DAC, Spotify, Tidal, laptop audio

[2channel lover]

Hello everyone. Just had a few questions about what the best/easiest way to listen to digital audio through my preamp 2 channel system. Does any one format sound better than the next? Do I need any sort of software on my tablet, phone and or laptop when I plug into the DAC to handle the music? I know they had a wireless hub at the audioshop where you could just choose a song from your phone and it will start playing through the system, but I don't think that is necessary. Will the remote work for the preamp to change songs or do I have to run up to the laptop and change songs?

If I had CD files on my laptop, iTunes, or a streaming service what have you; which is superior? If I find the highest bitrate of a certain track and send it to the preamp, will it be downscaling it?

The reason I ask is I am all about quality and like the best listening experience possible. If I am going to sign up to a streaming service and save files from it, I'd like it to be uncompressed lossless audio. What is the best way to do this in terms of digital/streaming songs? Sure I'll have CDs, vinyl etc to play, but when friends come over and they want a certain song played, it'd be nice to just find it and enjoy the highest quality representation of that audio there is. Thanks for any input..

I use JRiver...relatively inexpensive software...it's a great ripper, file manager, even playback...handles hi res files, multi-channel. I haven't dug too deep into it's capabilities yet, but fairly intuitive and plenty of forum help.

As a player...it has some nice features. I like how it phases in songs DJ style. For whole house music, I've used the JRiver player, but I prefer the Oppo 205 as a streamer for critical listening. So far, all of my hi res music has been physical media...SACDs...I'm almost ready to convert my laptop to a music server and I will be able to try some hi res downloads.

 

[billy wilson]

I use JRiver...relatively inexpensive software...it's a great ripper, file manager, even playback...handles hi res files, multi-channel. I haven't dug too deep into it's capabilities yet, but fairly intuitive and plenty of forum help.

As a player...it has some nice features. I like how it phases in songs DJ style. For whole house music, I've used the JRiver player, but I prefer the Oppo 205 as a streamer for critical listening. So far, all of my hi res music has been physical media...SACDs...I'm almost ready to convert my laptop to a music server and I will be able to try some hi res downloads.

I have the same prepro as you and am interested in buying a music server to rip and store all my CDs and SACDs. I have several questions. 1-do i need a dac or ampilfier if Im going to be using it through my marantz AV7702mkii? Im looking at cocktail audio as well as other but was wondering if you had any suggestions or is there something less expensive.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I have the same prepro as you and am interested in buying a music server to rip and store all my CDs and SACDs. I have several questions. 1-do i need a dac or ampilfier if Im going to be using it through my marantz AV7702mkii? Im looking at cocktail audio as well as other but was wondering if you had any suggestions or is there something less expensive.

You don't need a DAC/ 7702 is already includes top-o-line dac.
For music server and ripping some members like this product:
http://www.bluesound.com/en-us/products/vault/

 

[2channel lover]

I have the same prepro as you and am interested in buying a music server to rip and store all my CDs and SACDs. I have several questions. 1-do i need a dac or ampilfier if Im going to be using it through my marantz AV7702mkii? Im looking at cocktail audio as well as other but was wondering if you had any suggestions or is there something less expensive.

Making sure I understand your question...you have a mkii and want to purchase a music server...cocktail is one brand you're considering.

Would you need a DAC? I assume you mean an auxiliary DAC...No...the server should have one and the mkii has one as well and it's not just a run of the mill DAC.

Would you need an amp? no...depending on the server you buy.

If it were my build? Yes I would have amp. One of my reasons for buying separates...I like keeping heat generating amps in their own box with their own power supply...just a cooler running system over the long haul.