[carlmart]

A friend of mine asked about this unit and I can't exactly pin it or explain what it does.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lossless-M...743758?hash=item41f6939e8e:g:nA0AAOSwsDZcGkaY

It says it's a "music player", which is quite generic. It doesn't show a picture of the back, so I can't know what inputs or outputs it has.

Has anyone tried one and/or does know alternative options in the market that are better?

 

[Chris Kaoss]

It belongs to the purpose.

As it's written:
Plays music from a attached usb-device, up to 32GB, to a connected dac/amp.
On the other hand, it shall be able to convert an analog input to a digital output, that makes it a ADC.

For what it is supposed to do, i wouldn't recommend to jump on.

What will be the use case for such a device by your friend?

 

[carlmart]

He wants to play music on his power amp, replacing the CD.

 

[Chris Kaoss]

What is the source component of his system?
Is he using streaming services, pc, smartphone or something?
Is pairing via bluetooth necessary?

So we can enclose the field of components he needs.

 

[carlmart]

That is the problem. He was thinking of using a mini-PC, but I don't think he will be able to. Because we can't find the model, only the brand.

OTOS I don't think that unit is worth investing in internal HD/SSD, memory, external screen and power supply.

I've seen that independent and separate units are called DAPs (digital audio players). Would you agree that might be better option?

Which would you recommend? It should be capable of playing PCM, WAV, FLAC high resolution, not MP3. Remember the idea is to replace or surpass a CD player.

 

[Chris Kaoss]

A RasperryPi connected via USB to a DAC is a good solution.
Or the formentioned DAP. Even an old used V30 is capable to do the job.
With a Qi Charging stand, you'll have a great music player, which is able to use streaming services or youtube as source player.

Setup will be:
V30 via usb into a dac into the amp. That's all.

Edit:
A small Intel-Nuc is suitable also.

 

[Monsterzero]

Depends on the budget.

Sony makes the HAP series,S1 and Z1. I know guys in the industry who swear by the Z1.
You can also Google "music server" Like what I have,Aurender N100H or the BlueSound Node or Vault or others.
Or you can go low budget and just use a normal PC,or a NUC. A standard PC can be prone to noise.

There are lots of options out there.

 

[carlmart]

I would never use a PC without an external DAC. Any PC or laptop output is noisy.

Please suggest options that are affordable. What about this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D412VL...1&ascsubtag=US-003-3050398-002-1441458-web-20

 

[Chris Kaoss]

Hi.
If that is your cup of tea, i'd recommend this one:

Spoiler: FiiO M6

https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-Resolut...YQ7YJ4R3GHZ&psc=1&refRID=XPCQ3D7YVYQ7YJ4R3GHZ

Benefit is that it has dual bluetooth mode, with which your able to receive and transceive signals.

But first, what will be the chain of your friend?
Is there an avr or any other dac/amp the streamer device will be connected?

 

[carlmart]

I don't know yet about my friend's chain.

I assembled my system with a Raspberry ethernet connected to my PC, soon to win a dedicated server. For now I'm using my PC as server.

My program of choice for the Rasp was Picorepalyer with LMS, because I didn't want to use a cell phone as remote. The output from the Rasp is a Topping D50.

Tried to use other programs that allowed to use a simple RC, but with little luck. If you have experience with other system you may suggest please do so.

Anyway, that is not the system for my friend. He's not willing to use a network from his computer. He prefers a system that does it all, like the one he had suggested at the beginning of this topic.

 

[Chris Kaoss]

I known you on that point.

But what is the budget of such a system?
What he is feeding with?
How does his system looks at the moment?
We need a point to start with and need how it ends up.

The FiiO M6 looks like a good start, paired with an amp which goes to . . . . . ?

Is it meant for a speaker setup or a headphone station? With an avr or an (headphone)amp?

Please give more input on that, bc it's hard to figure out where the journey is going to.

 

[carlmart]

To start with it's exclusively a speaker system, never whatsoever will a headphone enter that system. My friend makes high quality speakers, and he abhors headphones.

Always a power amp, usually Luxman, sometimes another similar good quality one. Never a preamp, never a receiver. He only used a preamp in LP times, but now he feeds the CD player, lately a Marantz, directly into the power amp.

He has compared it with and without the Luxman preamp, and direct feed was always better. Level is controlled digitally from the Marants, with the RC. Bypassing the pot at the Luxman power amp.

It wouldn't be different with this new system.

 

[Chris Kaoss]

Such devices like the FiiO M6/9, which are daps in gerneral, are what you're looking for.
While it is sitting on the desk and connected to the amp, you can control it remote from your smartphone to play/pause/skip tracks, adjusting the volume and so on.

Maybe someone with better knownledge in daps could chime in for help.

All the best and have a great day.
Chris