Intel NUC music server incoming

[Puma Cat]

Yep, only power, and Ethernet plugged into the NUC.

Same for me, with the exception I have an external USB-powered hard drive connected to one of it's USB ports, where the music files reside. Something I need to try is whether using an audio-grade USB cable here would result in an audible improvement in audio quality, but given this is the "high-end", nothing would surprise me.

I also need to look into whether I can install an SSD inside the case itself. There are some mounting holes on the bottom of the chassis for doing this, it appears.

I also have a Shunyata Alpha USB CGC (chassis grounding cable) connecting one of the unused USB ports to the Altaira-based ground-plane noise reduction (GP-NR) subsystem of my Gemini power distributor. This made for a notable reduction in the noise-floor (as did connecting EtherREGEN to Gemini's Altaira-type subsystem). You can see it here on the right side of Alita (the name for my Akasa NUC), to the right of the Ethernet cable. This is an Alpha ground cable with a VTx-Ag USB "tail" snapped on.

 

[Alkyogre]

For all those that want build a Nuc in a fanless case and still have the option to upgrade the PSU in the future, I strongly recommend sticking with 8 or 10th gen i3 boards or 7, 8 or 10th gen i7 boards.

Using newer boards is counterproductive.

One important addition from me about the 10th generation nucs in the Akasa turing case A-NUC52-M1B. This case is the only available case, but there is an annoying problem installing it. It drove me crazy, and finally I found it how to fix. The thing is that at some generation 10 nucs, the case button isn't touching a small power button which is located just below the motherboard. So in other words: when building in some nucs they will not power on. Instead you hit a very tight knob, which is touching the motherboard instead of the small power button.

When finding what the problem was, the fix is easy. The Akasa power button simply has to fall deeper in the motherboard so it is able to press the nuc power button. So to reach that I took a file and carefully removed a very thin layer from the motherboard on both sides next to the power button. Carefully not touching the button with the file and not going to deep to avoid removing the metal parts. It worked and via this way the on/off mechanism is repaired. It is an easy job, not a reason not to buy a gen 10 nuc.

 

[TomS]

One important addition from me about the 10th generation nucs in the Akasa turing case A-NUC52-M1B. This case is the only available case, but there is an annoying problem installing it. It drove me crazy, and finally I found it how to fix. The thing is that at some generation 10 nucs, the case button isn't touching a small power button which is located just below the motherboard. So in other words: when building in some nucs they will not power on. Instead you hit a very tight knob, which is touching the motherboard instead of the small power button.

When finding what the problem was, the fix is easy. The Akasa power button simply has to fall deeper in the motherboard so it is able to press the nuc power button. So to reach that I took a file and carefully removed a very thin layer from the motherboard on both sides next to the power button. Carefully not touching the button with the file and not going to deep to avoid removing the metal parts. It worked and via this way the on/off mechanism is repaired. It is an easy job, not a reason not to buy a gen 10 nuc.

Excellent post and thank you! I have the same NUC/case and this power button issue drives me crazy. I'll look into this further, and hopefully it is also solved simply.

 

[Elberoth]

After some trial and error, extra parts and some work, I'm now able to offer NUC 10i7 in Akasa Plato case:



Much more attractive than the Turing and no power button issues.

 

[Alkyogre]

After some trial and error, extra parts and some work, I'm now able to offer NUC 10i7 in Akasa Plato case:

View attachment 32656

Much more attractive than the Turing and no power button issues.

Which plato did you take?

I prefer turing, because the passive cooling is better, and for that reason I am sure that DSD conversion with HQPlayer will fail with a Plato. The power button is a fixable minority for me.

On the other hand, I think with the plato the internal power supply could be replaced by an audiophilic one.

 

[Elberoth]

For DSD512 upsampling with HQ Player, you need to build a dedicated server, using a destktop MoBo and CPU as those are very CPU computing power intensive. Or a dedicated high power server and an endpoint solution (basicly a two PC system).

For 99.9% of users, Nucleus+ will do (even for DSD512 upsampling and internal Roon DSP).

 

[Alkyogre]

For DSD512 upsampling with HQ Player, you need to build a dedicated server, using a destktop MoBo and CPU as those are very CPU computing power intensive. Or a dedicated high power server and an endpoint solution (basicly a two PC system).

For 99.9% of users, Nucleus+ will do (even for DSD512 upsampling and internal Roon DSP).

In my country we have a saying: measuring is knowing. It means something like: I have something that is 1 meter, so it is exactly the right size. You only know if it is 1 meter is not by reading the label, but you always have to measure it yourself first before using it.

With HQPlayer the same, although all fora say you need such a computer, I tested this myself with an 8i5 and 8i7 fanless nuc. For this test I used HQPlayer installed on an Ubuntu installation, together with Roon. As measurement I used the linux program PSensor, which could measure the PCore junction temperature and the Processor usage. The Processor usage was for the 8i7 well within specs. The processor usage for the 8i5 was above 90% which was high.

The main issue is the Pcore Junction temperature. Which was about 85 degrees centigrade, which is just within specs (90-95 is the limit from Intel)

Fun thing: with a normal plastic one with fan I did the same test, and had to stop it very fast because I would have burned it.

The conclusion is that I am able to convert to DSD512 with an 8i7 nuc.

 

[Elberoth]

Not in the highest HQP settings. As you most likely know, HQP has several DSD512 strategies, differing in CPU usage. There is a reason people who are serious about HQP (read: computer audio geeks) build powerful audio servers equipped with graphics cards (to increase the available computing power even further, via the CUDA offload capabilities of the HQP software).

 

[Alkyogre]

And still today there are filters in hqplayer that are even with the best computer not usable.

Does not mean that with a higher and more powerful DSD conversion music automatically sounds better. It causes other problems: power causes interference of all other parts in the case and the heat it generates is alot which is also not good. Moreover: you need such a strong motherboard powersupply that is not good at all. A normal ATX power unit fluctuates too much. Last years a few vendors came with those motherboard lps powersupplies, but that is another scope, very expensive way of computer building and I think not powerful enough for the highest filters. The “normal” high end gaming computers are not usable for audio.

I believe in low power using computers (and streamers) and the intel nuc 8th/10th generation are perfect for roon and some hqplayer filters.

 

[RDSChicago]

I’m using a 10-year old MacBook Pro exclusively as my Roon Core. Seems to work fine with my Dutch & Dutch 8Cs. Would it be worth upgrading to something more recent? I’m not tech savvy so if the answer is yes, what plug and play, most cost-effective product would you recommend?

 

[Elberoth]

Not, unless:

- Roon crashes from time to time
- lacks responsivness
- you want to use heavy DSP for DSD512 upsampling and it lacks computing power needed
- you are bothered by fan noise (not sure if your MacBook has a fan or not)
- you want to get rid of your MacBook from your listening room and place the Roon Core in a grage/basement/another room/closet.

All the above assuming your are using LAN connection with your 8c speakers.

 

[Alkyogre]

Yes, it is worth upgrading.

Because 3 reasons

- a macbook is made of plastic. As I stated before an aluminum housing sounds better
- a macbook has a display
- a macbook is nog made for audiostreaming. Inside it is full of electromagnetic distortion

 

[Elberoth]

Yes, it is worth upgrading.

Because 3 reasons

- a macbook is made of plastic. As I stated before an aluminum housing sounds better
- a macbook has a display
- a macbook is nog made for audiostreaming. Inside it is full of electromagnetic distortion

@RDSChicago is using LAN connection, not USB like you do in your system. That is a completely different scenario.

I have just finished building a $5000 server/Roon end-point for a good friend of mine, that has a DAC with USB input.

It uses 3 transformers, 4 separate ultra low noise power supplies with ultra low noise LT3042 voltege regulators (one for the motherboard, two for the SSD drives and one for the USB card), an extra bank of ultracapacitors to stiffen up / lower the impedance of the 5V rail for the USB card and the best USB card on the market - Pink Faun Ultra OCXO:



Why? Because when using USB connection, many things make a difference - as you have discovered in your system.

Does it make sense to invest in such a server when using LAN connection? In my experience - no. There will be no difference when using this server, connected via a LAN cable to Dutch 8c speakers vs say a simple Intel NUC or Roon Nucleus (or a MacBook for that matter).

If anything, a quality switch like this (SW-8) has a potential to make a bigger SQ difference when using a DAC (or speakers) with LAN input.

 

[Alkyogre]

nice work. That Pink Faun OXCO clock was in my shopping basket wishlist too, the only thing is that at that time due to the chip shortages this USB card was out of stock and not deliverable. This is a very nice build audio pc. It is lovely.

About the SQ of the server, I started with a plastic 5i3 nuc and decided to make my first fanless one from it. A Sonore ultrarendu streamer was used, connected via lan and did not expect any improvement myself at all, wasn't even sitting for it. While the first track was started I instantly heard everything sounded better. And the reason why? I don't know, because the final part was the streamer not the server.

 

[Puma Cat]

@RDSChicago is using LAN connection, not USB like you do in your system. That is a completely different scenario.

I have just finished building a $5000 server/Roon end-point for a good friend of mine, that has a DAC with USB input.

It uses 3 transformers, 4 separate ultra low noise power supplies with ultra low noise LT3042 voltege regulators (one for the motherboard, two for the SSD drives and one for the USB card), an extra bank of ultracapacitors to stiffen up / lower the impedance of the 5V rail for the USB card and the best USB card on the market - Pink Faun Ultra OCXO:

View attachment 32657

Why? Because when using USB connection, many things make a difference - as you have discovered in your system.

Does it make sense to invest in such a server when using LAN connection? In my experience - no. There will be no difference when using this server, connected via a LAN cable to Dutch 8c speakers vs say a simple Intel NUC or Roon Nucleus (or a MacBook for that matter).

If anything, a quality switch like this (SW-8) has a potential to make a bigger SQ difference when using a DAC (or speakers) with LAN input.

Very nice build, Adam!