Choosing a digital media receiver 

Your choice of Media Receiver is a very personal one. This is a relatively new product category with new vendors entering the market on an almost daily basis. There are some general guidelines we can offer;

• Select one that has a display you can read from across the room. No point in attempting to make life easy and then not being able to operate it?
• Select a player that had a digital output as this can be connected direct to your favourite Linn Preamp. This is no guarantee of fantastic sound quality, the analogue output may sound better, it all depends on how clever the designer of the media receiver was, check analogue and digital output performance before deciding. The one that is best is the best!
• The browse and search capability of each receiver can be very variable. Try to get a demonstration of how you find music. If it is quicker walking to the computer to choose a tune then it defeats the purpose! Similarly, if you have to rename every recording you have so that the receiver can put it in a sensible order then go elsewhere, life is too short.
• Does it work by wire or wirelessly? Check you can run the wires you need or choose a wireless version.
• Can it play the file types you have on your computer? For example, not all players can play WMA or AAC files, especially if they have DRM. Only some players can now play studio quality Linn downloads, and you may need a stand alone USB or Firewire DAC to be able to do this.
• Do you want video as well? This is a whole new ball game and needs a website of its own to address the issue.

Type in "Media Receiver" to you favourite search engine for suitable links.


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