Digital Music Receiver/player

[Mike 1]

On a bit of a mission for the olds to find a decent digital music setup. Bit of interest in the LCD vs Plasma thread so thought might find the answer here.

Whatever we go with needs to be easy to use and read (large-ish screen), reliable, neat, and not cost a bundle. Doesn't really need a huge amount of features as chances are they wont get used.

ie I dont want to setup a pc down there, its a hassle to turn on each time and just isn't an elegant solution.

I've been looking at network audio receivers but they seem pretty expensive for what they are. This means that all the music has to be loaded onto the PC, but IMO is the easiest way to do it to get all the album info and art. Also means that other devices can get music off the home pc, or the receiver can pull music off any other pc on the network

Whats out there in terms of standalone players? Ie something with a hard-drive that can either rip music off a CD or load it on via USB? Then it just plugs into the amp. The home theatre receiver will probably also get an upgrade soon so are there any receivers out there with that sort of feature built in? The house is already wired for speakers so dosn't need multi-room or anything like that.

Cheers

[antony 0]

We've got a bose system, does most of the above, i think.

[my_e36 43]

There are some micro Hi-Fi that has HDDs, Sony has a couple of model that have it at least. What about PS3?

[greenday-rulz21 6]

Denon are great systems. Look stunning and are really nice to use. I have to admit they can be pricey, but in this case you get what you pay for.

For reasonably small speakers, they have one hell of a punch. I was honestly blown away when I heard the quality of the sound.

The NZ stockists are Eastern Hi-Fi AFAIK. Thats where we got our unit.

Edited December 1, 2008 by Nick021

[Mike 1]

We've got a bose system, does most of the above, i think.

Bit out of the price range. They also have everything else setup so seems a bit of a waste.

There are some micro Hi-Fi that has HDDs, Sony has a couple of model that have it at least. What about PS3?

PS3 works ok-ish as a client and I reckon is pretty easy as a music player to use but still has the hassle of needing to turn the telly on. I think if I went that route I might as well run an old PC with the telly as a screen

Looking to spend about $1K on the amp and same again on the player, or $2K for a combined system. Could convince to spend a little more if they had to

Something like an iPod/MP3 in a dock could work, just be nicer if the screen was a little larger.

I like what this does:

http://www.easternhifi.co.nz/default,844.sm

very nice how it will pull album info off the net, ditch the built-in amp and speakers and its getting closer to what I'm after

Edited December 1, 2008 by Mike

[antony 0]

This could work...or not.

[Mike 1]

this is probably the best option at the moment:

http://www.productwiki.com/philips-np2500/

just not sure on how price/availability in NZ yet. If that had a built in hard-drive it would be perfect

[hybrid 1043]

I know you have already discounted the pc option.

I run a computer in standby mode with a DVB-S (freeview) card and some great open source software called Media Portal.

whole thing including Sony Bravia cost me 3k.

Control the whole thing from a remote

computer is in a nice case that sits in the cabinet below.

[martyyn 2]

I run a computer in standby mode with a DVB-S (freeview) card and some great open source software called Media Portal.

Yep me too. Have been using Mediaportal for over two years now. Have a server under the house with full remote access from anywhere and an HTPC under the tv with DVB-T, DVB-S and Sky recording all the tv I want whenever I want with the music wireless to both the laptops.

It can be a pain to set up initially, but its an awful lot better than it used to be and its worked flawlessly for months for me now.

In fact if you dont bother with the tv, its a doddle to set up and use and like josh said you can use one remote to control everything.

I have seen something similar to the Philips though Mike. Ill see if I can dig it out. I think it was $500 and did all the wirelss music, plus digital channels, plus internet radio too. All of a sudden though $500 sounds rather cheap.

What about an ipod touch on a docking station into the stereo? Those screens are pretty reasonable.