• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

How do you play flac/mp3 files on your 2 channel system?

halkaloogie

halkaloogie

The Jerk
I have been using a small hi-res player (kinda like an Ipod), I'm happy with the performance, but it's getting old and starting to have problems, and the touch screen has always been finicky because it's so small.

I've been looking into all in one things like the Sony HAPS1, and small laptops and a DAC, but I was curious what people were using and why.
 
Register to hide this ad
For me it's a 14" laptop into a USB DAC as a music server. I use FLAC and dsf/dsd files exclusively. My entire CD collection (plus a few ripped LP's) is on an external USB HDD. I don't bother with a streaming device because my laptop does that just fine.

The laptop doesn't have to be all that powerful. I suppose I could use my phone or tablet to control file playback. The screens on them are just to small for my aged eyes. Besides. the laptop is right next to my chair.
 
Yamaha networked AVR...plays flac/mp3/??? direct from USB...or network server. Can also play flac/mp3/??? from USB via blu-ray player - this would be go-to if I only had a vintage receiver (Hint - TV screen can be very big but user interface can suck compared to PC/laptop). I forgot the PC connected to the AVR...and I could also play music from phone or tablet via blue-tooth though I never have tried. I've got options ;)

I use the AVR because it is the easy way to access modern sources. And the sound can be pretty damn decent once you get past the BOTL models.
 
JoeESP9 said:
For me it's a 14" laptop into a USB DAC as a music server. I use FLAC and dsf/dsd files exclusively. My entire CD collection (plus a few ripped LP's) is on an external USB HDD. I don't bother with a streaming device because my laptop does that just fine.

The laptop doesn't have to be all that powerful. I suppose I could use my phone or tablet to control file playback. The screens on them are just to small for my aged eyes. Besides. the laptop is right next to my chair.
Click to expand...
I'm leaning towards something similar, I already have a USB DAC that I don't use, so it would just be finding a cheap laptop. There are so may ways to get digital music to speakers that at first glance it's a bit overwhelming for an old simpleton like me.
 
A couple of chrome cast audio pucks feed a couple of stereo rigs in different parts of the house. I use an iPhone or iPad to grab mp3 files from a few different hard drives scattered around the house shoved into the WiFi network.
 
I run my PC audio througha USB DAC and a TRS -> RCA cable into my receiver.
I don't use my ipod much anymore, but when I did I jused a 3.5mm - > RCA in the same manner.
 
I have a desktop PC connected via optical to my Luxman DA-100 DAC for the main setup and via digital coax to my Emotiva XDA-1 DAC for the computer setup. I also have an Audioquest Dragonfly USB DAC (the original one) for my laptop.
 
I'm thinking the Intel NUC is a killer option. Measures around 6x6x2 and I managed to stuff a 2tb data drive AND a 512gb OS drive in the box. USB out to a DAC with analog output and that into the "classic" stereo. All FLAC, all the time, using jRiver Media Center ...

PS ... thought this was funny - here's my HUC sitting in the shadow of my old ATX server. That teenie thing in the bubble pack is one of the hard drives. This keeps up, pretty soon we'll need tweezers to turn em on, right?

bach---intel-huc.jpg
 
Last edited:
sKiZo said:
I'm thinking the Intel HUC is a killer option. Measures around 6x6x2 and I managed to stuff a 2tb data drive AND a 512gb OS drive in the box. USB out to a DAC with analog output and that into the "classic" stereo. All FLAC, all the time, using jRiver Media Center ...

PS ... thought this was funny - here's my HUC sitting in the shadow of my old ATX server. That teenie thing in the bubble pack is one of the hard drives. This keeps up, pretty soon we'll need tweezers to turn em on, right?

bach---intel-huc.jpg
Click to expand...
Interesting, I'm unfamiliar with those, Something to look into .
 
Mostly a pc connected by digital output to a dac, to a lesser degree using a portable high res music player connected by the headphone/line out jack.

Got a NAS device a while back where I have stored a copy of my music. I suppose at some point I will look into using the media server functions.
 
I use a media PC connected to a USB DAC - NOS R2R with everything either downsampled or upsampled to 16 bit 48k. Sounds better than any DSD capable DAC I've ever heard ;)
 
I have a Yamaha network receiver with built in DAC. I Bluetooth from an iPhone or MacBook Pro. Or hardwire from an older laptop. With the iPhone I run it through a Denon app with an EQ that sounds better than iTunes. I can control it with my Apple Watch or iPhone.
 
Desktop PC I put together >>>> https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?media/br-systems-current-003-resized-to-post.9091/
index.php

'Puter specifics can be found @ that link above.
From there it goes to one of two DACs.
Either a Parasound D/AC-1000 for the HP/NF rig -or- a Schiit Optimodi for the BR 2.1 rig.
index.php

Parasound D/AC-1000 on ^^^^ bottom.
Schiit Optimodi vvvv .
index.php

Barely visible peaking out under the RH side of the top shelf of the TV stand.
Which is perfect cause that helps block out those blinding LEDs that Schiit uses in their DACs,LOL.

Also have another of those Parasound D/AC-1000 in my Adcom rack enclosure rig (second from top).
That system uses another desktop PC (Silverstone HTPC case) that I built (top of rack).
index.php

The GTP-502 preamp was missing from this pic ^^^^ ,but it has since found it's way home.

FWIW

Bret P.
 
halkaloogie said:
I've been looking into all in one things like the Sony HAPS1, and small laptops and a DAC, but I was curious what people were using and why.
Click to expand...
Multiple Google Chromecasts, both the discontinued audio-only version (Chromecast Audio) and the popular video-and-audio Chromecasts with HDMI output.

Multiple laptops and computers, mostly older premium units like a Dell XPS M1730 and a 2012 Mac Pro. All connected via analog audio out on the computers.

It sounds like a lot of audio systems but it's not -- only three: office, kitchen and lounge -- it's multiple computer/Chromecast sources on the amplifier inputs.
 
CCA to a DAC also a PW-Link, Kindle 3.5mm to RCA. iPod 3.5mm to RCA or DAC, iPad and iPhone same as iPod, Laptop to DAC. Firestick and optical out of TV to DAC... I may be forgetting something but I have done or currently do all the above.
 
For me, I have ripped most of my CD's to my laptop. Then I stream the laptop to a Grace Digital GDI- IRDT 200. The digital output goes through a Topping D30 DAC to my preamp, then on to the tube amp. Works nicely for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom