Anybody have the Brennan B2 for streaming/CD-ripping? (1 Viewer)

[MielR]

Kind of an intriguing product, especially if you have a lot of CDs and find the process of ripping them via computer to be a chore (that's what I'd mainly be interested in it for):
http://www.thebrennan.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4ebnnaqt3QIVyGnBCh0yBwXVEAEYASAAEgLwrfD_BwE

 

[Mike Frezon]

Wow.

THAT...is amazing. Expensive...but amazing.

I wonder what took someone so long to come up with such a gadget? I know there are other ways to accomplish much of what this does...but to have it all in one place. So neat and clean and efficient.

 

[MielR]

Yeah, it is kind of pricey, but a fun idea. They have a few different options with different prices for amounts of memory. The cheapest (but still pricey at $500) 500GB version, would be more than enough for me since I only have a few hundred CDs at the most. The reviews on Amazon are mixed---seems like they can be kind of buggy, but they have a forum where the owners of the company interact directly with the customers to get problems sorted out.

 

[Mike Frezon]

To be able to have an isolated device tied into my HT setup with all my music right there and I could see the display on my TV and not have to run to my CD collection every time I wanted to play something would be really cool. The connectivity is all there. Display looks great.

I didn't notice that it handled SACDs. I guess it doesn't?

 

[MielR]

I know...the idea is so simple and so convenient, it's really amazing that there has never been a mass-market version of this available. With the jump to ditch physical media entirely, those with considerable CD collections have been neglected, I think. Loading CDs on my computer makes me want to tear my hair out, which is why I really haven't done it.

I didn't notice that it handled SACDs. I guess it doesn't?

No, it doesn't handle SACDs.
Here's a review that was linked to on the company website that goes over the features:
https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/audio-player/cd-players/brennan-b2-review/

 

[Blimpoy06]

A nice looking unit. I'm not a fan of slot drives, but I understand why they went that way for size considerations. Maybe I'm missing something in the advantages here. If you are using the web interface to control the unit, what's the advantage over a PC? I can link my PC to my HT already. Or use my PC to power speakers.

 

[MielR]

Maybe I'm missing something in the advantages here. If you are using the web interface to control the unit, what's the advantage over a PC?.

I'm not a fan of slot drives, either. But, I think the main advantage is the way it lives in your a/v system. It also has a built-in amp to connect speakers, to use it as a stand-alone audio device. If I'm not mistaken, you don't need the web interface to control it, it's just an added convenience. I gather it also rips CDs a lot easier than a PC does. I've personally found ripping CDs on a computer to be quite frustrating.

 

[Mike Frezon]

I know you've already found the thread, Miel.

But anyone else who finds this thread can check out my thoughts on the B2 over in this thread. I purchased a unit recently.