toslink)
- iPhone/iPod Touch remote control
- XLR and RCA outputs, fixed or variable
Request
The S.Series ($ 18,500) no longer exist, they went multi media at a more affordable price tag.
Sooloos € 12.000
A nice optical illusion. If you stare hard at this picture for 5 minutes you see a fat control at the right.
Sooloos has become part of Meridian. This deprived us of the girl, not of the price tag.