Im quite new to the whole media player / server / streamer technology and is something I dont know a huge amount about to be honest. As with a lot of people, I have heaps of music on my PC, but no way of playing it through my HiFi in good quality. I have used my headphone jack on my laptop but its poor as most of you will know.
Im looking for a device that allows me to play FLAC / MP3 / WMA audio files that I have stored on an external (or can transfer to 500GB+ internal on player/server I want to buy) hard drive via my HiFi phono connections. Im not really interested in streaming music over my wireless network, as all my music is stored on the hard drive, any new music I get, Im quite happy to disconnect and manually add in via my PC. Im not interested in movies or any other media and I want to be able to control it via touchscreen (like Squeezbox Touch) or via touchscreen remote or iPhone.
Ive looked at Sonos (too expensive) and Logitech Squeezebox Touch so far but neither exactly meet my needs, Squeezebox Touch is closest. I believe the Squeezebox is designed to play music over either a wired or wireless network and not for attaching a hard drive via the USB connection as the server can only support so many tracks before the server struggles. I do like the idea of the Squeezebox screen to show which track is playing and the ability of controlling via my mobile but feel if I go down this route Ill have to either leave my PC on all the time that I want music, or have to go down the NAS route, which means more expense and hassle. This is what puts me off the Touch, if it had a better internal server, capable of handling an external hard drive I would get this. I also like that it has an onboard DAC with digital and analogue outputs as I intend to upgrade my all in one HiFi to a separate amp and good quality speakers in the coming years, once I save up some cash.
Other ones Ive looked at WD HD Live HUB and LaCie LaCinema, both of which require the TV on and are primarily designed for TV I believe. I want to be able to listen to music without having my TV on, as I do with a CD or radio currently.
So in short Id like -
Digital music/media player/server with USB connection for external hard drive or internal drive within device, not to be used for streaming via network but possibly for internet radio / Last FM (not crucial).
Able to play FLAC and MP3 files
Touchscreen remote or mobile compatible
Digital and analogue outputs
Able to play device on its own and not need TV or PC or NAS on to listen to music
Not bothered about
Connecting to TV
Being able to play movies or connect to TV
Any ideas anyone? If you want more info on my requirements then please ask.
Thanks in advance.
Im looking for a device that allows me to play FLAC / MP3 / WMA audio files that I have stored on an external (or can transfer to 500GB+ internal on player/server I want to buy) hard drive via my HiFi phono connections. Im not really interested in streaming music over my wireless network, as all my music is stored on the hard drive, any new music I get, Im quite happy to disconnect and manually add in via my PC. Im not interested in movies or any other media and I want to be able to control it via touchscreen (like Squeezbox Touch) or via touchscreen remote or iPhone.
Ive looked at Sonos (too expensive) and Logitech Squeezebox Touch so far but neither exactly meet my needs, Squeezebox Touch is closest. I believe the Squeezebox is designed to play music over either a wired or wireless network and not for attaching a hard drive via the USB connection as the server can only support so many tracks before the server struggles. I do like the idea of the Squeezebox screen to show which track is playing and the ability of controlling via my mobile but feel if I go down this route Ill have to either leave my PC on all the time that I want music, or have to go down the NAS route, which means more expense and hassle. This is what puts me off the Touch, if it had a better internal server, capable of handling an external hard drive I would get this. I also like that it has an onboard DAC with digital and analogue outputs as I intend to upgrade my all in one HiFi to a separate amp and good quality speakers in the coming years, once I save up some cash.
Other ones Ive looked at WD HD Live HUB and LaCie LaCinema, both of which require the TV on and are primarily designed for TV I believe. I want to be able to listen to music without having my TV on, as I do with a CD or radio currently.
So in short Id like -
Digital music/media player/server with USB connection for external hard drive or internal drive within device, not to be used for streaming via network but possibly for internet radio / Last FM (not crucial).
Able to play FLAC and MP3 files
Touchscreen remote or mobile compatible
Digital and analogue outputs
Able to play device on its own and not need TV or PC or NAS on to listen to music
Not bothered about
Connecting to TV
Being able to play movies or connect to TV
Any ideas anyone? If you want more info on my requirements then please ask.
Thanks in advance.