Editors’ Choice: Music Servers

Muzo Cobblestone

$59

This inexpensive little device provides wireless streaming to any audio system. Although the Cobblestone wouldn’t be considered for a reference system, it simply and inexpensively adds Internet radio, smartphone streaming, and NAS playback capabilities to a secondary, “lifestyle,” or background music system. The Cobblestone produces listenable, if not riveting, sound. The Cobblestone’s overall harmonic balance is slightly dark, with forgiving highs and a warmish upper bass and lower midrange. When compared in a direct A/B with the Sonos Connect’s analog output SS found that Cobblestone was the Sonos’ equal in every sonic respect except one—the Cobblestone could play 96/24 files while the Sonos could not. 

iFi Zen Stream

$399

As you might surmise from its name, the Zen Stream is a streaming endpoint. As an endpoint with both USB 3.0 and SPDIF outputs, it can deliver Internet and networked music sources to any DAC with either USB or SPDIF inputs. If you have a great DAC that doesn’t have a USB input that you would like to use with networked sources, the Zen Stream makes that possible. The Zen Stream supports many streaming sources via Wi-Fi or Ethernet including Spotify, Tidal, Roon, AirPlay, Chromecast, DLNA, and NAA (Network Audio Adapter). It has no file-size, file-type, or library-size limits. The Zen Streamer may well be the most hassle-free, flexible, and high-quality music streamer currently available. 

Sonore microRendu Renderer

$399 (plus power supply; Sonore 7 Vdc Power Supply is $695)

This unusual device takes files sent by an external server, which you must also provide, and plays, or renders, them, which means it converts digital music files in the usual variety of formats to a bitstream a DAC can handle; and that DAC, of course, must have a USB 2.0 input. It is compatible with PCM files up to 768kHz sampling rate and DSD512. The microRendu produced a significant improvement in transparency, detail resolution, spatiality, timbral realism, and overall sound quality. Note that you need to buy a separate power supply, like Sonore’s own at $695. 

SOtM sMS-200 Mini Network Player

$450

SOtM’s sMS-200 plays just about any type of music files stored on a network or an external USB drive. A versatile software collection called Eunhasu includes the popular Roon software (a two-month trial) and several other capable playback programs. A quality USB output connects to a DAC. An upscale version, the sMS-200ultra, adds a high-precision clock for even better sound, but increases the price to $1200. 

UpTone Audio EtherREGEN

$640

The EtherREGEN is unique among Ethernet switches in that it uses a circuit topology called the Active Differential Isolation Moat or ADIM that completely isolates the side of the switch (typically the “A” side) used for connecting network devices from the side connected to the renderer, network bridge, or streamer (typically the “B” side). The ADIM provides electrical, galvanic, and noise isolation between the two sides. The remarkable sonic improvements, says reviewer Steven Scharf, make for a breakthrough and a landmark. At $640, the UpTone EtherREGEN is one of the biggest value propositions in all high-end audio. 

GeerFab D.BOB (Digtal BreakOut Box)

$999

GeerFab’s D.BOB device promises to allow you to use the DAC of your choice with a Blu-ray, SACD, CD, CDR, or virtually any recognized-by-your-player silver or golden disc, if your disc player has an HDMI output. Adding the D.BOB to your system is relatively simple, merely connect your player’s HDMI output to the D.BOB’s HDMI input, and then connect the D.BOB’s SPDIF or TosLink output to your DAC. The D.BOB is capable of handling up to PCM 192/24 and DSD64. If you have a large collection of high-resolution discs, the D.BOB gives you a future-proof way to continue to enjoy them into the foreseeable future. 

Aurender N100H-2TB

$2700

Aurender’s N100H-2TB brings you a surprising amount of the technology, sound quality, and outstanding user experience of the flagship W20SE for a fraction of the price. You don’t get features such as dual-wire AES and clock input, but most users don’t need those things anyway. The internal storage is 2TB rather than 12TB, but you can always add a NAS drive. What you do get is the same outstanding Conductor app, Tidal integration, and Remote Support. Aurender’s Conductor app for iPad is by far the best RH has used—fast, visually appealing, stable, intuitive, and uncluttered, with features that have been refined through actual use. Sonically, the N100H comes close to the W20’s state-of-the-art performance, particularly considering the cost difference. 

Bryston BDP-3

$4195

The BDP-3 digital player is a technological tour de force that bridges generational divides: between the Old World CD player and the New World of high-resolution files and music-library management. The BDP-3 performs the same function as a CD transport but plays data files from removable USB storage media at their native resolution and in a multiplicity of file formats. The BDP-3 uses the same digital audio circuitry as the BDP-1 and BDP-2, but like the BDP-2 incorporates a more powerful system board and a correspondingly heftier power supply. Processor speed and memory capacity are also increased. Connectivity is expanded to include an internal SATA connection, an eSATA port, two gigabit Ethernet ports, and six full-current USB 2.0 ports. The Bryston BDP-3 doesn’t merely “sound better,” the experience of hearing music through it is qualitatively different. It plays music with unprecedented purity. 

Cary Audio DMS-550

$5495

With superb sonics and wide-ranging connectivity, the DMS-550 is one of the most format-friendly and non-finicky net audio players on the market. Cary’s 3rd generation player is fully operational for streaming or file playback, wireless or Ethernet. Outfitted with the latest AKM “Velvet Sound” chip, on tap is native playback up to 32-bit/768 kHz PCM as well as native DSD up to 512. It’s also MQA-equipped and Roon-ready thus even more sonically rewarding. The sound of the player is full and warm, dynamic and quick but not to the point of etch or grain. In short, a winner. 

Aurender ACS10

$6000–$7500

The Aurender ACS10 was created to be an almost-complete one-box server solution. It’s a stand-alone digital hub designed to interface with an external DAC via a USB connection. Merely add the USB-enabled DAC of your choice and you have an entire digital front end capable of doing virtually anything and everything a computer/NAS/streamer system can do, and more. If your goal is to acquire a streamer source that will deliver the highest possible level of sonic quality currently available from higher-resolution streaming sources, handle all the ripping and storage, and do this elegantly, you will be hard-pressed to find a better, more comprehensive, self-contained hardware/software option than the Aurender ACS10. 

Baetis Audio Revolution X3 

$6200

The Revolution X3 is in the middle of Baetis Audio’s product range, a compact component (13¼” wide) with plenty of connectivity—proprietary SPDIF and AES/EBU outputs plus plenty of USB ports, one of which can be upgraded to an SOtM interface with or without a premium clock card. Supplied with the machine is a beefy Neutrik power cord, a substantial external power supply, 4TB of media storage, and—most critically—customer service that’s second to none in the industry. New owners are scheduled for a block of one-on-one instruction to assure that their X3 has been configured according to their wishes and that they know how to use it. Unnecessary “bloatware” has been removed from the Windows OS to optimize sonic performance. 

Fidata HFAS1-XS20U Network Audio Server

$8000 (2TB version)

This beautifully built solid-state drive from Japan is designed for ultimate performance. The unit is built around the highest quality solid-state memory chips (1TB or 2TB arrays) encased in a massive vibration-resistant chassis. The power supply, output clocking, network isolation, and other design features are optimized for uncompromised audio performance. Although supplied with a dedicated music-management app, the HFAS1 can also be accessed through Roon. The sound quality of network streaming from the Fidata is exceptional, with greater resolution of low-level detail, a larger soundstage, and more natural rendering of timbre when compared with the same files played from an HDD through a USB interface. 

Technics SU-R1

$8999

This network streamer and DAC sports two pairs of analog inputs for full preamp functionality. The clock is battery-powered, which shields this critically sensitive element from AC line noise. Because the degree and nature of jitter differs by input, Technics built a specific jitter-reduction circuit for each source. The USB module is graced with an expensive ruby mica capacitor. Plus, there’s a Direct mode that bypasses everything but minimum circuitry. Engaging this mode results in an immediate and distinct uptick in transparency. The sound is direct and pure. There’s nothing to obscure your ability to dive into the music like an inviting pool on a summer day. 

Aurender N20 High Definition Caching Music Server/Streamer

$12,000

The Aurender N20 slots in one position lower than its $22,500, state-of-the-art W20SE. Beautifully built and finished, the N20 sports outstanding transparency, resolution, and three-dimensionality. If you want a beautifully made audio streamer that supports on-board file storage, seamless integration with streaming services or a NAS, and is a veritable snap to set-up, the N20 bears serious consideration. With well-mastered recordings, it consistently delivered some of the best-sounding digital music for any attributes one would care to discuss. 

Baetis Audio Reference 3

$13,000

In their computer-based music servers, Baetis vociferously rejects the standard deployment of the universal serial bus (USB) as the default digital interface between a music computer’s motherboard and a DAC, maintaining that transporting audio data within a USB signal generates deleterious digital noise. Earlier Baetis designs achieved notable sonic results with a coaxial SPDIF output terminated with a BNC connector; now the company has determined that a higher-voltage SPDIF takes the playback of high-resolution stereo audiophiles to an even higher level of fidelity. To AQ, the Baetis Reference 3 achieves the closest approach yet to musical realism in digital’s long-frustrating history.

Innuos Statement

$13,750 1TB, $14,400 2TB, $15,150 4TB

This meticulously crafted two-unit server with an external linear power supply offers the opportunity to run Roon, Roon utilizing Squeezebox (a tad glitchy but worth the glitches), or Squeezebox with your favorite UPnP software. From a sonic perspective it checks every audiophile box. Layering and dynamics are unrestricted no matter the musical genre, and vocals are velvety and luxurious, but never high viscosity. Rock is reproduced with the snap, punch, rhythm, and texture befitting The Beatles, Van Morrison, and Hendrix in their finest live recordings. Piano’s difficult tonal complexities, often challenging for the best music servers, are just another day at the concert hall for the Innuos. If you’re in the market for a product of this type, you would be doing yourself a serious disservice by not placing the Statement on your final list to consider. 

Lumin X1

$13,990

The X1 is Lumin’s fully featured flagship. It serves as a streamer, DAC, and digital preamplifier, has its own dedicated smartphone app, and is Roon compatible. Unlike some streaming devices, the Lumin X1 does not have any internal hard drives, which ensures that the X1 will never need to be opened to have a drive replaced. The X1 does everything you would expect from a premium audiophile product—it looks cool, operates flawlessly, accepts firmware updates, and has its own app. It also performs as well sonically as any streamer/DAC/preamplifier SS has ever had in his clutches. Low-level detail through the Lumin X1 is exemplary, as is customer service from Source Systems, Lumin’s U.S. distributor. Recently updated with LEEDH digital signal processing. 

Aurender W20SE

$22,000

The “SE” model that replaces the W20 adds a host of functional and performance upgrades that promises to maintain this music server’s status as a reference product. The spinning hard drives have been replaced by 4TB of solid-state memory, and the internal cache memory has been expanded to 1TB (from 240GB). The switching power supply has been replaced with a linear supply; the clock has been upgraded; the unit now supports up to DSD512; it offers improved filtering and isolation of the LAN port; and the user can engage integral PCM upsampling to 384kHz. MQA “Core” decoding is now standard (Core decoding “unfolds” the MQA signal to 88.2 or 96k sample rate). On top of these improvements, the W20 still offers the best user interface and music-management software of any server. 

Wadax Atlantis

$24,000

This outstanding server offers 2TB of solid-state storage and upgradable hardware and software and comes with a lifetime Roon subscription. The Atlantis runs the Roon Core internally, obviating the need to have a separate computer on the network. Sonically, the Atlantis delivered very high resolution coupled with a relaxed and organic sound. 

Linn Klimax DSM/3 

$39,000

Linn’s Klimax DSM/3 sets a new standard for flexibility, functionality, and audio quality for music servers and streaming DACs. Using the Linn app or Roon, the Klimax DSM/3 can stream files from a music server and a class-leading range of streaming services. Linn’s proprietary Space Optimisation software is a breakthrough innovation that removes in-room interactions to provide flexibility in speaker placement, while also maximizing the accuracy of the recording’s true soundstage. Linn’s Organik D/A conversion engine delivers an exceptionally lifelike and organic quality. The overall tonal palette is neutral with weight, heft, and body to the presentation, and beauty in the rendering and layering of fine inner details, timbre, and texture. Detail, transparency, immediacy, and resolution are world-class, as is its state-of-the-art engineering and build-quality.

Wadax Reference Server

$65,000 (optical interface option, $35,000) 

At $100,000 with the optical interface module, the Wadax Reference Server is priced unlike other music servers. But it also sounds unlike other servers. When connected to the Wadax Reference DAC ($145k) though the proprietary optical interface, the combination takes digital playback into uncharted territory. As spectacular as the Reference DAC is, the Sever may be the more revolutionary product. It makes garden-variety digital files sound like high-res remasterings, with tremendous bass clarity, dynamics, articulation, and rhythmic drive. The Reference Server also reveals space, depth, and dimensionality, even on recordings that sound flat and two-dimensional through other sources. A breakthrough in digital replay.