Want to buy a player that shows album covers - any suggestions?

[engineeringDynamo]

Budget - $1200
I have many CDs that I have started to rip to flac.
I don't want to leave my PC on all the time.
I want to find a player that will play from a a network attached storage drive.
The player must show album covers.
It would also be nice if it played from a USB drive, but this is not a dealbreaker.
Does not need to be portable.
Does not need to include a DAC.
So far, this looks like it might be the best thing for me:
- Cambridge Audio CXN (V2)

 

[gene_stl]

There is a Sony player that might be somewhat more Sony HAP S1

There is also a Pioneer that is similar.

 

[restorer-john]

Cambridge Audio CXN (V2)

Looks like a decent option to me.

 

[engineeringDynamo]

I appreciate the suggestion of the Pioneer. It was not on my radar.
Maybe the SMSL SD-9?
The display is tiny, and I don't think it includes internet radio.
https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/...player-mqa-support-dsd256-with-remote-control

 

[Marc v E]

Raspberry pi with a screen?

 

[Jimbob54]

I have the CXN V2- good bit of kit. What will be the likely distance between you and the display? I'm sat about 8ft away and I can make out obvious covers but a lot just becomes a blur of colours. Not the greatest of displays.

I have never tried it with a NAS/ DLNA set up though. I use it (seamlessly) with Roon and streaming services.

 

[engineeringDynamo]

I have the CXN V2- good bit of kit. What will be the likely distance between you and the display? I'm sat about 8ft away and I can make out obvious covers but a lot just becomes a blur of colours. Not the greatest of displays.

Thanks for the reply. So far, the CXN-V2 is looking like my best option.
I like that it includes internet radio.
Sitting on the couch, I am 11 feet from the display.
It's funny that cheaper portable players have bigger and better displays than the CXN V2.
Also, the V2 has been out for almost 2 years. I wonder when there will be a V3?

 

[Jimbob54]

Thanks for the reply. So far, the CXN-V2 is looking like my best option.
I like that it includes internet radio.
Sitting on the couch, I am 11 feet from the display.
It's funny that cheaper portable players have bigger and better displays than the CXN V2.

I'd say the display was too small for that distance

The actual album cover is roughly a 3cm square on a less than crystal clear display. The rest of the window is for text. Great kit though and you can always view/ control with the phone app

 

[KR500]

Mac Mini to your tv ?
My album covers are all on there and the Mini is only turned on during use. Zero operation noise

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

Raspberry pi with a screen?

Yep.

 

[aedagnino]

+1 Raspberry Pi and screen. Save the rest for the best usb dac you can find.

 

[Morpheus]

Budget - $1200
I have many CDs that I have started to rip to flac.
I don't want to leave my PC on all the time.
I want to find a player that will play from a a network attached storage drive.
The player must show album covers.
It would also be nice if it played from a USB drive, but this is not a dealbreaker.
Does not need to be portable.
Does not need to include a DAC.
So far, this looks like it might be the best thing for me:
- Cambridge Audio CXN (V2)

Check Cocktail audio, they have largish displays in all their current models, and the cheaper ones are within your budget.

 

[Marc v E]

Just as a side note: I tested a 2000,- euro streamer at home. It was the same as a 35,- chromecast. Same with the pi streamer at 60 euros. And the pi can play from usb too.
I have a 1500,- euro Nad dac pre that performs less than a Topping dx7pro for 600,-.Food for thought.

 

[raindance]

A universal bluray player and a computer monitor or TV is what I would use. It's the only alternative to the Pi + display.

 

[Jim Matthews]

I'm very happy with my Bluesound Vault 2.

It's not the last word in resolution, but it works and the BlueOS is stable.

 

[Morpheus]

Budget - $1200
I have many CDs that I have started to rip to flac.
I don't want to leave my PC on all the time.
I want to find a player that will play from a a network attached storage drive.
The player must show album covers.
It would also be nice if it played from a USB drive, but this is not a dealbreaker.
Does not need to be portable.
Does not need to include a DAC.
(V2)

If you lived in Europe, there are the Audiophonics readymade Pi players/streamers that come in a nice case and a very readable Pi screen with your OS of choice, for less than half of the Cambridge or the Cocktails, or even less depending on the versions ( several available, with/without Dac, etc) ... Don't know how that value proposition holds when you import though...

 

[Ron Texas]

Old windows computer with foobar2000.

 

[MrDogg]

Following, does anyone have a link to a video that shows you how to set up the pie to a screen to display album artwork? I just got mine set up with moode but that's about it but that's about the extent of my knowledge

 

[Zensō]

Following, does anyone have a link to a video that shows you how to set up the pie to a screen to display album artwork? I just got mine set up with moode but that's about it but that's about the extent of my knowledge

It‘s not a video, but a good tutorial nonetheless: http://archimago.blogspot.com/2020/08/diy-raspberry-pi-touch-audio-streamer.html

 

[MrDogg]

Great thank you!