Media Server Reviews

While I have taken the plunge and slowly moving towards a computer based music system; macbook pro, external hd, connected through USB Stello U3 and Moon DAC - because it was easy to set up.  But when I read the reviews of the new network audio players and how setting them up can be a chore sometimes, I can't help but remind myself of the early days with Windows machines when configuring them to work with other hardware took some time and patience.  It is clear to me that we are still in the early stages of network streaming devices and the ones that will win customer's approval will be those that will be able to read all files, hardware, and connect through wifi networks with operational ease.  I don't think we are there yet.  

In the long term, the MSB was a little more dynamic, with a better sense of pace. But considering that the MSB costs more than 12 times the Marantz's price, the NA-11S1's sound was too close for the Diamond DAC IV's comfort.

Nice call.

I now know how my grandfather felt when he looked at my system years ago.  (He built crystal radios when he was a kid and then in his old age listened to broadcasts from around the world on his beloved multi-band Grundig.)

The whole exercise sounds like the early days of PC's before Apple stepped in and designed for the user rather than for the acolyte.  Perhaps Apple can take a crack at improving/simplifying high end audio, photography and cars.

At one time the hardware was simple, but the software was challenging.  A serious audiophile was expected to understand the artists and to build a music collection and take care of it.  Now the hardware is complex and the software is disposable and or vaporware.  5,000 albums on your hard drive, (often not even paid for) but people hardly listen to an album all the way through, and won't listen to that artist next year anyway.   It's like worshiping the church rather than the deity.

There is a new Marantz unit out this month that makes much more sense:  the SA-14S1 SACD /network player. Not only does it act as a soundcard for your PC, and support 192kHz / 24bits and DSD 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz, it's also a fully fledged SACD player, which means you get, for the same price, a network player, a SACD player and a top class CD player, or just connect your iPhone or Ipad. Best of all, for me, is the SACD support, (a) because there is vastly more hi-rez content on SACD than via downlaods, and (b) because I don't see myself ever paying for downloads, but I am quite happy to buy physical discs ... going by my shelves which are bulging with em :)

Hi,

I am fortunate enough to be a proud owner of a Marantz NA11S1 in Gold (in Europe there is this option) from May and I am using it on a daily basis since then. I must say that I have not used the SACD player Marantz SA11S2 since then because the NA11S1 plays CDs (in WAV) in SACD quality. I cannot identify any difference!

I ripped all my CD collection to my Synology NAS which is connected with an ethernet cable to a switch where the NA11S1 is also connected by ethernet cable. It plays very well with fast transfer - no problems encountered in these 5 months  - only joy of hearing music in excellent quality. I also have some high resolution FLAC and WAV files and they play equally flawlessly. I can only state that I am extremely satisfied with this streamer from Marantz. By the way, I have auditioned other streamers, some of higher price tags, but none sounded as good as the Marantz. Thanks Marantz!

UPDATE: I have been so pleased that I have purchased a second NA11S1 (this time in black) for my secondary sound system! Thank you Marantz and thank you Ken Ishiwata!