Vortexbox.org - NAS - FLAC lossless (& mp3) for computer lazies

[hatehifi]

I was looking for a system to act as music server (with which I could use my HRT Music Streamer+ with my stereo system - read my review http://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?topic=1562.0) and a nice IT expert in the States, lcrim from Audiocircle, just turned me on to this... a so-called NAS.

http://vortexbox.org/
http://shop.smallgreencomputer.com/main.sc

As I am not an IT expert, this appears to be a very viable (and reasonable) answer for ripping music into FLAC (this is the lossless method for 100% musical integrity, 1:1 copy and playback of the original CD/digital radio/video/etc.). You will need a dedicated PC, notebook or netbook if you want ease-of-use and to view cover art, e.g. Set up time for building your own private music juke box 'server' is 15 minutes...

On the Vortexbox homepage look under 'documentation' for most FAQs and then read through the 'forum' should any technical question still be unanswered.

Note that this is an open frame project so if you don't mind, link to e.g., Amazon through them so they can make some cash.

As best as I can determine, if you have an obsolete PC/laptop available (you can always buy a used one for EUR 50) you can start playing streamed music for well under EUR 500 and 'high end' (with the HRT Streamer+) for a lot less than EUR 1k. And this includes hard drive storage for 3,000 CDs; should be enough for starters!

[ecosprog]

I have had my music digitised and have been listening to it on my hifi for the past 10 years. The initial setup used a Mac PowerBook plugged in to the AUX input on the amp which accessed the music library stored on our central server in the basement. Before I go further I should point out that I was an IT consultant at the time so the kit was cheap and I had the expertise. In the intervening period digital music has taken off, and so has the availability of the hardware and software to store and play it. However, it´s still a computer and an OS (almost always Linux) with a nice GUI and packaging.......and a nice price!

If you have an old laptop lying around, or can get one, you can build your own media/music server for next to nothing.Every Linux distribution out there has an application available for it that can act as a music server. The 2 big ones are Rhythmbox and Banshee. If you don´t have access to an old laptop, or want something more discrete than you could pickup an Linksys NLSU2 on e-Bay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Linksys-Network-Storage-Link-NSLU2-NAS-USB-Server_W0QQitemZ110448785085QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_3?hash=item19b742b6bd

You can run Firefly media server on this which will serve music to Roku or Squeezebox devices. From what I can see of the Vortexbox appliance it is only a server and does not plug into you hifi so you will need some way to interface a music server to the audio equipment, unless you go the notebook route. I used the Linksys NSLU2/Firefly combination for about 6 years without a problem. I moved from that setup this spring because I built a new fileserver for the household that does everything. I still use Firefly as the music server software on the new server because I haven´t found anything better.

What needs to be pointed out here is that the Vortex appliance is just a standard mini-itx board and case. In fact it´s the same motherboard as my server is running. I think my server cost in the region of 400.00GBP to build which is more than the Vortex appliance, but then it has a tower case with 4 hot-swappable 1TB drives as well as some other goodies. If I had gone with the cheap enclosure and a single drive it would have been less than the Vortex by a fair bit. And the OS is free .

The VortexBox appliance is an easy option but for a price. There is nothing stopping you from sourcing a chaep mini or nano-itx system and then installing the VotrexBox OS on it. But you also need to think about how you will play the music. By this I mean control the server and pick the music. This is where a notebook wins out. Otherwise you need a front-end appliance like a Roku or Squeezebox.

Wow... I´ve gone on a bit and probably really confused the issue . If can give me some more specifics about what you are after I might be able to give you some more solid advice.

[hatehifi]

Hi Reese,

I suppose I should have written "computer illiterate" instead of "...computer lazies."

First, thanks for your offering. I have an IT friend (chief net-worker for the present tense of the Universal/BMG in Hanover - that's a FLAC data base I would not mind tapping f.o.c.!) but he's from my wife's circle of friends territory and when we last saw each other he suggested to me going Solos. Maybe I misunderstood but isn't Solos only part of a solution? Anyway, I'd appreciate you getting me in shape and I don't mind taking orders or exerting myself. My only request is that it is cost-worthy meaning not to save a penny for an hour's work. What I'd like is what my friend Peter afforded himself, the Sooloos (which Meridian is using / bought?). I helped Peter by loading a couple hundred choice CDs and as eclectic as my taste goes, there was allot of searching the web for cover art work, dates, etc. I have roughly 2,500 CDs but I guess I'll archive only 1,800 as 'worthwhile' disc space. Oh yes, how to rip fast would be nice because I hate blower fan noise.

My present hardware: Dell D800 laptop (darned USBs do not produce 250mA power even without battery - and USB HUB didn't work?!, though I hate the thought of another transformer and step in the source side), that cost me EUR 200 and I could still resell for ~ EUR 150; two routers to choose from (prefer to stay hard wired though WLAN capable); and my HRT Music Streamer+ with Entrq USB cable. I've yet to get my HRT near enough to my big rig to try it 1:1 against my micromega DUP.Pro (Bitstream but boy does it make music-DAC) and my 'precious musical instrument' ModWright 9100 CDP, but I think it will fare well, that is, the HRT I'd like to build around. [BTW, just realized I have a TEAC CR-H225 CD-receiver with USB port (also 'record') that is amazingly good sounding in its own right but I can bench test the HRT on my big rig with 192k mp3 on-the-fly or listen to FLAC CDRs I have] The HRT is silent and if possible I'd like no fans around. Should I perhaps buy an old MacIntosh, the old one-box one?

You want to visit me or can I do this thing alone? Seriously, bring the wife and kids, in a few weeks I'll have the space!

Did I answer your question?