Reccommendations / ideas for digital audio source

I built a custom computer for music. I have 9 TB's of music stored on it and I stream from it. I remote in using a laptop and Windows Remote desk top. If you go this route, make sure you get Windows 11 pro. You cannot remote into a computer using Windows Remote desk top using Windows 11 home edition. The computer you are using to remote into the music computer can be Windows 11 home edition or windows 10.

I hand picked my parts for music. The power supply is a Corsair RMX low ripple PS. I bought a good MOBO with upgraded caps. No GPU is necessary as that will introduce noise. I used shielded cables in the computer case. I also use a Fractal Design quiet case and Noctua Quiet fans. 16GB ram will suffice. I also added an aftermarket JCat usb card which further improved the sound.

For an audio player, I use Audirvana. I just upgraded to the Studio version and it sounds great and it has streaming integration. Audirvana also has a cell phone app that you can control the program from. For $69 a year it is a no brainer.
a consumer pc is a bad source and the fractal design cases are beautiful, but a poor choice for audio, because of the open design.

For the sound and the interference with your speakers it is much better to go for a roon nucleus, or a fanless build nuc feeded with a good LPS, even when it does not have a jcat usb card.
 
a consumer pc is a bad source and the fractal design cases are beautiful, but a poor choice for audio, because of the open design.

For the sound and the interference with your speakers it is much better to go for a roon nucleus, or a fanless build nuc feeded with a good LPS, even when it does not have a jcat usb card.

I love my Roon Nucleus+. No video card, no audio card, no CPU fan, case fan, and no internal PS with its fan.

I'll have more to say soon about replacing the Nucleus+ external stock power supply with a LPS.
 
I love my Roon Nucleus+. No video card, no audio card, no CPU fan, case fan, and no internal PS with its fan.

I'll have more to say soon about replacing the Nucleus+ external stock power supply with a LPS.
The differences between these LPS power supplies are huge. For me it was surprising what a well designed does, not a subtile change, but instantly audiable, more depth, better lows and more refined. You should be well informed before buying one.

Overall: a good LPS is absolutely an improvement.
 
a consumer pc is a bad source and the fractal design cases are beautiful, but a poor choice for audio, because of the open design.

For the sound and the interference with your speakers it is much better to go for a roon nucleus, or a fanless build nuc feeded with a good LPS, even when it does not have a jcat usb card.
Far too generalized statement. Sure, an off the shelf consumer PC or a Laptop are not a great choice, however you can indeed build a custom PC with very good results.
 
The differences between these LPS power supplies are huge. For me it was surprising what a well designed does, not a subtile change, but instantly audiable, more depth, better lows and more refined. You should be well informed before buying one.

Overall: a good LPS is absolutely an improvement.

I'm in the middle of reviewing an LPS for use with the Nucleus+ and i will post a link when I'm finished.
 
a consumer pc is a bad source and the fractal design cases are beautiful, but a poor choice for audio, because of the open design.

For the sound and the interference with your speakers it is much better to go for a roon nucleus, or a fanless build nuc feeded with a good LPS, even when it does not have a jcat usb card.
The Fractal Define 7 case is excellent. It is a quiet case, no noise and the Fans are all Noctua Fans including the CPU cooler. Noctua fans are extremely quiet, 11db. I use all shielded cables, the MOBO was made for audio with upgraded caps and the power supply is extremely low noise and low ripple and one of the lowest on the market at the time I bought it. I would put it up against most music servers in quality of sound. There is no noise coming from the case. My fans rarely spin up and when they do, you can't hear them. I researched and hand picked the parts for low distortion and quietness. I use mostly m.2 hard drives except for a couple of WD Reds which holds music that I rarely listen to.

I have compared mine to a nuc and mine sounded much better.

I am not sure what you mean by open design-


I am not a fan or Roon. The sound quailty of Audirvana Studio is better. Same for Audirvana 3.5. At least in my system.
 
Back
Top