Suggest Simple Streamer: Send FLAC from Hard Drive > Simple Box+Screen with file OS navigation > DAC

[joeg26er]

I’m putting together a 2nd system and wondering how to do this in the simplest way without spending over $1k
I’m a little out of date so appreciate getting up to speed

Don't want a DIY solution

Send FLAC from Hard Drive > Simple Box+Screen with Simple file OS navigation > DAC
bonus points for having a way to control via iphone without extra costs
bonus points for voice searchable file OS
bonus points for super low noise power supply

Something like a stripped down Wiim or Eversolo box that has an integrated screen with a file navigation system
that sends the file to my outboard DAC without any changes

Would like to send the file to the outboard DAC without any processing and with widest data path. Would this be HDMI?

I’ve done it before using a MacBook Pro (real PITA) but would prefer doing it in an all in one solution to make it more user friendly

Also don’t want to rely on subscription software or anything that requires upgrading

ADDED INFO: Ideally - looking for an all in one, streaming box solution that I can attach a hard drive to.

The box would have it's own screen and file navigation OS. Then directly output to my outboard DAC without any signal processing. I want the outboard DAC to do all that.

Any file updates would be done by connecting to the hard drive with my Mac so I don't need the simple box to do that

 

[qirex]

I know you say you don't want to DIY it but Moode running on a RPi or other small computer with a display is probably the closest thing to what you're describing.

 

[voodooless]

Just get a cheap Android tablet.

 

[ColinRhymesWithBubkes]

I know you say you don't want to DIY it but Moode running on a RPi or other small computer with a display is probably the closest thing to what you're describing.

I'm in a similar boat to the OP, but know even less (though my RPi-fu is probably reasonably strong). Does volume control come from the RPi, or from an amp on the other side of the DAC?

 

[Keith_W]

1. MiniPC/NUC like this Geekom - $200-300.
2. Monitor, keyboard, etc - about $200
3. JRiver license - $90
4. BubbleUPNP license (to control JRiver) - $6 or JRemote 3 - $6
5. Old phone / iPad / Android tablet - either free, or as much as you would like to spend.

All up, less than $600.

 

[Bwaslo]

Wouldn't a Wiim Ultra or even lesser model do that for about $300? Just put a USB adaptor on the hard drive, or use a usb flash drive

 

[IngMishael]

Wiim Ultra should work and you can navigate from your phone

 

[joeg26er]

Wiim Ultra should work and you can navigate from your phone

I ended up getting a Wiim Ultra, nice solution so far but it does not seem to like when you unplug the USB drive. Seems it has to rescan the USB every time you put it back online.

I will get probably a Wimm Pro Plus for my second setup

 

[Barrelhouse Solly]

I'm in a similar boat to the OP, but know even less (though my RPi-fu is probably reasonably strong). Does volume control come from the RPi, or from an amp on the other side of the DAC?

It depends. You can always have software controlled volume on the Pi but you can set it to be fixed at 0 dB and control it elsewhere in the chain. For more of an appliance solution you could use an inexpensive Android tablet if you music files are available as network shares. A music player on the tablet and an inexpensive 43131 dongle to connect it to the amp.

 

[Bwaslo]

I ended up getting a Wiim Ultra, nice solution so far but it does not seem to like when you unplug the USB drive. Seems it has to rescan the USB every time you put it back online.

I will get probably a Wimm Pro Plus for my second setup

USB drives are cheap... Why not just leave one full of your files always plugged in, keep another copy for external use? No readon to ever turn the Ultra off, let it go into standby, it recovers without needing to rescan.