2 pc music server

[Bones13]

Server Unit - needs sufficient storage for your files, sufficient power for your OS and any file manipulation during playback. Most will connect to the internet and the Player unit via Ethernet, some espouse WiFi for one, or both. The quality of the user interface, and file manipulation, are the main determining factors, IMO.

Player unit ultimately depends on its connection to the DAC. USB, one of the various SPDIF connections, or I2S (not fully standardized, although HDMI is seen a lot).

Fanless, silent, server unit options are prominent. If you place the server unit outside the listening area, a fan cooled PC can provide all the power needed for a decent price. Memory and storage are not overly expensive.

Fanless player units tend to be the norm. This is because much lower power processing/memory/storage is required at this point.

All sorts of tweaks, at every point in the system, being sold to improve SQ in some way. Typically the signal Ethernet, or output to DAC, is isolated, reclocked, or whatever.

I’ve been a Roon lifer since Chris showed it on Computer Audiophile, years back.

I’ve tried all sorts of server units, some with Windows (+/-) software alteration, and Roon ROCK. I’ve used a NAS, a fanless NUC6, and a couple of flaky DIY fanless PC builds. Seems like I keep ending up with the NUC/ROCK unit. The NAS is a bit sluggish with my library.

I had an early microRendu with various PSU options, and USB cables. Really improved over a rather standard server PC to DAC via USB. You can tweak to obsession level.

I had a good year a while back and upgraded to the Bricasti M12. The player PC is a small Linux unit with direct connection to the DAC boards inside the box (I2S I assume). 3 linear PSUs inside the box. My only knock for it is that won’t do the endpoint HQPlayer thing. But then, I don’t spend time doodling with all those settings. I do use Roon the resample all music to DSD128 going to the Bricasti, as there is a separate DSD board, that sounds best to me.

Only other tweak I use is optical Ethernet to an etherRegen switch. The optimized ethernet side goes to the Bricasti.

 

[Randy Myers]

Excellent Bones. You have done what I have mostly been an advocate of. You have tried several options to find what is best for you. I have done similar, although being a software engineer, I have pretty much stayed with Windows boxes (although I have tried and worked with a few other server setups). I was using JRiver mainly as my playback software because my first DAC exposure was a McIntosh built into my first integrated amp when I jumped back into this crazy hobby. McIntosh recommended JRiver at that time.

I tried Roon (fairly early on) because of some articles I read. At first I did not think it sounded as good as JRiver. Before purchasing a license from Roon I spoke with their tech support, he determined if I used Roon Server on my machine and keep the GUI only on the controller machine I should hear a fairly big difference. He was 100% correct and Roon became my playback software. I purchased a lifetime sub.

And then Norman (from our board here) convinced me to try DSD. I got a Teac DAC because it had DSD capability, and the rest is history. I did go through a lot of DACs, trying to find "the one". Benchmark, Wyred 4 Sound, Teac (trickle down Esoteric tech was pretty good unit), and several others.

I also discovered HQPlayer and loved it. I was in search of a step-up DAC (having gone through about 14 different DACs) and was seriously considering the PS Audio which were all the rage at that time. Mike convinced me to try the T+A because he said they were one of the best DSD DACs around. That was maybe 3-4 years ago. I have not had the desire to look at another DAC since. A friend of mine writes for Stereophile and he did a review of the T+A. To this day it remains on their A+ list, although since T+A just replaced it with their new Series 200 I totally expect it to fall off the list this year.

 

[Mechnutt]

I really like my T+A, but that certainly does not mean they are the best for everybody, but it is not just me. Pretty much everyone who has tried the T+A DACs absolutely love them (not just the DAC 8 DSD). There are a few on AS also . They are really great DACs, that simple. They are especially good at DSD. I believe DSD is the most analog sounding digital format.

I have to agree Randy. I have a friend that has the DAC and I heard it. It sounds spectacular at 8x DSD. It performs way above its price point. When not running 8x DSD it sounds good but nowhere near as good at 8x

 

[Randy Myers]

I have to agree Randy. I have a friend that has the DAC and I heard it. It sounds spectacular at 8x DSD. It performs way above its price point. When not running 8x DSD it sounds good but nowhere near as good at 8x

What is funny is that when Jon did the review for Stereophile he did not listen to DSD at all. I know this because I know he does not have DSD capability at his house (he used his Meridian server to provide the signal to the DAC). He listens to only PCM. Even with PCM only he gave it his top rating and it has been on the A+ list since then. However I agree, in DSD512 it is much better... using HQPlayer the DAC only sees DSD512 from my server!

I know most people on AS realize this, but for the sake of anyone reading this thread that does not, T+A is unique in how they handle PCM and DSD. Their DACs have two separate paths that the signal takes. If the DAC sees the signal as PCM it goes through a more conventional processing but if it sees DSD it goes through a completely different processing path and uses T+A's in house developed 1-bit processors. This is one reason that they are referred to as DSD specialist by many.

Another example is another friend in our audio club. He listens to only vinyl and SACDs. He was using a dCS setup for his SACD playback. He recently picked up a pre-owned T+A SACD player/DAC. It is literally used for playing back his SACDs only, not as a DAC for a server. The unit has the exact same DSD processing in it as my DAC 8 DSD. In his system that is in a much higher level from mine, he said this is by far the best his SACDs have ever sounded... not even close.

 

[Bones13]

If you want to go back even further, first was a Creative Arts audio card out via SPDIF to a Larry black DAC. Most computer digital out is the same 48 m?hz signal that the original multi channel signal form video used. Convincing Windows to output digital at the same 16/44 (RedBook) that is the CD based audio file exits at, was a feat back then. Foobar2000 and ASIO - tubed headphone amp -> Senn HD600.

The Bricasti DSD Dac board is a 1 bit board as well. I do prefer it slightly over the Sigma Delta DAC.

 

[Randy Myers]

... I got out of audio for a while and that is when the whole digital thing happened. CDs where out back then but no computer/server type systems.

So my digital experience pretty much starts when I jumped back in. Shortly before that I ripped my CDs to listen to them on my computer, but that was not the best representation, although, to be fair I did (and still do) have B&W speakers hooked to my computer. So it actually sounded reasonable, but not close to going through a better system. Hooking my computer up to the McIntosh and playing the CD rips with JRiver was a real eye opener! So it went from there .

I can't believe that there are places that still sell these $599... (really really good speaker for computers though)

 

[cpaslui]

Hello

I follow with acduity your discussion thread and I can assure you that we have a very solid experience in the construction of high-end audio servers that surpass by far turnkey servers or streamers

currently I am on base Pc under windows Server 2019 MSi card with clock ultra Oxco, Ryzen 7 5700 G for the important power of calculation to oversample in DSD 512

it is composed

-Network card Jcat NET XE
-Pink faun USB card with Ultra OXCO 20 Mhz

the 2 cards have their own linear power supplies
the motherboard and each SSD have their own linear power supply too

it is under Windows Server 2019 optimized without graphic desktop, with 35 services only with AO3+Fidélizer Pro + Minority Clean

it is fully wired in Mudorf Gold/Silver

I can say that we are very close to listen to a Pinl Faun 2.16 Ultra

I use it directly without network treatment on a Dac denafrips and it is a pure delight

good to you cpasmoi