I have a Topping D90 external DAC which accepts SPDIF, USB, I2S, & AES digital. The latter is what I have using my old cdp as a transport. However CDs only go so far.
Without breaking the bank, i'm looking from a dedicated non-PC / laptop based, stand alone 'digital front end' where I can plug a USB flash drive or it may have it's own internal hard drive. It should have a basic menu so I can scroll around the folders and choose what files to play.
Connectivity, it seems USB is most common but i'm not a big fan of USB and uncertain if it's reliable as I2S or other dedicated formats.
Also digital front end should support DSD SACD, FLAC, WAV, MP3, the usual etc.
I'm not having much luck searching online and it seems most units are comprehensive having builtin DAC, amplifier, etc. which I don't need. I suppose in this day of age, people rely on their hand held smartphones and do BT streaming but i'm old fashion. I want simple plug N play, direct access.
Without breaking the bank, i'm looking from a dedicated non-PC / laptop based, stand alone 'digital front end' where I can plug a USB flash drive or it may have it's own internal hard drive. It should have a basic menu so I can scroll around the folders and choose what files to play.
Connectivity, it seems USB is most common but i'm not a big fan of USB and uncertain if it's reliable as I2S or other dedicated formats.
Also digital front end should support DSD SACD, FLAC, WAV, MP3, the usual etc.
I'm not having much luck searching online and it seems most units are comprehensive having builtin DAC, amplifier, etc. which I don't need. I suppose in this day of age, people rely on their hand held smartphones and do BT streaming but i'm old fashion. I want simple plug N play, direct access.
Perhaps an Android-based set top box would fit your needs? This one is quite full-featured, there are cheaper lower spec ones : X96 MAX+ Android 9 Smart TV BOX?????????S905X3 KODI-??? Not sure it can play DSD though.
Connectivity to your DAC would be via Toslilnk - does the D90 have that as input?
Connectivity to your DAC would be via Toslilnk - does the D90 have that as input?
Set Top Box requires a TV or monitor display which is adding more devices.
The D90 is fully featured I/O:
The trend is still PC based playback. Most common connection via USB as SPDIF is kinda going obsolete. I suppose one could get a cheap laptop or Chromebook and have USB to an external DAC for less than $300. Hard to justify $3000+ for stand alone units that do a little more (having built in DAC, digital volume control, etc.).
The D90 is fully featured I/O:
The trend is still PC based playback. Most common connection via USB as SPDIF is kinda going obsolete. I suppose one could get a cheap laptop or Chromebook and have USB to an external DAC for less than $300. Hard to justify $3000+ for stand alone units that do a little more (having built in DAC, digital volume control, etc.).
Why NON-PC based?
You could get a cheap laptop, install Win Server 2012R2 (by default, this OS runs a very few services - compared to Win10, and is deemed to be the best Win OS for audio), a software streamer (JRiver) + MonkeyMote (as a remote control). Just resist the temptation and don't install anything else that is not related to digital audio reproduction.
Then you could try the Fidelizer (free edition), and see if you can notice the difference... If you like the further improvements that Fidelizer brings, go Pro because it sounds so much better.
D90 has a very nice USB input (nice XMOS IC implementation), so with a laptop, you will be using the best possible path of getting the data into D90.
You could get a cheap laptop, install Win Server 2012R2 (by default, this OS runs a very few services - compared to Win10, and is deemed to be the best Win OS for audio), a software streamer (JRiver) + MonkeyMote (as a remote control). Just resist the temptation and don't install anything else that is not related to digital audio reproduction.
Then you could try the Fidelizer (free edition), and see if you can notice the difference... If you like the further improvements that Fidelizer brings, go Pro because it sounds so much better.
D90 has a very nice USB input (nice XMOS IC implementation), so with a laptop, you will be using the best possible path of getting the data into D90.
How about Raspberry Pi based solutions?
I have tried piCorePlayer and Max2Play and I am very satisfied with both.
And there are other possibilities.
In summary, the Raspberry runs an LMS server, music is on an external hard drive connected via USB, "remote control" is via an Android app, DAC is connected to the Raspberry via USB (SPDIF or I2S are possible, I think, but I didn't try this way).
I have tried piCorePlayer and Max2Play and I am very satisfied with both.
And there are other possibilities.
In summary, the Raspberry runs an LMS server, music is on an external hard drive connected via USB, "remote control" is via an Android app, DAC is connected to the Raspberry via USB (SPDIF or I2S are possible, I think, but I didn't try this way).
Well it seems there are really no 'affordable' stand alone solution for digital front end playback.
What I don't like about PC based:
1) Waiting time for boot the OS - sure with SSD boot time is minimal and perhaps not an issue under 'sleep' mode but then the laptop / PC would powered. I prefer things that when not in use, then it should be "OFF" and that means flicking the main wall switch off.
2) Shut down time? Again, not as convenient as a physical push button ON/OFF on a stand alone device.
3) I don't like fans and many PCs and Laptops have annoying fans that ruin the listening experience.
4) Then you have to deal with a mouse, so is this mouse USB hard wired or stuck with consuming batteries all the time if wireless? Need a mouse pad? Need a table? Then you have to click around the screen to run the audio playing app.
If there's no choice, I would be interested in a Raspberry Pi solution. They're small, low powered but then as I said before I would require some monitor for display. Then would need a long USB cable.
What I don't like about PC based:
1) Waiting time for boot the OS - sure with SSD boot time is minimal and perhaps not an issue under 'sleep' mode but then the laptop / PC would powered. I prefer things that when not in use, then it should be "OFF" and that means flicking the main wall switch off.
2) Shut down time? Again, not as convenient as a physical push button ON/OFF on a stand alone device.
3) I don't like fans and many PCs and Laptops have annoying fans that ruin the listening experience.
4) Then you have to deal with a mouse, so is this mouse USB hard wired or stuck with consuming batteries all the time if wireless? Need a mouse pad? Need a table? Then you have to click around the screen to run the audio playing app.
If there's no choice, I would be interested in a Raspberry Pi solution. They're small, low powered but then as I said before I would require some monitor for display. Then would need a long USB cable.
$500 - $1000 range? Well the Topping D90 was $660 and does the most important part. How expensive does a front end have to be? As a price comparison, my $99 portable Sony mini speaker CDP has USB input. I load up a USB stick and insert and it's basic LCD display is enough to find the folders and tracks to play.
Yet when I look for a solution - I see only those WITH built-in DACs in the $4K+ range. That kind of $ I would prefer putting that towards different speakers.
I just want to find out if there's such a stand alone solution with a small display and outputs via USB / I2S / or even better, AES and supports DSD, FLAC, etc formats. Otherwise if i'm stuck with going PC based... i'll have to allow for a side stand for a display monitor and mouse or maybe a cheap Chromebook that does touch screen?
Long ago Logitech had a company call Slim Devices which made a high end unit called the Transporter. I suppose this is something what i'm after as it has the outputs:
But original MSRP of $2K USD was not cheap and many of them are starting to fail.
It seems everything is tied to your smartphone but I don't always carry it with me and at times, don't want to be disturbed.
Alas, that rules out Auralic, Aurrender, Lumin and Melco. Perhaps the Bluesound Node 2i might meet your needs.
I've come across this:
USBridge Signature Player - Ultra low noise RPI
All I need is a display monitor and a USB mouse. It has dedicated USB ports designed for low noise output - dedicated ports.
It's Raspberry Pi based and it won't break the bank.
USBridge Signature Player - Ultra low noise RPI
All I need is a display monitor and a USB mouse. It has dedicated USB ports designed for low noise output - dedicated ports.
It's Raspberry Pi based and it won't break the bank.
Also what separates the others (laptop or typical PCs) is the USBridge is designed specifically for audio use. It's USB output is purpose built to connect to an external DAC and not the noisy USB outputs found pretty much all PC/Laptop based USB outputs.
A small LCD display isn't so bad, perhaps a touch screen if I don't want to attach a mouse ; at least this is better than requiring the use of a smartphone to access the player which many other setups rely on.
A small LCD display isn't so bad, perhaps a touch screen if I don't want to attach a mouse ; at least this is better than requiring the use of a smartphone to access the player which many other setups rely on.
looks like you're heading towards something like this:
Archimago's Musings: HOWTO: Building and Installing the Raspberry Pi 3 "Touch" Audio Streamer.
Ian
Archimago's Musings: HOWTO: Building and Installing the Raspberry Pi 3 "Touch" Audio Streamer.
Ian
I guess I gave up having a monolithic playback system; all mine are dependent on network resources (NAS, internet..) to work. Only the one in the garage has its own screen (linux); the bedroom and living room systems I have to be "on" something (laptop, phone, desktop, HTpc) for them to do anything at all.
I think I can target the one in the garage for playback from LMS running on the NAS, but never tried it; just installed the software to make it an LMS target player.
Kinda strange coming from a physical media that you put in a player, press play and sound comes out. Comparatively, I HATE having to boot up and enter a password just to listen to something. I guess the convenience of virtual media is why I put up with it.
I think I can target the one in the garage for playback from LMS running on the NAS, but never tried it; just installed the software to make it an LMS target player.
Kinda strange coming from a physical media that you put in a player, press play and sound comes out. Comparatively, I HATE having to boot up and enter a password just to listen to something. I guess the convenience of virtual media is why I put up with it.
To reiterate the improvements the Raspberry Pi 4 has over previous builds:
Raspberry Pi 4 specs and benchmarks — The MagPi magazine
"Gone is the single-lane USB bottleneck which hampered performance on older models, and Raspberry Pi 4 shines in benchmarks as a result."
While streaming or sending high res audio files is not much of a demand, i'm concerned on the limitation of single pipe processing - mixing data ethernet with USB, issues like clicks, flicker, jitter, etc. that previous RaspberryPi have.
I'm told, "Get with the times" - the days of inserting a medium and pressing play are gone. However, my cd player doesn't skip or produce flicks... No firmware or software to update ; it just works. Why is this so hard to ask?
Raspberry Pi 4 specs and benchmarks — The MagPi magazine
"Gone is the single-lane USB bottleneck which hampered performance on older models, and Raspberry Pi 4 shines in benchmarks as a result."
While streaming or sending high res audio files is not much of a demand, i'm concerned on the limitation of single pipe processing - mixing data ethernet with USB, issues like clicks, flicker, jitter, etc. that previous RaspberryPi have.
I'm told, "Get with the times" - the days of inserting a medium and pressing play are gone. However, my cd player doesn't skip or produce flicks... No firmware or software to update ; it just works. Why is this so hard to ask?
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