[Rob Babcock]

Can anyone suggest a good option for a cheap music server to play music from a USB drive?  I want to avoid wireless, no need to play from any internet radio or service.  I'd like to have something with at least a minimal stream and it would be great if it had an app to control it with my Android phone.  Just from a cursory glance and what reviews I could find it sounds like the WiiM Ultra Music Streamer & Digital Preamp | 3.5" Touchscreen might fill the bill but I'm not 100% sure it will read from an external portal HDD.  FWIW, it needn't have a built in amp.

I don't want to spend a ton but I want decent sound.  I'm opening a sharpening business and this will be music for my shop. So a step up from a typical Bluetooth speaker would be nice but I'm not expecting to match my Big Rig at home.   $400 or less would be nice as I'd just use a spare receiver and laptop if I wanted to spend more.

Thanks for any suggestions!

[Doublej]

The WiiM Ultra should work. An Arylic S50 Pro+ or BP50 (and possibly an S10+) should work as well for a lot less money than the WiiM.

[Rob Babcock]

Thanks, I'll look into those!  I assume you use your phone as the interface?  A screen wouldn't be strictly necessary if it has a phone app but since I'll be (hopefully) using a portable HDD or USB drive as the source it would be cool to be able to use it without the phone.

[Doublej]

Generally one uses a phone app as the interface though Arylic's S50 Pro+ and S10 manuals state that the included IR remote provides

Full function remote controller to use without cellphone

[jmc207]

I'm not sure about this one but give Volumio OS a look. It has both Android and iOS apps for remote control.

https://volumio.com/get-started/

[Rob Babcock]

I'm not sure about this one but give Volumio OS a look. It has both Android and iOS apps for remote control.

https://volumio.com/get-started/

That looks like it's just software, not a player.  Unless I'm misreading it?  I want to avoid dragging my laptop into the shop (seven grinders and three buffers, lots of dust).

[mix4fix]

I'm not sure about this one but give Volumio OS a look. It has both Android and iOS apps for remote control.

https://volumio.com/get-started/

Is Volumio similiar to Daphile?

[Rob Babcock]

Well, I just ordered a Wiim Amp. We'll see how it is.  On paper it looks good and the reviews are positive.  The 60 wpc may or may not be accurate but I'm sure it has plenty of power for my shop.  It will be mostly background music as I have to be able to hear and speak to customers when they come in.   Maybe if I'm working after hours I might crank it up a bit.  According to the specs and all the reviews it will play from a USB drive and the Android app is supposed to be great. It has an analog input so maybe I'll take a small, cheap DVD player just to play the occasional CD-R but mostly it will be USB stick and phone, I don't want to mess with taking my CDs with me to the shop.

Thanks for all the input and advice!

[Jeff_From_Michigan]

Rob, it sounds like you're getting a great little streaming amp. If you decide later on that you want to listen to internet radio or streaming services, you're good to go. I believe you would just have to run an ethernet cable to the shop.  I find that internet radio stations are perfect for when I'm working and don't want to spend a lot of time figuring out what to play but still want to hear some good music. I probably discover around 90% of my new (and new to me) music from internet radio stations and Qobuz.

The remote also looks solid and functional. In addition to the standard mute function, there's also a pause button. Perfect for when the phone rings, and you don't want to locate the phone, then the app and then the pause button. 

I wish every remote control had a pause button.

[V-Fi]

Rob, it sounds like you're getting a great little streaming amp. If you decide later on that you want to listen to internet radio or streaming services, you're good to go. I believe you would just have to run an ethernet cable to the shop.  I find that internet radio stations are perfect for when I'm working and don't want to spend a lot of time figuring out what to play but still want to hear some good music. I probably discover around 90% of my new (and new to me) music from internet radio stations and Qobuz.

The remote also looks solid and functional. In addition to the standard mute function, there's also a pause button. Perfect for when the phone rings, and you don't want to locate the phone, then the app and then the pause button. 

I wish every remote control had a pause button.

YES on the pause button! How is it that some of these devices (sometimes even really expensive ones) skip out on that? I never hear people complain about it so I thought maybe I was the only one.