Looking for suggestions for a music streamer with external HDD support

[ziggurcat]

As the title suggests, I'm looking to get a music streamer than will allow me to put all of my digital music on an external HDD, and play it locally. I have looked at the Cambridge MXN10 and the Yamaha WXC50, but would like to put the feelers out there to maybe get some other option(s) that I have overlooked. I did, at one point, use a Raspberry Pi with Volumio, but there are a few things about it that I don't like, so I stopped using that. My wife occasionally uses Spotify, and Apple Music, so if it had support for that, it would be a bonus. I am willing to sort of capitulate a little if it has Air Play support to stream via WiFi from my computer rather than BT, but my preference would be local from an external HDD (I would consider the WiiM Ultra or the Pro Plus in the Spotify/Apple Music/Air Play scenario).

I've got no budget sorted out, but the MXN10 is roughly $749 CAD, which would be the absolute max I would be willing to go for something like this, but only if that's the best option.

 

[sergeauckland]

May I suggest the Squeezebox Touch? Discontinued but still available used quite easily. The best thing about it is that the server software LMS, is regularly maintained by an army of volunteers, far better than any commercial organisation that will stop updating as soon as they move on to The Next Great Thing.

LMS supports Spotify, Itunes, BBC Sounds, Chromecast, Qubuz, Tidal amongst a load of others.

You don't even need the Squeezebox hardware, as any old 'phone or tablet can be used running the Squeezeplay emulator.

LMS will run on pretty much any hardware, Windows, Apple or Linux.

Oh, and LMS and Squeezeplay are free!

S.

 

[ZolaIII]

Any rooter literally with USB and DLNA support can be used as server. On reciver and DAC side take a look at WiiM offering. If you would go with rooter stick with WiFi 6E at least and with Intel or Broadcom SoC powering it.

 

[rwtooley]

Bluesound Node has been good to me with a 2TB drive attached via USB on the rear of the unit. they recommend using a NAS but I've been doing it this way 3+ years without issue. it has SpotifyConnect and support for Apple Music (AirPlay2 as well). and what a coinkydink! the latest Node lists @ 749 Canuck-bucks.

 

[ziggurcat]

Bluesound Node has been good to me with a 2TB drive attached via USB on the rear of the unit. they recommend using a NAS but I've been doing it this way 3+ years without issue. it has SpotifyConnect and support for Apple Music (AirPlay2 as well). and what a coinkydink! the latest Node lists @ 749 Canuck-bucks.

There appears to be two different Node models - one is $749 CAD, the other is around $400 CAD. Both appear to be - at least from the back side of it all - the same. I found some review for a Node model here, and it doesn't seem to fare very well, but I haven't ruled it out. I also came across the Ifi Zen Stream, which may also be an option - if anyone has any thoughts/info on that, let me know!

May I suggest the Squeezebox Touch? Discontinued but still available used quite easily. The best thing about it is that the server software LMS, is regularly maintained by an army of volunteers, far better than any commercial organisation that will stop updating as soon as they move on to The Next Great Thing.

LMS supports Spotify, Itunes, BBC Sounds, Chromecast, Qubuz, Tidal amongst a load of others.

You don't even need the Squeezebox hardware, as any old 'phone or tablet can be used running the Squeezeplay emulator.

LMS will run on pretty much any hardware, Windows, Apple or Linux.

Oh, and LMS and Squeezeplay are free!

S.

I'll look into that, but I can say that being in Canada, it is pretty difficult to get things that are discontinued like that - I've poked around, but haven't found any in the brief, tertiary search I've made so far.

 

[rwtooley]

There appears to be two different Node models - one is $749 CAD, the other is around $400 CAD. Both appear to be - at least from the back side of it all - the same. I found some review for a Node model here, and it doesn't seem to fare very well, but I haven't ruled it out. I also came across the Ifi Zen Stream, which may also be an option - if anyone has any thoughts/info on that, let me know!

no knowledge of iFi products. but as to the Node vs. Nano: Nano has no HDMI input or goofy (and fairly useless) touch-"screen" (it really doesn't display anything?). but I do find the quick-select dots on the Node to be handy.. you can program them for different playlists and after a long workday I can come home fire up my amp and DAC and hit one of the dots without opening an app to enjoy music.

 

[ziggurcat]

no knowledge of iFi products. but as to the Node vs. Nano: Nano has no HDMI input or goofy (and fairly useless) touch-"screen" (it really doesn't display anything?). but I do find the quick-select dots on the Node to be handy.. you can program them for different playlists and after a long workday I can come home fire up my amp and DAC and hit one of the dots without opening an app to enjoy music.

It's definitely not the NANO. I think it's just an older model: https://www.bluesound.com/can/node-...rvVE3rDAT_G2WJPQAT2BiXAZXpXzTN3M_9zg19xlfAZUg

There's that, and the "Node Performance" models I've come across. I've seen the NANO as well. I won't need HDMI, so I can add that to the list of options.

 

[Count Arthur]

I think all the Eversolo streamers have an internal M.2 slot for up to 4TB NVMe drives:

Best High Resolution DAC-EverSolo,EverSolo Best High Resolution

Eversolo is the registered trademark of Eversolo Audio.The core founding team members have engaged in the development and management among HiFi industry for many years. The R&D team covers audio decoding, analog audio, acoustic tuning, amplifiers, system integration, user experience and so on...

www.eversolo.com

You can get 2TB NVMe drives for around £100 and 4TB for around £200.

 

[Chazz6]

Do you have a Windows PC? Hang the HDD on it. Use nearly-free Minimserver program to stream files off the HDD to your home network. Receive files with a Denon LinkHS2 or comparable Wiim or Audioengine B-Fi or other inexpensive boxes. Use BubbleUPnP app on Android to select file or stream and tell Minimserver to send it.