Play FLAC files through 2-channel system

[thoro]

As the header states I am looking at the best way to play FLAC and other lossless files through my main system (Nikko Beta 40 preamp and Nikko Alpha 440 power amp).
I am currently using an old and noisy desktop PC connected to the preamp via a 3.5mm to RCA cable assembly. The sound is far from great and I believe the cheap soundcard is one of the main culprits here. The other issue is the fan which sounds like a Boeing 747.

Could anyone advise on any units that can be connected directly to the preamp?
All music is on a separate 1TB harddrive so if required I can move it from the PC and install in such unit.
My budget is $500 or so.
The last resort would be to buy a new desktop (which I intend to do anyway) with a good soundcard, but I am hoping to find a neater separate solution where I don't have to switch on the PC every time I want to listen to music.

Thanks in advance
Tom

 

[dondoucette]

I would look into Raspberry pi
Lots of options there
Many high quality output device choices
Free software
Supports 7” touch screen

Can be put together for far less $ than your budget

 

[cpt_paranoia]

Check out the threads on this subforum:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?forums/pcs-music-servers.122/

This thread in particular may be useful:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/questions-on-making-server-for-flac-playback.742307/

 

[ducati_EL34]

I use a raspberry Pi with an IQaudio DAC. 1TB disk for music storage. It isrunning rune audio server, which is ArchLinux ARM based.

 

[cpt_paranoia]

I would look into Raspberry

A good choice.

Chromecast Audio is also a good, cheap network renderer, either using its analogue output directly, or feeding its optical output to a DAC.

 

[njcanuck]

The now discontinued Squeezebox units are great for this purpose, too. I use four of them.

 

[xero-D-hero]

I am currently using an old and noisy desktop PC connected to the preamp via a 3.5mm to RCA cable assembly.

I gotta figure what you mean here is this "noise" you mention is the PC is affecting the audio output signal,right ?
Just wanna be clear about this,as if you meant the PC itself was "noisey" than that's likely a whole other can-O-worms.

The sound is far from great and I believe the cheap soundcard is one of the main culprits here.

What soundcard might I ask ?
Does it have an optical output ??
If it does than your answer may be as simple as using that optical output to feed an external DAC with an optical input.
That's what I did and I could'nt be happier with the results...

It would also help folks here to know what sorta resolution files you are listening to,as that can play into this deal as well.

The other issue is the fan which sounds like a Boeing 747.

This one is simple,get some quieter fans.
My prefered brand is Noctura,they move lots of air and are quiet as can be.

Could anyone advise on any units that can be connected directly to the preamp?

Yes,as I said above what you really need to do is move away from using that 3.5mm to RCA cable assembly and get a DAC.
There are tons of options there and they can use various interfaces (USB ~ Coax ~ Optical et-al) mostly depending on what the PC has for outputs.

Anyhow this can be dealt with pretty easily,and w/o breaking the bank.

BTDT

Bret P.

 

[thoro]

Thanks for all replies so far...some interesting reading there and once I started reading up on one subject it led me to read up on other stuff too. I have a feeling that my learning curve will be steep as I am very old-school, but there are a wealth of solutions out there the by the look of it.

 

[akadrhouse]

A good choice.

Chromecast Audio is also a good, cheap network renderer, either using its analogue output directly, or feeding its optical output to a DAC.

I too have been amazed at the CCA. They were just discontinued by google, so if you want one, get one quick before inventory goes away. As mentioned, you can use a toslink cable to go from the CCA into a DAC. But the 3.5mm out to two channel input into my Marantz 2270 sounds incredible. I can't believe the quality of sound from the internal DAC in the CCA hockypuck for 20 bucks.

First post here btw. Hello all.

 

[Markoneswift]

I stream FLAC files from my Windows 10 desktop to an Apple Airport Express. The Airport Express has an excellent DAC and can be found online for very little money I use a program called Airfoil on my PC which converts the audio stream to an Airplay compatible stream that the Airport can receive. The Airport then connects to my amp via a standard 3.5mm stereo jack to twin RCA.

 

[ic-racer]

If looking for inexpensive, I had an extra one of these $99 converters from my home studio. These are for home recording studio analog-to-digital, but I found the digital-to-analog output to be excellent, so I put the extra one in my hi-fi system to play form my computer files. About 25% of my computer files are compressed, but the non-compressed files sound the same to me as if I played the CD with my mid to high level CD player.
Additional advantage is stereo tapes and LPs can be recorded to the computer with the analog-to-digital mode. I have multiple phono preamps, so I never tried it without a phono preamp.

 

[ic-racer]

Another $99 solution I use for home-recording is this iPad converter. When not playing music files, this one can record from a turntable with its built-in phono preamp. I don't know enough about the specs of the Raspberry PI to know if that is any better for $30, but these two are inexpensive plug-and-play solutions I have used.

 

[orsen]

simple usb dac
from $30 to infinity
jriver for a good organizer player

 

[Ross6860]

I use my OPPO disc player. HDD/USB direct to the OPPO. You need a cheap video display/TV to operate it, though.

 

[KingBubba]

Sometimes a plain old usb soundcard can accomplish your needs. I have yet to move to the use of a dac. I am still fighting the groundloop issue with my external usb hard drive StarTech. I have tried everything and I still get a low grade hum that I can live with. They have a great tech support, but were still able to assist me.

 

[grey_beard]

I do quite a bit of playback using a Chromecast. I have it run into an HDMI input in my Yamaha RX-A1010. The Chromecast is super simple and streams using wifi which works well for my situation, YMMV. I can "throw" music or video to it in a number of ways.

That said, I would like to explore building something with a Raspberry Pi.

 

[SpruceMoose]

I just bought two Chromecast Audio devices for the only two stereos in the house without a pc or Apple TV attached to them. Now I can use any cell phone or tablet to stream pandora or music on my local hard drives to either my Dynaco tube rig or Kenwood Super Eleven rig.

 

[Ears of Tin]

Originally, I installed Plex server on my laptop and casted to a Chromecast Audio device connected via RCA to line-in on my system. Files were stored on NAS. The sound was very satisfactory to me and was music was easily controlled from phone or tablet with Plex app. But I didn't like clutter of leaving a laptop always on and laying about (I see the appeal of an Intel NUC and may go that way eventually). Found myself using the BubbleUp more and Plex less. But BubbleUp was a bit kludgy. And CCA requires internet connection even if streaming local files which seems very inelegant.

Currently I use a Rasberry Pi running RuneAudio software. User interface is very clean and simple and works better for me than Volumio or BubbleUp. An I2S DAC snaps on top of the Pi and connects with RCA cable. Files are stored on an attached HDD and can be populated from my PC or tablet using the Pi's wifi connection. Very happy with this system for everyday use. Next step is to figure out access points/hot spots and then cut the router out of the chain.

I still use the CCAs - one on main system for casting internet radio, one in spare bedroom and one as a "headphone amp" which I power with a portable charger.

 

[Ears of Tin]

For what it's worth if you have a Roku equipped TV attached to your audio system you can immediately start streaming files from your laptop. Use one of the Roku channels such as "Roku Media Player" or "Plex channel" or "MyMedia". This method is better suited for video and slide shows but will handle audio. Downside is you have to find the TV remote to play some music. But it's a stopgap until you set up something else.

 

[Portkula]

…I am looking at the best way to play FLAC and other lossless files through my main system (Nikko Beta 40 preamp and Nikko Alpha 440 power amp).

Formats (FLAC or others) have nothing to do with the composition of a system.

I am currently using an old and noisy desktop PC…
…Could anyone advise on any units that can be connected directly to the preamp?

Yes, of course. A NOT NOISY comp.

…The last resort would be to buy a new desktop (which I intend to do anyway) with a good soundcard

In all my personal practice for years, a GOOD “onboard” soundcard is simply an “onboard” soundcard in good technical condition.

On my two “generations” of desktops, their “onboard” soundcards were and one is for the moment, silent and, with their THDs of approx. “0.01%” (measured with an excellent quality program analyzer), deliver clear and absolutely undistorted sound.