I am thinking of getting an Audiophile only server

[CharlyD]

Originally Posted by JerryDelColliano

If you want to buy the "reserve" bottle of wine to enjoy the ABSOLUTE BEST a winemaker has to offer all it takes is money and a corkscrew. With music its an outright pain in the ass.

You left out the glass. Somehow I don't think a Chateau Margaux would taste the same out of cupped hands. But seriously, if you have the ear of the movers and shakers in this hi-end CE world, please let them know that there is a demand out there to be able to enjoy the best content in the best available formats. It's really distressing to me to see how poorly these vendors are doing in providing the best possible technology to their customers. The key points are pretty simple:

Provide systems that fully support at least 24-bit/96kHz and/or DSD data in at least 5.1 channels. This means including a data path and processing that does not compromise this data. There are A/V receivers from very reputable vendors that specify a dynamic range of 96dB, the theoretical maximum for 16-bit PCM data. It's my bet that they only work on the upper 16 bits of hi-rez data and toss the lower 8 bits. Today's 24-bit/192 kHz DACs and associated DSP's are only a few dollars more per channel over a 16-bit version.

Setting up these systems to support hi-rez, multichannel data should incur no additional difficulties. HDMI 1.3 can carry all content. Don't make the user add lots of extra wires.

Support storage, transfer and decoding/rendering of file formats that contain hi-rez, multichannel content. I had a chance to skim the reviews of several music servers in this month's The Absolute Sound while shopping this afternoon. None of these servers support multi-channel content. A few did support at least 24-bit/96kHz. There was one whose best supported file format was 328 kbps lossy compressed. iTrax and a few other sites now allow download of hi-rez content, but can't suggest systems to allow their easy storage and rendering (except Media Center PC's).

I almost forgot DRM. Either support for DRM needs to be included end-to-end (e.g. Plays for Sure), or there needs to be sites for legal download of content from the popular artists in lossless, non-DRM'd formats. There are alernative technologies such as watermarking that would allow easier detection of piracy.

[The Computer Audiophile]

I highly suggest using a Mac Mini and a high-end DAC. For music you can't beat iTrax 24/96 wav files and Linn Records 24/96 FLAC files. The Linn FLAC files are studio master quality and the same files they use to create their SACDs. No DRM on either site. This is the adult version of iTunes and to a certain extent Music Giants. The DRM and somewhat inferior sound quality from Music Giants, compared to Linn and iTrax, really turns me off.

If you want the Bentley of Music Servers just get the Sooloos Music System.

[JerryDelColliano]

Sooloos is something I have seen in passing and would be interested in.

Does anybody know more about them? Who backs them? How many dealers do they have? How is their system better than others like ReQuest, Kalidescape (expensive), Logitech and others...?

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by JerryDelColliano

Sooloos is something I have seen in passing and would be interested in.

Does anybody know more about them? Who backs them? How many dealers do they have? How is their system better than others like ReQuest, Kalidescape (expensive), Logitech and others...?

Jerry check out Arcam's unit. I've been trying to find out more about it. I'm thinking of having one for my house. I trust a high end audio company making an "audiophile," version over Request and others.

Arcam is the first one out with a real server. I hope Meridian comes out with one because that would make my decision making process easier. I'm going to look at the Arcam sometime next week myself.

http://www.audiophilesystems.com/pro...=9&sname=ARCAM

[The Computer Audiophile]

Originally Posted by JerryDelColliano

Sooloos is something I have seen in passing and would be interested in.

Does anybody know more about them? Who backs them? How many dealers do they have? How is their system better than others like ReQuest, Kalidescape (expensive), Logitech and others...?

Checkout TONE Audio volume 11. Jeff Dorgay reviews the unit. Linn also makes a great music server as long as we are talking about rather spendy items. I think the Sooloos is more of a computer content manager than an Audiophile item. It is built like a business class server with redundancy and a great user interface. Nobody who has the cash for this is going to use the built in DAC. In a sense sticking with an traditional audiophile component company for a computer disguised as a music server may not be the best option. Just a thought.

I think the Sooloos is the Bentley of music servers though. High class, no nonsense, touch the screen and hear music.

[JerryDelColliano]

I never got the second server.

It looks like ReQuest will be able to do non-DRM files from Music Giants.

I may still need another server at some point but I just ran out of $$$ for it now