Brennan CD player/storage

[10800]

Has anyone got one of these? Are they as good as the ads would like you to think?

 

 

[bertiedog]

The Brennan is basically a sophisticated Hard Drive based storage medium, it does exactly what it claims to do, in the same way a Ipod or computer does it, but with a far more friendly interface, and as a sophisticated stand alone Hi-Fi unit., but at a high price.............they work well, a friend has one, but It's up to you whether you want the feel of a Hi-Fi operation, or a cheaper alternative based on say, Apple products,, and believe me it is strange to say that Apple are cheaper, but in this case it is true.

 

Stephen.

[Robert]

A very clever idea - and it is surprising that no one has thought of it before. However, what we are talking about is a basic MP3 player with a hard drive attached.

 

Put in these terms, they are very expensive for what you get.

[Horsetan]

....they are very expensive for what you get.

 

...in the same way that Bose are very expensive for a set of speakers.

[noiseboy72]

For a lesser price, you could build a Home Theatre PC, with bigger hard drive, more streaming options and a similarly simple operating method.

 

These are designed for the tecnophobe, but its limitations will frustrate.

 

An Ipod and decent dock - B&W or Arcam will be much more satisfying.

[spamcan61]

I'd use a netbook running XBMC or similar with a cheapish external USB soundcard, however if you want a one trick pony th, at looks like an old school HiFi unit the Brennan does the job, at a price. Some discussion here:-

 

http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?t=5661

[10800]

Thanks for the replies so far

 

I must admit I'm a bit old fashioned as far as listening to music is concerned, not having moved on from CDs. I was never interested in 'personal' stereo, whether a cassette Walkman or an IPod - if I'm out and about I read or look and listen to what's going on around me (very strange B) ) so the technology of MP3s, ITunes and computer downloads is of little relevance. I just like the idea of being able to load CDs (and cassettes and vinyl apparently) onto a single platform without having to buy more and more accessible storage for CDs. I would only then need to keep some available for use in the car, the rest could be stored in boxes in the (dry, centrally heated) cellar. And I could easily reintroduce myself to music not listened to for years via the random play setting if I felt like it.

[melmerby]

I don't actually think this is particularly overpriced for what you get.

It will rip CDs to MP3 (at up to 320K) and recognize the tracks.

(I hope the recognition database is better than Windows Media Player 11!)

It has a simple interface.

It has a built in amplifier.

It's all in one box (except psu) and has a remote control.

 

As an alternative you could use a budget lap-top with some suitable software plugged into a hi-fi, but I don't think it would be much cheaper.

 

I have a lot of my CDs loaded onto one of this computer's hard drives (desktop) which is linked up to a Amplifier, Turntable & Cassette deck (remember them!) so it does the same as the Brennan, more or less.

 

Keith

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

How critical are you about recorded sound quality; have you moved to buying SACD whenever available for the gain over CD? If the answer to those questions is 'very' and 'yes' then you need to listen to the Brennan unit in your own system. Happily this manufacturer's high integrity approach of try it and if it doesn't suit your money back, makes this a risk free proposition. From their perspective this is a good bet: most people don't care much about audio quality, and CD provides more than they needed, so even lossy compression of a CD data stream will be acceptable.

 

Personally with a decent collection of CDs and SACDs, I find it cheaper to buy shelving, file the discs systematically so I can instantly find that recording of Bruckner's 'Locus Iste' and spend the cash on a good player. It's an acapella piece like that in a high grade recording, sung by a choir which you know well from live performance which is the acid test for data reduction technique. Nothing is so revealing of even slight degradation as a known human voice, especially a beautiful and highly trained one.

[spamcan61]

 

It will rip CDs to MP3 (at up to 320K) and recognize the tracks.

(I hope the recognition database is better than Windows Media Player 11!)

 

Keith

 

It certainly has its quirks, WMP11 insists that my daughter's Justin Beiber CD (no comment) is the Japanese version, and labelled the tracks in unintelligible script.

 

There are plenty of others about but I find mp3tag easy to use to amend poor music player database tags:-

 

http://www.mp3tag.de/en/

[10800]

How critical are you about recorded sound quality; have you moved to buying SACD whenever available for the gain over CD?

 

Not as much as I was when I was single! And no.

 

Personally with a decent collection of CDs and SACDs, I find it cheaper to buy shelving, file the discs systematically so I can instantly find that recording of Bruckner's 'Locus Iste' and spend the cash on a good player.

 

Very probably, but there's not much space for more shelves (see above). I would also retain the option to play via my existing (getting on a bit) Arcam and B&W system.

[Ron Ron Ron]

Brennan are certainly getting their product noticed by advertising in weekend supplements and various newspapers.

Personally speaking, I consider the Brennan music server to be at the bottom end of the market and really a Low-Fi product, compared to the other similar, but more advanced devices on the market.

The low price reflects its market position.

 

As 34theletterbetweenB&D said, it all depends on how critical you are about the quality of your music.

The very least one might expect is to obtain CD quality, if not the higher resolution formats now beginning to appear. However, in most cases, the Brennan machine will not even match CD quality.

 

 

The Brennan marketing mostly talks about copying your CD's into compressed mp3 files and as such the sound quality will be reduced. Whether you can hear the difference will depend on your ears and the equipment you play your music through.

IMHO, it's noticeable on all but cheap budget audio or portable devices like iPods.

Note: It doesn't handle Apple's iTunes AAC format.

 

File Bit rates given in the product specification are 128, 192 and 320 kbit/s.

IMHO, 128 kbit/s is pretty crap on anything other than a portable mp3 player, through earphones.

192 kbit/s is obviously better, but still quite Low-Fi (note: in comparison, iTunes basic download format is 256 kbit/s)

320 kbit/s is quite acceptable for many forms of music on reasonable quality home audio equipment, although it cannot compare CD or higher quality formats.

Non of these can really compare with CD or higher resolution standards on anything more than modest home audio equipment.

 

 

The Brennan is able to copy CD's as uncompressed files (a true copy of the CD), but I can't find any information to say in what format.

If it's in WAV, then it's worth pointing out that this format can only carry a limited amount of Meta-data (e.g. stuff like Track names, track lists, Album art, tags).

Other similar or more advanced devices also offer FLAC, which seems to be emerging as the default standard file format for lossless digital music and carries the extra Meta-data.

This extra data is very useful, if not invaluable in managing music data bases and being able to organise and search for tracks, albums etc.

Some FLAC equipped players have the album art, track lists and lots of other information stored along with the music.

 

 

Another downside to the Brennan is its poor Hard Disc (HDD) capacity.

The options are 160GB, 320GB and 500GB.

By present day standards that's p*ss poor, especially if you prefer to keep all your music in uncompressed form.

Again, the competition is mostly offering 500GB as a very minimum, with 1TB becoming available on some products.

 

 

In summary (a very personal opinion mind you!)....

Sold on its mp3 storage capability (i.e. low resolution music)

Uncompressed music format not known (probably WAV), but with limited data.

Poor HDD sizes available.

Cheap price - cheap capability.

 

On a positive note, is the convenience factor.

All your CD's in one place.

Built-in and automatic ripping capability, i.e. you don't have to be a Geek or computer expert to work it.

However, all that and a lot more can be obtained from much more capable devices from other manufacturers, but at a cost.

Just one example is this. ...and at the "top-end" would be something like this.

The good news is the audio market is shortly going to be flooded with similar digital music and streaming products, at much more affordable prices.

 

Personally I'd give the Brennan a wide berth.

 

.

[spamcan61]

I doubt if the audio quality is an issue for the intended market, seems the vast majority of the population are quite happy with 128K MP3s rather than rushing out to buy SACDs.

 

The two issues that do concern me with the Brennan are the metadata issue, seems you're reliant on update CDs every 3 months you have to pay for in order to get track level info for new releases. That's really clunky given that you really need this info. to be able to navigate the thing. The interworking with an iPod is also somewhat clunky, from the Brennan site:-

 

http://www.brennan.co.uk/itemcontent.php/content/help#Q17

 

"What is the best way to get music from JB7 onto my iPod?

 

Transfer the music from the JB7 onto a USB memory stick. Then plug the memory stick into your PC. Copy the MP3s to a convenient folder on the PC then use iTunes to load these MP3s onto your iPod.

 

What is the best way to get my iTunes music onto JB7?

 

The best way is to copy folders of MP3s from your iTunes library onto a USB memory stick. Plug the memory stick into the JB7 and select upload albums from the USB functions menu. If your iTunes library contains non MP3 files then you will have to convert them first."

 

 

OK not an issue if you don't use an iPod.

 

It would be a much more flexible box if it had the networking capability of a 100 quid Blu-Ray player.

[Ron Ron Ron]

Spamcan61, I agree that moving files with the Brennan is not only "clunky", but off-putting for many potential users.

This product is so dated in so many ways and alternatives are much "cleverer" and easier to use.

The library issue again shows how dated their approach is.

 

As for Joe Soap public, indeed most won't know or care about the quality of the sound . Plus, up to now most sales, ripping, or use of "digital music" has been by a younger generation who to large extent listen to it on portable devices or through "tinny sounding" docking devices & players.

 

However the world moves on and an increasing number of people from all generations are taking to these new formats for owning and listening to their music.

There's an increasing availability of higher quality audio devices and systems to play 'digital music" and the concept is being embraced wholeheartedly by the so called "serious" or "high-end" audio manufacturers. Even the mainstream "High Street" audio equipment companies (e.g. Sony, Marantz, Denon etc,) are joining this "revolution'.

 

While no doubt the mainstream will continue to use the present mp3 and iTunes AAC formats for quite some time, those interested in better quality sound can now buy higher quality downloads from smaller or specialist labels, or rip their CD's and SACD's into lossless or uncompressed files .

It remains to be seen whether it reaches a stage where the mainstream record labels and online retailers begin to offer their downloads in "hi-res" formats.

 

As for 128 kbit/s downloads ???

That's a bit of a throw-back isn't it ? .......

 

Amazon mp3's 256 kbit/s

Apple AAC's 256 kbit/s and higher

Tesco mp3's 320 kbit/s

Napster mp3's 256 kbit/s

Play.com mp3's 320kbit/s

We7 mp3's normally 320 kbit/s

Spotify mp3's 320 kbit/s

[Guest]

I'd use a netbook running XBMC or similar with a cheapish external USB soundcard

I use a DLink Boxee Box which is essentially the same thing but packaged for the purpose.

The interface for the music side of things is a little clunky but it will play pretty much any (non-DRM) audio/visual format you care to throw at it along with such content it can find on the web.

There's no internal storage so you'll need something like a NAS disk to keep all your stuff on.

 

For playing music without having to put the telly on I still have an ancient 3rd Gen 40GB iPod sitting in a dock.

[melmerby]

It certainly has its quirks, WMP11 insists that my daughter's Justin Beiber CD (no comment) is the Japanese version, and labelled the tracks in unintelligible script.

 

There are plenty of others about but I find mp3tag easy to use to amend poor music player database tags:-

 

http://www.mp3tag.de/en/

I find Gracenote more accurate than WMP11 as is FreeDB, sometimes WMP11 even gets the number of tracks wrong!

 

I have several different taggers on my PC, (inc mp3tag) each with it's own advantages/disadvantages. I also use the Flac WMP11 add on for encoding/playback - will also do ogg-vorbis.

 

Keith

[spamcan61]

Now this box appears to do what the Brennan doesn't, and it's cheaper. Not seen or heard one in the flesh mind you.

 

http://www.cocktailaudio.com/ (medium level Chinglish alert)

 

http://www.kjglobal.co.uk/acatalog/Cocktail_Audio_X10.html

 

Edit: supports FLAC and WAV so should keep RRR happy ;-)

 

Initial impressions on AVforums look positive:-

 

http://www.avforums.com/forums/streamers-network-music-players/1476419-cocktail-audio-x10-any-comments.html

Edited July 26, 2011 by spamcan61

[artisan100]

Hmm.., that Cocktail Audio X10 looks to have the necessary bells and whistles. I thought about getting a Brennan a year or so ago, but when I delved deep on their website for the storage bit rate I realised that it was only possible to store the number of CD's quoted if you accepted a poor sound quality, and so I backed off. This must be a field in which everything will come to he who waits. They ain't gonna get more expensive, I would think.

 

Geoff

[spamcan61]

Hmm.., that Cocktail Audio X10 looks to have the necessary bells and whistles.

 

Geoff

 

Certainly looks that way, on paper at least. OK it's a pretty much unbranded box made by somebody I've never heard of with a Babelfish website, but the same could be said for my current internet radios, which have proved much more reliable than my UK designed and supported PURE DAB mini system. The the only significant irritation I can see so far is that judging by the comments on avforums navigating by artist > album > track is a bit of a pain.

 

Although judging by the comments below the network connectivity for one is way short of usable with current FW, looks like it's worth waiting for a while yet:-

 

http://recivarefuge.net/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=91m9ujgufj7h9qd4nc62j9dgn7&topic=417.15

Edited July 27, 2011 by spamcan61

[10800]

This must be a field in which everything will come to he who waits. They ain't gonna get more expensive, I would think.

 

I think that's my current strategy - not so much about cost, although electronics do tend to get more competitively priced as the market evolves, but waiting for a machine that does what I want at the right quality.

 

The the only significant irritation I can see so far is that judging by the comments on avforums navigating by artist > album > track is a bit of a pain.

 

I saw that - major flaw IMO, what's the point of loading CDs onto it (the X10) if you can't easily play them as 'albums'?

[spamcan61]

 

I saw that - major flaw IMO, what's the point of loading CDs onto it (the X10) if you can't easily play them as 'albums'?

 

 

Agreed, the UPnP server built into my NAS (Iomega home media network drive) doesn't support navigation that way either, and there is no user control of the UPnP server settings. Hence I've gone back to using a PC running TVersity as the media server.

[melmerby]

On all these suggested systems I think the choice will boil down to whether you want to keep your digital copies "lossless" with something like FLAC as an encoder or whether you want to save space and use an mP3 type encoder which throws away the (so called) unnecessary imformation.

 

I have just tried some tests with FLAC and find it will compress to about 65-70% of original, so not a vast, but useful reduction over raw CDs (and it is reversible). This is however much larger than an mp3 file even in the higher bit rates (which cannot be reversed!). So you pays your money and takes your choice, as they say.

 

Keith