HD Media Box: stand-alone music server?

Russtafarian · « **on:** 18 May 2006, 11:38 pm »

I just stumbled onto this device at www.digitalconnection.com . Has anyone tried it as a stand alone music server?

If I'm understanding what this does, you can (among other things) mount a hard drive loaded with music files in this thing and play them directly without the need for a computer or network. It says it supports AAC. I wonder if it will play ALAC files directly?

Cost is $360. "Audiophile" edition with "low jitter TCXO (temperature compensated crystal oscillator)" is $450.

Russ

ryno · « **Reply #1 on:** 19 May 2006, 12:48 am »

Doesn't look like there's a screen, how would you tell it what files to play if it is a stand alone?
Ryan

Russtafarian · « **Reply #2 on:** 19 May 2006, 03:22 am »

Yes, you would have to add a display device to navigate, which to is not a bad thing. Instead of staring at a small display across the room, a compact video display could be set up near the listening position.

John Casler · « **Reply #3 on:** 19 May 2006, 03:30 am »

More info here:

http://www.audioholics.com/news/pressreleases/PixelMagicHDMediaBox.php

Doublej · « **Reply #4 on:** 19 May 2006, 04:21 pm »

I don't understand the advantage of these devices over a computer these days.

For less than $500 you can buy a pretty beefy Dell machine with a flat panel monitor so why would I want this box?

Feisal K · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 May 2006, 05:03 pm »

Quote from: Doublej

I don't understand the advantage of these devices over a computer these days.

For less than $500 you can buy a pretty beefy Dell machine with a flat panel monitor so why would I want this box?

Because you don't want the Dell sitting in your AV rack.

Actually, you'd want the Dell AND this box. the Dell can sit in another room - would host your music and video files, and this box sits in your AV rack and picks up AV from the Dell over the network.

Russtafarian · « **Reply #6 on:** 19 May 2006, 09:39 pm »

I really like my present music server, but I'd love to kick that big noisy tower with its tedious bootup cycle out of my listening room completely. This compact box and a cheap HD loaded files (and yes a monitor or other display device) would be all I need for a fully functional music server. The video and network capabilities are there if or when I want to use them.

I just want to know if anyone has used one and if it will play apple lossless files.

Feisal K · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 May 2006, 05:38 am »

there's a review linked on this board. you could ask the reviewer about Apple lossless

CSMR · « **Reply #8 on:** 21 May 2006, 07:28 pm »

Quote from: Russtafarian

I really like my present music server, but I'd love to kick that big noisy tower with its tedious bootup cycle out of my listening room completely. This compact box and a cheap HD loaded files (and yes a monitor or other display device) would be all I need for a fully functional music server. The video and network capabilities are there if or when I want to use them.

I just want to know if anyone has used one and if it will play apple lossless files.

Hard drives are noisy though, and there won't be space for an enclosure here.

michaelv · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 May 2006, 09:09 pm »

I think Squeezebox is much better choice. So you can use computer wherever it is and Squeezebox looks cool on top ov AV rack...