[loveheadphones]

I've been looking at different ways to enable listening with very little noise.
Currently have a good DAC and a good headphone amp, but it is hooked up directly to a computer, which, try as I might, is not entirely silent.

Came across Ipod + Iwadia solution, along with the slimdevices Duet.

From what I can see, choosing between these two distinct methods of distributing music comes down to comparing & contrasting having a portable source vs a streaming solution.

Portable source
+ can take it with you
+ don't have to have a computer on for serving
- possibly lower lifetime
- cannot distribute music to more than one node easily
- possibly more electrical noise because of disc and UI on the same piece of hardware??

streaming
+ everything is through wifi/ethernet so no electrical noise/jitter
+ can possibly serve to other nodes
- have to keep a computer on all the time to serve (or use a NAS, or only turn on right before listening in another room)

anyone have opinions on these two methods? I really can't figure out what would work best. I've already got a computer that I can use to serve. Money isn't really too different for either solution. Any more pros or cons would be helpful too

 

[micaela]

Your computer doesn't have to be on for the Squeezebox - Duet to work.

I have both solutions & use them for different situations. I just bought a 2nd Duet to go in the bedroom. I like it b/c the capacity is larger than any portable player (DAP in my case)- only limited by the size of your hd & now days storage space is so reasonable its pretty much unlimited. The new controller for the Duet is very handy - I love it! Everything is right there at your fingertips & you don't have to change the contents of your portable to suit your listening mood. You can also access internet radio w/out the computer being on. I use my DAP for on the go listening or when I'm going to be leaving home & want to take my MicroDAC & amp along. I've tried portable cd players - but they are just not as convenient to me as either the DAP or the squeezebox. If I could only have one, I would go w/the Duet & save for a DAP.

 

[breakfastchef]

First off, you do not describe your PC setup. I do not know why you might be experiencing noise.

I use an external hard drive attached to a PC as storage and stream music to a Squeezebox 3. The PC also runs a digital output into a Beresford DAC and to a Little Dot MKII tube amp. I absolutely love digital storage. It is the center of my personal listening area. The Squeezebox is easily moved to other areas of my home (being a wireless version) so I can access my music nearly anywhere.

For a more portable, on the go system, I have a portable external drive I use with my laptop as storage. My iBasso D1 is the USB/DAC and I connect my headphones to the D1. Nice combo.

The above scenarios do not discount the usefulness of a DAP and a pair of earbuds. Nowadays, it is not expensive to have a low-fi DAP/earphone combo for use on the run with better equipment waiting for you at home.

 

[loveheadphones]

I'm experiencing noise with the PC setup because of the fan on the PSU and the hard drive - i've tried to quiet it with a slower fan on the PSU.
Anyway, that's why the duet would be handy, because then it doesn't really matter how loud the computer is (if it's far away). Doesn't the computer need to be on to access the music library (sure, you can always do internet radio)?
I've already got a DAP, this was more just a question about using a portable docking system or a streaming solution for piping music to the area where i'd like to listen.
I'm sure I could invest some work in making the computer dead silent, but theoretically, I like the idea of not having all that electrical noise (PSU, HDD, mobo, interface with audio card, audio card) in the chain - it seems like a portable docking or streaming system would get rid of some of that stuff (particularly the streaming system).
DAC: monarchy 22b w/ piggyback mod
IC's - headphile blackgold
amp: blockhead
hp's: hd-650 w/ balanced Zu mobius cables

 

[micaela]

Yes, you are right that your pc needs to be on if you are accessing your collection directly from your hd. You can store your collection online though & in that case you don't need the pc to be on. But that is also an extra expense. I just leave my pc on most of the time anyway so its no big deal. Occasionally I sit down to listen to music & forget that I had turned off the pc in the other room -- but most of the time it is pretty seamless. I also have found that I enjoy the radio stations more than I thought I would.