[johnnyb3]

Hi, all,

I am entirely new to the world of digital audio players. I have done some searching but I don't talk the talk and am not quite sure what is easy/assumed and what is not. So I'm asking you nice folks for a little help.

What I'd like is a DAP that I can just rip all of my CDs to and then use as a component in my old stereo rig, running to the "AUX" inputs. Pretty much a must is an app so that I can select and play an album from my iPhone. Another great feature would be Airplay -- or functionality to control Spotify and the like again from the iPhone, but that's not a total deal-breaker. We're talking a collection of about 100 CDs, so 1 TB would be more than adequate capacity. I have checked out, e.g. the Fiio E9 and E11 but wasn't sure what they'd do for my various requirements.

Thanks for any guidance.

John

 

[pbui44]

Astell and Kern has a CD-ripper:

https://us.astellnkern.com/products/ak-ripper-mkii

but with their various models needing new firmware for tidal or can no longer support tidal:

https://www.astellnkern.com/eng/con...ew.asp?search=&word=&idx=1000718&page=1&no=55

the easiest and probably most cost-effective solution is getting a laptop and bd/dvd/cd usb drive to rip your cds, then transferring them to a dap, like getting these four items for around $1,000 and having Windows 11 compatibility for the next ten years:

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Convertible-Fingerprint-Rechargeable-SP314-54N-50W3/dp/B0866PDL8W

https://www.amazon.com/Archgon-Prem...ternal+4k+blu+ray+drive&qid=1628187725&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Sele...23b34c&pd_rd_wg=HJTy2&pd_rd_i=B0887GP791&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-Recorde...7JDR5SYZ/ref=pd_lpo_3?pd_rd_i=B07JDR5SYZ&th=1

 

[johnnyb3]

Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll have to study the various parts of your solution, but breaking up the process makes a lot of sense.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

I am entirely new to the world of digital audio players. I have done some searching but I don't talk the talk and am not quite sure what is easy/assumed and what is not. So I'm asking you nice folks for a little help.

What I'd like is a DAP that I can just rip all of my CDs to and then use as a component in my old stereo rig, running to the "AUX" inputs.

Just to make sure we got all the bases covered...you still have a computer that has an optical drive, right?

You just archive the CDs and then transfer a copy of each into an SD card, which you can then use in the DAP.

Pretty much a must is an app so that I can select and play an album from my iPhone.

Pretty much all of them have some kind of remote app, either Hiby Link on Hiby and Hidisz players (and a few others), plus Fiio's own control app.

Some of them can run full Android but then the app control will depend on what player app you use.

Another great feature would be Airplay --

I don't remember these DAPs having AirPlay but do you really need it to be a DAP ie a PDAP? Because big brand music servers have AirPlay. Like the ones made by Marantz. And instead of SD cards you use an HDD server that you can put in another room so mechanical drive noise won't be a problem, you just need to run a LAN cable between them.

...or functionality to control Spotify and the like again from the iPhone, but that's not a total deal-breaker.

Spotify has its own remote app, but then that would require you get a DAP that can run full Android to run Spotify or the ones that run a very limited Android version and have Spotify in there (I think that means Fiio, mostly).

Otherwise if you're not using downloaded Spotify tracks anyway any DAP with two way BT can just get audio streamed to it and BT wouldn't matter for the bitrate of streamed Spotify.

We're talking a collection of about 100 CDs, so 1 TB would be more than adequate capacity.

If you don't need to take this player on the go with you I'd much rather use a home music server.

I have checked out, e.g. the Fiio E9 and E11 but wasn't sure what they'd do for my various requirements.

Do you mean the M9 and M11? The E-series are amplifiers.

M9 and M11 can run limited Android. AFAIK Spotify can be loaded in there. As for remote apps you need the Fiio Music App.

 

[johnnyb3]

Yes, meant M9/11 and not E. Thanks for your detailed reply and for making me aware of yet another option! I have some homework to do for sure.

 

[miserybeforethemusic]

Astell and Kern has a CD-ripper:

https://us.astellnkern.com/products/ak-ripper-mkii

but with their various models needing new firmware for tidal or can no longer support tidal:

https://www.astellnkern.com/eng/con...ew.asp?search=&word=&idx=1000718&page=1&no=55

the easiest and probably most cost-effective solution is getting a laptop and bd/dvd/cd usb drive to rip your cds, then transferring them to a dap, like getting these four items for around $1,000 and having Windows 11 compatibility for the next ten years:

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Convertible-Fingerprint-Rechargeable-SP314-54N-50W3/dp/B0866PDL8W

https://www.amazon.com/Archgon-Prem...ternal+4k+blu+ray+drive&qid=1628187725&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Sele...23b34c&pd_rd_wg=HJTy2&pd_rd_i=B0887GP791&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-Recorde...7JDR5SYZ/ref=pd_lpo_3?pd_rd_i=B07JDR5SYZ&th=1

That would only apply to the native Tidal app; A&K users can also just install the up-to-date APK/XAPK and keep Tidal functionality on their A&K DAPs.

Yep, they have a CD ripper. I'd say it's largely impractical and you'd get far more value with a $20 DVD burner and your choice of ripping software. EAC and Musicbrainz Picard are both free and will get you bit-perfect CD rips with impeccable tagging. I prefer dbpoweramp, but it's not a free option. I'd agree; don't go A&K just for the CD ripper. Never confine yourself to one ecosystem if you can help it.