jobseeker
pfm Member
I'm at the point where I'm looking for a new good quality digital source to feed a pair of Meridian DSP5200 loudspeakers. The 'speakers will be doing the DAC work and the amplification (though I'm not necessarily against something with a decent analogue output stage, as it could be used in another system).
I realise that CD is at a bit of a crossroads, but I like something in my hand for my money and I have absolutely no desire to download anything from Itunes or anywhere else unless I have to in order to get what I want. Silver disc is still where it's at for me, but I realise that other forms of getting and storing music are there and fast improving, but fast-changing also. Computer based audio has moved on at a pace beyond my comfort zone. Nothing I read about it is in any way meaningful to me.
Having said that, I can see the attraction and benefits of having music stored on a hard drive, with access to album art, notes and full search facilities, plus being able to connect in a USB drive and such things. In fact, I would quite like it, so I would consider something that gave me the opportunity to store the content of CD's like that, but it would have to be a case of 'put it in, wait, take it out'. A nice, painless, simple and reliable operation in other words. Of course, the little I know about computers includes the fact that they are guaranteed to fail, so back-up of any data is required. I already don't like the sound of that.
I don't really want to spend more than £2k (used, dem, or new) and that has to include the ability to play CD's well as the prime concern. An obvious candidate might be Meridian Sooloos, but it's to expensive and it sounds damn complicated. The Naim Unitiserve sounds like the ideal type of candidate in what it supposedly does, but that, too, could be complicated for all I know, or there may be things out there that do the same better or for less. The Naim HDX was something else I saw, but much too expensive.
It may be that I should stay away from all this stuff I don't understand and just buy a competent CD player / transport - and I might do that, so recommendations welcome. I owe it to mysef to consider the alternatives though, so I'm interested in anyone's point of view on what I should consider. Obviously, once I make a short-list I can do the necessary test driving.
I realise that CD is at a bit of a crossroads, but I like something in my hand for my money and I have absolutely no desire to download anything from Itunes or anywhere else unless I have to in order to get what I want. Silver disc is still where it's at for me, but I realise that other forms of getting and storing music are there and fast improving, but fast-changing also. Computer based audio has moved on at a pace beyond my comfort zone. Nothing I read about it is in any way meaningful to me.
Having said that, I can see the attraction and benefits of having music stored on a hard drive, with access to album art, notes and full search facilities, plus being able to connect in a USB drive and such things. In fact, I would quite like it, so I would consider something that gave me the opportunity to store the content of CD's like that, but it would have to be a case of 'put it in, wait, take it out'. A nice, painless, simple and reliable operation in other words. Of course, the little I know about computers includes the fact that they are guaranteed to fail, so back-up of any data is required. I already don't like the sound of that.
I don't really want to spend more than £2k (used, dem, or new) and that has to include the ability to play CD's well as the prime concern. An obvious candidate might be Meridian Sooloos, but it's to expensive and it sounds damn complicated. The Naim Unitiserve sounds like the ideal type of candidate in what it supposedly does, but that, too, could be complicated for all I know, or there may be things out there that do the same better or for less. The Naim HDX was something else I saw, but much too expensive.
It may be that I should stay away from all this stuff I don't understand and just buy a competent CD player / transport - and I might do that, so recommendations welcome. I owe it to mysef to consider the alternatives though, so I'm interested in anyone's point of view on what I should consider. Obviously, once I make a short-list I can do the necessary test driving.
, it's more akin to a sky+ box ...
