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Was about to purchase, but....., No Wi-fi? Really? What was Marantz thinking? I just took it for granted that it did (silly me), it's called a "Network Audio Player" after all, until I dug further. Also, no Rhapsody support? I've got both these features on my all of my cheapo squeezebox gear. Don't tell me that this is a higher end product and that wi-fi is not conducive to streaming audio for audophiles...
Use J-River Media Player Software instead of iTunes, There is a very good review of this product in the latest issue of Sound and Vision magazine. If you want FLAC then J River Media Player is available to accommodate you. I actually have the media player and it is excellent. Not only will it play FLAC but anything iTunes can throw at you as well.
If you need to rip your cd collection then there is an excellent program known as dbpoweramp. It is much faster than iTunes ripper and has a equally accurate error correcting program.
The absence of Wi-Fi could be overcome by extending your network using an access point and connecting your Marantz NA7004 via an ethernet cable. You get network connectivity and a stronger network signal as a bonus.
It has always perplexed me that Apple refuses to allow FLAC files in iTunes. Even more perplexing is that Apple fails to have have their own dvdmedia files (that play in their own dvd player software) to work with iTunes.
Apple could make a world of customers very happy if they would correct those omissions.
Works Well, (What's this?) Have had this for 3 days now and am very happy with it. The first thing I did after setting up was to download the firmware update. Sound quality is very good using the optical output - especially if you use lossless material like FLAC. Through the optical output I would say sound coloration character is "neutral". I have read reviews elsewhere that say sound quality was uneven while using the analog outs. My past experience with Marantz leads me to believe that break in of at least a hundred hours is necessary for those type of analog output stages to "flatten up. I tested the unit with 320 AAC files, 24 bit 96 khz FLAC, and WAV files and very good sound was obtained. Internet radio is the best sounding of any unit I have ever used. I am foremost a fan of vinyl but I can truly say this unit makes digital files "listenable". Much better sound then I expected . I hear no evidence of fatique at all.
I went ahead and purchased the 50 buck firmware upgrade to enable airplay functionality with Apple Ipod, Itunes, iPad products and tested it all tonight. Very satisfying. I connected an iPod to the unit and that also worked very well.In conclusion I feel the unit is worth the price and recommend it.
So what are the "cons'? One I can think of is that it is outrageous that Marantz does not provide the Airplay firmware upgrade free of charge to people buying the product today. The other things I dislike is that the unit will not decode 24 bit 192Khz FLAC files or Apple Lossless ones. You are however able to play Apple Lossless files stored in Itunes on your computer or iOS devices via Airplay and sound quality is excellent.
Is this unit for the rabid audiophile with a 100k system? Probably not.
Seems strange but no Apple Lossless support??, This new piece from Marantz looks very nice and could be a serious competitor for Peachtree audio, but I'm not sure if I even want to order one if I'll have to box it up and return it right away. Here's why: According to the specs, the unit supports WMA, MP3, MPEG4, AAC, WAV, and FLAC. What's missing here Marantz,Inc.?? That's right- Apple Lossless!
It would seem to me that if you are going to have a direct USB input with an iPod digital interface, you better understand that people serious about music are going to rip their music in a lossless format. I know FLAC is a "lossless" format, but it's not supported by Apple.
Very Pleased - Fantastic Sound, (What's this?) I have had my eye on the NA7004 for quite some time. I purchased the NA7004 first and foremost to be used as a DAC (and second as a network audio player), and I am very pleased with it. The sounds is excellent...the DAC circuitry within the machine is from some of Marantz's much more expensive equipment which was limited edition and now sold out (KI Series). As another reviewer mentioned, break-in is important. I let it run with CD's on repeat and and amplifier off for 3 days straight.
USB input with iPod digital interface, Internet radio.DLNA version 1.5 certified digital media player.Discrete Symmetric circuit architecture with HDAM 2.Supports - WMA, MP3, MPEG-4 AAC, WAV, FLAC.D/A Converter Mode providing 3 digital inputs. Network Audio Player, DLNA ver. 1.
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