AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => The Discless Circle => Topic started by: ted_b on 11 Oct 2012, 05:57 pm
-
As i stated in another thread, I just completed a CAPS V2+ build, with the help of Chris Connaker (ComputerAudiophile.com founder), fellow CAPS builder Terry (TJHub) and Jesus (Sonore US). I could not have done it without them.
I made a bold statement that this thing is not only the best digital I've heard (and I've heard a lot) but only cost me $743. Well, it can be slightly more or less than that depending on the info below. I did not add in any VNC remote desktop prices, nor the cost of jremote ($10). I also assume that users will pick a linear power supply (possibly one they already use; the mobo requires a 2.5mm/5.5mm dc plug and runs 8v-19v) over the included wallwart, but since Chris did not include that extraneous upgrade cost neither am I. And Windows 8 will cost you a $69 intro price by the time the preview expires in January. And if you go mSATA with the SSD you don't use the SATA filter, subsequent cabling, or upper bracket.
Here is my Bill of Material
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69201)
Here is a rough build process:
1) Order above products (Note: the motherboard has what is called mSATA support. This means you can order, instead of the Samsung 830, a Mushkin 60 GB mSATA pcie SSD and install it directly to the motherboard. It then does not need the $65 SOtM SATA filter, nor need the SATA cabling, nor need the upper bracket that comes with the ITX6 case. Chris ok’d this approach (theoretically) but I do not have experience with it, however. Gotta assume it is dead quiet, though.
2) while waiting for delivery, download 64 bit Windows8 preview (choose 64 BIT ISO image) from here: Download Windows 8 Release Preview
3) To prepare your 8GB USB thumb drive use something like WinUSB Maker Josh Cell Softwares: WinUSB Maker - The Windows Setup to USB Solution then attach Windows ISO file
4) Install memory on mobo, plug in SSD SATA and power cables, install mobo and output shield on case, and attach upper bracket, SOtM SATA filter and SSD. Plug in cables, leaving molex connector for later SOtM USB card install. Leave case open (or at least do not anchor top on permanently) for later SOtM install.
Steps 5 and 6 require a local keyboard, mouse and monitor temporarily
5) Update Intel mobo bios from IntelDn2800mt website (mine wouldn’t boot up right until I did). File is called “MT0159P.bio”
6) Install Windows from USB thumbdrive
7) Reboot to make sure all is well
8) Open up case and install SOtM USB pcie card, attach molex connector (molex to SSD adapter in original design not needed) and reboot.
9) Install VNC of choice or use remote desktop to allow for headless maintenance activities
10) Install JRMC Media Center 18 and run as Media Server (options_> startup->media server only).i.e no need to see Media Center screens since you will be browsing remotely. It is always available, but is background as default. iPad apps like Jremote (my fave) or any other headless operation requires the CAPS connected to the home network, of course (ethernet cable)
11) Enjoy!!!!
The next step would be to tune Windows8. Terry (tjhub) has helped me tremendously here. I will later post his initial stab at a Windows8 version of a process list (i.e turn off a bunch of unnecessary noisy processes). Until then just unpin all the goofy apps from the main start screen and then, on your desktop, simply download Fidelizer and run it (Audiophile mode for me cuz Extremist turns off the network, and I need my network for ipad, NAS file serving, and VNC (splashtop). Fidelizer is an optimizer script for reducing or re-prioritizing processes for clean audio, and does a wonderful job. The app is a bit kludgy in that it does not allow auto-run, so any reboot requires you to re-run it. And in talking with Terry, Chris, etc I'd rather just optimize Windows8 myself. But I haven't gone there yet.
My system is set up with JRMC Media Center 18 running WASAPI-Event style (DoP V 1.0), and a Wireworld Platinum USB cable from the SOtM card to my Meitner MA-1. It is playing flawlessly, both native DSD and PCM (to 24/192).
UPDATE: I have on reputable sources that the Mushkin mSATA SSD drive, installed directly onto the motherboard's pcie slot reserved for such things, is very very good.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226319&Tpk=MKNSSDAT60GB-DX
This is what I would have done if feeling more pioneering. And saves cabling mess, upper bracket mess and a $65 SOtM SATA filter. In fact now all you need is a simple SATA power to molex power connector to the SOtM USb board, period. (Note: when I say "mess" I'm being somewhat facetious as this build is pretty darn clean and simplistic anyway).
My next project is to take Terry's (tjhub) process list and pare mine down to it. But since Fidelizer is working fine I am gonna just listen to more music for awhile. I'm in re-discover mode.
-
Ted,
I saw this quote from your post on CA:
"The Auraliti is nice, too, and shares the SOtM USB technology (different card of course). It has some of the same attributes but not the heft/weight of either the Mini (which is nowhere as background quiet as Auraliti) nor the CAPS."
I can understand how improving a music server can reduce noise, I don't understand how the "heft/weight" can be altered unless the playback software or OS is adding something to the bass response.
Have you taken any measurements to confirm this added "heft/weight?"
-
No I haven't. Clearly there are some things (like music players that all claim bit-perfect status but sound different) in computer audio that we are either not measuring, not not measuring the right things.
-
My case & motherboard have arrived. :thumb:
Looking forward to getting it all together.
-
Why that case if you didn't put a cd rom drive in it?
-
Ted:
This is interesting as I was considering something similar using an Asus E45M1-M Pro board. You controlling this remotely, with what- iPad? I don't see any Wifi connection.
Chris H.
-
Why that case if you didn't put a cd rom drive in it?
Chip,
That was the case recommended at CA (when the Origin was no longer needed). but I agree; heck, with the mSata drive all there is now is a mobo and vertical PCIe USB card, period. Anyway, the case isn't expensive.
-
Ted:
This is interesting as I was considering something similar using an Asus E45M1-M Pro board. You controlling this remotely, with what- iPad? I don't see any Wifi connection.
Chris H.
Chris,
The CAPS is connected to my home LAN via ethernet cable. I use an iPad with jremote for day to day music playing (best remote app I know of; better than mPad for Linux or Apple Remote for iTunes, etc). I have created a couple special views like DSD and 24 bit, and with a simple "ok" on the J River options they show up on the jremote menu.
And use the Splashtop app (on the iPad or my desktop) to do any servicing.
-
Chip,
That was the case recommended at CA (when the Origin was no longer needed). but I agree; heck, with the mSata drive all there is now is a mobo and vertical PCIe USB card, period. Anyway, the case isn't expensive.
Yeah I was just looking at there website to see what is different about ITX1 - ITX7.
-
:lol: Looks familiar.
-
:lol: Looks familiar.
?
-
Yeah I was just looking at there website to see what is different about ITX1 - ITX7.
You need a case that allows for the PCI or PCIe SOtM USB card. The ITX-1 does not have that.
-
Hi Ted:
The CAPS seems similar in configuration to the Hal MS-1. Have you compared the two? I'm a Mac person, but your statements on the sonic improvements possible with this build and Windows (ugh) 8 are intriguing. I might have to dip a toe into the dark side.
-
No I haven't (compared to Hal's). I would say go for it...$750 is nothing to sneeze at, but in relation to where a music server is in the whole critical path, it's really almost risk free (i.e. easily sold for little loss, as there are many more folks interested who dare not try the "build" thing).
-
I was asked if, using an external power supply, was anything else needed? The case has a power button on the front, who's cable attaches to pins on the mobo. Then the mobo has a dc output plug, which measures 2.5MM (tip positive) (aka 2.5/5.5 since 5.5mm is the outside diameter). And the motherboard power is rated 8V-19V; I have my Hynes set to 12V (as per Paul Hynes recommendation) and all is well. I also have a Hynes SR3-12 (on loan right now) and all I needed for it was a 2.1MM to 2.5MM plug adapter ($3).
-
Hi Ted,
I'm glad you are having such a great time with your CAPS V2. I am trying to catch up. But I'm a little stuck on step 6. Maybe you can give me a hint.
2) while waiting for delivery, download 64 bit Windows8 preview (choose 64 BIT ISO image) from here: Download Windows 8 Release Preview
DONE!
3) To prepare your 8GB USB thumb drive use something like WinUSB Maker Josh Cell Softwares: WinUSB Maker - The Windows Setup to USB Solution then attach Windows ISO file
DONE! WinUSB Maker claims a successful transfer and the USB has 3.3 gig of data.
4) Install memory on mobo, plug in SSD SATA and power cables, install mobo and output shield on case, and attach upper bracket, SOtM SATA filter and SSD. Plug in cables, leaving molex connector for later SOtM USB card install. Leave case open (or at least do not anchor top on permanently) for later SOtM install.
DONE!
5) Update Intel mobo bios from IntelDn2800mt website (mine wouldn’t boot up right until I did). File is called “MT0159P.bio”
DONE! No problems with bios.
6) Install Windows from USB thumbdrive
Problems, problems, problems.
The bios required the USB to be mounted at turn-on, or else it would not recognize it. The setup process started. I put in the product key. Then the setup program began insisting that I provide a *driver*. I could browse the SSD and the USB. I tried many subdirectories with an *okay* click, but the program said no driver found.
Could you please provide the details of how you got the USB to make the SSD into a Win8 boot-drive???
I was able to go into DOS mode. There were two drives available: C (the USB) and X. X-drive had 32 gig of space showing on the dir command, so I assume it is my 60-gig SSD. Not sure what to try next. The SSD seems to be formatted already, which is a surprise. I guess I could load the ISO onto a DVD and try that.
Anyway, on another direction..... We have SATA power filters. And, as you say, everything matters. So when do you think we will get silver audiophile SATA III data cables??
Thanks,
Mike (in MD)
-
Hmmm, WinUSB should have set up the USb to be a bootable USB. And Iw as never asked for a "driver"; i.e once passed the product key allw as smooth sailing. it just installed (progress bar, etc). When you say "bios was no problem" did you actually do the bios update by doing f7, etc? If not, that might be the issue. My stock bios would not allow Windows 8 to be installed (however, i also never got as far as the product key with the stock bios too). By the way, I did my install without he SATA filter; added it later.
-
Hey Ted,
What is the Jriver benchmark score for the CAPS V2+? Is the CAPS V2+ robust enough for Jriver to convert DSF to PCM (stereo and multi-channel) without buffering mid-track? I know you don't need to do this in your setup, but if you could test it I'd sure appreciate it. Thanks.
Russ
-
I will soon build something like this, but I'd like to get a leg up now and start ripping discs and eventually LPs onto external hard drives, which I'll do a little at a time on existing computer.
Any recs as to hard drive brand, size and external enclosures to get me started? I've never owned one and I see fans and fanless on enclosures, but fans have got to be noisy, right? They will eventually live on rack with other gear, probably not accessed remotely.
Thanks, Peter
-
Hey Ted,
What is the Jriver benchmark score for the CAPS V2+? Is the CAPS V2+ robust enough for Jriver to convert DSF to PCM (stereo and multi-channel) without buffering mid-track? I know you don't need to do this in your setup, but if you could test it I'd sure appreciate it. Thanks.
Russ
My desktop MC 18 runs math 1534, image 1896, database 2026 for an overall score of 1819. In reading up on this they tell you to turn off things like Fidelizer so I will get back with the CAPS results when I reboot.
Edit: CAPS is paultry!! Math 335, image 430, db 449, overall 405. ?? wonder if Splashtop VNC has anything to do with it (which doesn't run during music playback)
CAPs handles DSD just fine, as well as 24/192....I will set it for conversion and let you know.
-
I will soon build something like this, but I'd like to get a leg up now and start ripping discs and eventually LPs onto external hard drives, which I'll do a little at a time on existing computer.
Any recs as to hard drive brand, size and external enclosures to get me started? I've never owned one and I see fans and fanless on enclosures, but fans have got to be noisy, right? They will eventually live on rack with other gear, probably not accessed remotely.
Thanks, Peter
Peter,
If the drive is local (i.e on your rack or even in your room) stay away from fans. The next thing to look for in external enclosures is capacity. Roughly what size do you see your library getting to in, say 6 months. Format (compressed lossless vs uncompressed) is a factor in that, of course. I'd say places like Oyen digital is a good place to start. They have silent 2.5" smaller form factor external hdds and offer a myriad of interfaces. If you are truly building my example, then either USB 2.0 or ethernet NAS are your options. But other mobos offer things like eSATA, so having an external drive that has both USB 2.0 and eSATA would be nice for flexibility.
-
Ted
I wonder if it pays to install a FW card (per Chris' BOM) for HD use if one is going to use a USB Dac. This way one doesn't tax the USB ports. I know on a Mac this is how it's done.
Thoughts?
-
My feeling is that the USb ports are separated from the dedicated PCIe USB SOtM card, so i don't think they trip on each other, but I could be wrong. I'm not sure where you'd install it. Chris used it as INSTEAD of SOtM USB, not in conjunction (and his CAPS V2 was a jetway mobo too).
-
So, as I stated in an edited response on page one, the CAPS v2+ is a small lower powered minimalist machine that did not perform well in J River's benchmark tests. However, it handled a 7 minute 300 MB DSD file (converted on the fly to 24/176 by J River) without a hiccup or mid-song buffer; yet I'd recommend a different approach to DSD-PCM.
After looking at the results I have come to some initial conclusions:
* I believe one of the reasons this CAPS server sounds so good is its minimalist design, it's low power, and it's robust USB rf filtering and overall noise filtration (mainly coming from the highly engineered SOtM USB card).
* I find Fidelizer and/or significant Windows 8 services optimizations (i.e disabling a majority of Windows services) to have a significant effect on sonics, likely due, again, to keeping the small footprint dedicated to audio only.
* I recommend that any DSD-to-PCM conversion be done offline due to the heavy cpu requirements of such on-the-fly conversion. Although the CAPS passed the first DSD-to-PCM test, I am not convinced it did so without tremendous effort. This offline recommendation requires addtl storage, however.
Net/net, this will not be my multichannel server. It's too underpowered. But keep it in its wheelhouse and you get the best digital I've heard, whether a 300MB DSD file or a 400 MB 24/192 track.
-
My feeling is that the USb ports are separated from the dedicated PCIe USB SOtM card, so i don't think they trip on each other, but I could be wrong. I'm not sure where you'd install it. Chris used it as INSTEAD of SOtM USB, not in conjunction (and his CAPS V2 was a jetway mobo too).
The SOtM card's USB ports have direct processor access bypassing the normal shared USB ports on the main board.
Apparently FW doesn't suffer from the same issues as USB, so a FW card in place of the SOtM USB is supposedly very good.
-
Net/net, this will not be my multichannel server. It's too underpowered. But keep it in its wheelhouse and you get the best digital I've heard, whether a 300MB DSD file or a 400 MB 24/192 track.
So what will you use then?
-
The SOtM card's USB ports have direct processor access bypassing the normal shared USB ports on the main board.
Apparently FW doesn't suffer from the same issues as USB, so a FW card in place of the SOtM USB is supposedly very good.
OK. What about my concern of using two USB devices though? Rather then one USB and one FW?
-
So what will you use then?
Dunno yet
-
Dunno yet
So you will use it for 2 ch audio only though or not?
-
Oh yes! It is the best; it has made my system the best, most musical yet detailed system I've ever heard. It is a complete success IMHO.
-
Thanks for checking Ted. I get what you're saying. The purpose of CAPS V2+ is to play back native files as well as possible, not transcode DSD to PCM on the fly. This is good to know. It helps to adjust expectations as to what it can and can't do.
Russ
-
I'd like to thank Ted (and those who inspired him) for outlining this build. I built this with the Mushkin mSATA SSD and a Firewire card (Vantec, VIA chipset), such a simple clean build. My files are stored on a server and streamed to the PC then on to the Mytek via FW. I still have to put together a linear power supply, and figure out my way around JRMC (plus optimizing Windows 8), but even now this is showing great potential.
Can't wait to delve in deeper into streaming DSD too, good stuff!
-
Thanks 04dgmsilv. Nice to see a firewire version.
Here is a nice primer on how to build great views in J River. It is easier than it looks, cuz he steps you through granularly for the complete newbie.
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=68960.0
To make this view available to JRemote, you'll want to simply customize the WebGizmo views (Tools > Options > Media Network > Advanced > Customize views for Gizmo & WebGizmo...). You just add a new section under Audio, selecting this "Library Item from Standard View".
-
Thanks 04dgmsilv. Nice to see a firewire version.
Here is a nice primer on how to build great views in J River. It is easier than it looks, cuz he steps you through granularly for the complete newbie.
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=68960.0
To make this view available to JRemote, you'll want to simply customize the WebGizmo views (Tools > Options > Media Network > Advanced > Customize views for Gizmo & WebGizmo...). You just add a new section under Audio, selecting this "Library Item from Standard View".
Thanks for posting this. I've been meaning to ask you about how to do this since seeing you post about it on another forum. I'll check it out tonight.
-
Here is a small Ted primer :) I've circled, in red, anything appropriate
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69440)
First click on Audio tree, then go to view_>add view->add library view, and pick empty one
give it a name (mine is "24 bit hirez")
change "view as" to categories (so you can see album art)..it's a pull-down pick
add sorted fields. the sort order is the view order (i.e mine shows artists, then you pick albums, then if albums are available in multiple sample rates, you pick them). Experiment.
add any rules under "set rules for file display" (my only rule was bit depth. My DSD view differs simply in that my only rule was "file type is DSF", and I had no sample rate field).
add "show alphabet" if you have large lists to browse
Done!
(Note: sorry, not sure why my image is so small. It isn't a small jpg at all. So I chopped it down to the important area of the screen))
-
To make this view available to JRemote, you'll want to simply customize the WebGizmo views (Tools > Options > Media Network > Advanced > Customize views for Gizmo & WebGizmo...). You just add a new section under Audio, selecting this "Library Item from Standard View".
Yes, thank you for the tips. I'm using jriver now on my Mac (partition/win7) and I'm surprised how much more jriver has (also jremote).
-
Other good things to know in J River, especially for advanced bulk tagging techniques:
* the expression language. things like =fixcase([field-name]) will remove all caps that often come from DSD rips, etc. So highlighting an album whose song names are all caps, and putting =fixcase([name]) in the tag area for name takes on the default capitalization rule (Capitalize first letter of important words).
http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Media_Center_expression_language
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69446)
* shortcuts for adding or appending to field names, like album names. That way searches are so much easier, especailly if you have albums that are available in a variety of versions.
=[Album] /(DSD/) puts (DSD) after the album name. So, when I import several albums i simply highlight them all and put that command in the tag area for album. As long as you start with the equals sign it will not over-write the album name. If you mess up, just go up to edit and "undo". The forward slashes escape using the parentheses (cuz parentheses, by themselves, are metacharacters and mean something in the expression language). So this changes Sea Change to Sea Change (DSD), and allows me to see my Sea Change, Sea Change (24/88) and Sea Change (DSD). It's great for huge bulk appends.
-
Do I need to use a wired USB keyboard to get this all going?
-
Jason,
Yes, and a display...at least to get bios updated, then Windows installed. Once I got to that point I installed Spalshtop (VNC) and then put the headless server in its final rack position and did everything else via my desktop via Splashtop. Then any small changes can be done via iPad, etc. Most of my real work on it is via the desktop Splashtop though (real keyboard, real mouse, etc). Or in place of Splashtop use remote desktop services.
-
OK. Guess I got to go buy one.
-
Jason,
There MUST be a wired keyboard around your house somewhere!! I have like 5! or a neighbor?
-
Jason,
There MUST be a wired keyboard around your house somewhere!! I have like 5! or a neighbor?
No sir!
-
FWIW, I installed Ted's V2+ version with a wireless USB keyboard/mouse without issue... then reverted to headless.
Planning to share my <most positive> experience here shortly once I compile my notes.
-
FWIW, I installed Ted's V2+ version with a wireless USB keyboard/mouse without issue... then reverted to headless.
Planning to share my <most positive> experience here shortly once I compile my notes.
Interesting. I plugged my monitor in and didn't see anything when I powered it up.
I need a keyboard anyway as I have nothing here. Only wireless apple.
-
Sunday OCT 28 UPDATE: STOP THE PRESSES
go here:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=110542.msg1147653#msg1147653
OCT 28 UPDATE: Windows 8 tweaks (not recommended until you install production Windows 8, or if you are waiting until January, go ahead with these temporarily )
I will post my ( special thanks to Terry Hubbart and Chris Connaker) detailed Windows 8 optimization activity. In the meantime Fidelizer is a great free optimization product; just goofy cuz you need to rerun after reboots, etc.
This Windows 8 Audio Optimization set of routines is early, based on Windows 8 Preview, and is somewhat experimental, meaning it won't harm your CAPS server (turning stuff off is good) but has not proven to be perfect yet. Fidelizer STILL IMPROVES THE SOUND, SO CONTINUE TO USE IT!![/i] If you try to run Update Assistant it may fail due to these tweaks!
Windows 8 Audio Optimization
1) In control Panel (Computer, right-click -> properties) go to Windows Features. Turn off Internet Explorer (it will leave some residual IE stuff, don;t worry about it) and uninstall nearly all other Windows "Features" including Games, Indexing, Search, Printing, etc.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69620)
2) Then disable System Restore, Windows Defender, Windows Firewall, and Windows Update. Obviously there is no anti-virus software on the C.A.P.S server.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69619)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69621)
3) Remove everything you can from the startup folder (in Win 8 it's in a tab in Task Manager, which is found via right-click on bottom task bar)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69623)
4) Unpin (right click, unpin) all the extraneous apps (yes, they now call them apps) from the Start menu , so you end up with something as stark as this (Chris recommended to replace IE with a much lighter and more secure Google Chrome, for those few times artwork is needed to be retrieved):
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69624)
5) Then head back to Task Manager and go to the Services tab. Pick "open Services" , sort by name then status to get all the "running" services first. Then, using the attached list, right click on those missing from this list, go to Properties and first stop, then disable each service (hit apply, ok).
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69625)
This seems like a lot of work, but doesn't need to be done all in one sitting. The first few steps, however, can be accomplished in 5 minutes.
I have tested Fidelizer with these changes, and although not the stark differences as before it continues to improve the sound. It is clear we are not exactly sure what Fidelizer does to re-prioritize streams, etc. I will continue to use Fidelizer after each reboot.
-
A few have asked that I document the power harness wiring (Wesena power button to Intel motherboard). Here it is (the small thin white cables included on the harness are coded in red dots and dashes to keep them straight). Net/net, keep the same order and plug them into the green and red pins on the front of the motherboard as shown.
This rough diagram was cut n pasted from both the online Wesena user manual and the online Intel DN2800mt quick install guide pdf.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69627)
-
Wow Ted! Thanks for doing all that work. :thumb:
-
Wow Ted! Thanks for doing all that work. :thumb:
You and Chris did the real work. I just cut, pasted and added some cookbook-style wording.
-
I udpated the optimization post. I am going to continue to use Fidelizer in conjunction with these changes (there seems to be no downside). It is not as huge a difference but is subtle, real and worthwhile (nuanced bass control, better black background, more air).
-
I udpated the optimization post. I am going to continue to use Fidelizer in conjunction with these changes (there seems to be no downside). It is not as huge a difference but is subtle, real and worthwhile (nuanced bass control, better black background, more air).
This is not good news. I'll compare Fidelizer on my system tomorrow. I was hoping I'd just be done with it. We'll have to figure out what Fidelizer is doing better.
-
OK. Guess I got to go buy one.
Your local thrift shop will probably have a bunch of them for $5 or less.
-
I am one who has been waiting the release of the new Mac mini next week. Is the CAPS builds on such a different level that I should consider jumping ship??
The Mac would be a wiser purchase from a resale standpoint for sure.
All of my file storage would be via an external FireWire drive.
Thanks and good looking builds!
-
All of my file storage would be via an external FireWire drive.
You really can't do this if you're using a USB Dac.
Also, as I just figured out, you also need an ethernet connection at the point of your stereo. I do not have this so now this gets interesting... :duh: Do I run one or sell the CAPS. That's the question!
-
On a positive note though, the mSata is super quick. Also, 8GB RAM does work. :D
-
Also, as I just figured out, you also need an ethernet connection at the point of your stereo. I do not have this so now this gets interesting... :duh: Do I run one or sell the CAPS. That's the question!
IMO you should run one, gigabit ethernet is faster than a spinning disk and this allows no spinning disks in your listening space. Of course it means some sort of NAS. I use an HP Microserver running Windows home server ($49.95) with 4 x 2TB drives sitting under my stairs.
-
IMO you should run one, gigabit ethernet is faster than a spinning disk and this allows no spinning disks in your listening space. Of course it means some sort of NAS. I use an HP Microserver running Windows home server ($49.95) with 4 x 2TB drives sitting under my stairs.
The spinning drives aren't an issue for me as I can't hear them. It's running the wire for the CAPS. :(
-
The spinning drives aren't an issue for me as I can't hear them.
Lucky man, I can hear them, even 2.5" drives. :(
-
Lucky man, I can hear them, even 2.5" drives. :(
Yeah, I think it's because you sit next to the equipment rack where as mine are in the front of the room behind stuff.
-
And for anyone doing this build here are some basic pics of what it looks like assembled.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69638)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69639)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69640)
-
Jason,
Thanks for the pics. You can remove that fan too. :)
-
Jason,
Thanks for the pics. You can remove that fan too. :)
Done. I've installed JRiver MC18. I can't get over how quick this machine is for a Windows machine. :o
-
Hey, Windows is pretty good these days.
I think you are going to like it! :)
-
Jason,
What are you using to power the CAPS?
-
Jason,
What are you using to power the CAPS?
For all the setup stuff I'm just using an old switcher. I have a LPSU that I built though that I currently use on my Mac Mini that I'll use.
-
So here is a quick rough "get you started" J River MC18 screen grab compilation. All this work is done via Tools->options
(These screen grabs came from my desktop MC18, not CAPS so I am using ASIO on desktop, WASAPI-EVENT Style on CAPS.)
Red setup is Audio.
There are sub menus for the two radio buttons under output. Setup includes DSD bitstreaming (if applicable). If doing up or down converting then go to DSP output and formats screen. it's pretty intuitive. NOTE: DSD downconverting requires you to pick the category "over 192k" and then you pick your sample rate you want DSD down converted to.
Green setup shows where to select Media Center on startup. This is for jremote users; this way the GUI screen doesn't come up (but is available if needed)
Blue setup is where you click and it gives you a random unique access key. This key will be asked for in jremote's initial setup (similar to when you ask Apple remote to synch to iTunes the first time).
Orange setup is the place where, later, for advanced users, you take your customized views and add them to jremote (nice feature, easier than it looks). I have a small tutorial earlier in this thread, or here:
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f11-software/j-river-tips-and-techniques-user-experiences-repository-13684/
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69645)
-
Finally, now that JRMC18 is set up, it's time to add music.
Brown setup is to allow MC18 to see and constantly monitor (auto-import) your music files. You can point to internal drives, local external drives, or NAS (mine). So my process is to rip or download new music on my desktop machine, clean up, add to my NAS (which is available to my home network) and have MC18 monitor it. It usually takes about a minute or two for newly added music to show up in my MC18's. Then I'll clean the tags if needed.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69646)
-
I have updated the initial post to remind folks that:
1) you need to have a keyboard, monitor and mouse for the intial install
2) in order to use a remote like jremote the CAPS needs to be connected to the home network (ethernet cable).
-
Thanks Ted! :thumb:
My CAPS V2+ is playing as I type this. I must say that I really like MC18. Very well done.
:scratch: Might go ahead and sell my CAPS though and stick with my Mini for what I want to do.
-
Thanks Ted! :thumb:
My CAPS V2+ is playing as I type this. I must say that I really like MC18. Very well done.
:scratch: Might go ahead and sell my CAPS though and stick with my Mini for what I want to do.
I understand (reformat external drives since you were using OSX extended, etc). Your CAPS is a nice one, since it has both the larger 120GB mSATA SSD and uses the full (unsupported but obviously works) 8GB of memory. Nice!! That's a CAPS I'd buy in a NY minute if I didn't have mine.
-
I understand (reformat external drives since you were using OSX extended, etc). Your CAPS is a nice one, since it has both the larger 120GB mSATA SSD and uses the full (unsupported but obviously works) 8GB of memory. Nice!! That's a CAPS I'd buy in a NY minute if I didn't have mine.
Yeah, but it sounds really good. :o
-
Anyone know much about the difference between the SOtM tX-USBexp (http://www.sonore.us/SOtM3.html#6) and the SOtM tX-USB (http://www.sonore.us/SOtM3.html#2) card? Which version have you been using in the CAPS V2+?
Looks like the USBexp is USB 3.0, has more filters (?), mentions better clock performance, external power input, but may not work with some older DACs?
Any thoughts on using this card instead of the SOtM tX-USB card?
Just came across this model so just wondering if anyone knows much about it.
-
Anyone know much about the difference between the SOtM tX-USBexp (http://www.sonore.us/SOtM3.html#6) and the SOtM tX-USB (http://www.sonore.us/SOtM3.html#2) card? Which version have you been using in the CAPS V2+?
Looks like the USBexp is USB 3.0, has more filters (?), mentions better clock performance, external power input, but may not work with some older DACs?
Any thoughts on using this card instead of the SOtM tX-USB card?
Just came across this model so just wondering if anyone knows much about it.
I have detailed the ingredients in this CAPS server, and mentioned more than once that the card used is the PCie version (SOtM USBexp). Why? Simple. Because the card is PCIe and the mobo is PCIe. The other older larger PCI card won't work, won't fit. The newer card is smaller, has only one USB port, but slightly better filtering. I can't imagine why a DAC would prefer one vs the other. You have detailed the remaining differences. I use the other SOtM-TX USB card is my Auralaiti PK90USB (soon for sale; I do not need 3 servers)
-
I have detailed the ingredients in this CAPS server, and mentioned more than once that the card used is the PCie version (SOtM USBexp). Why? Simple. Because the card is PCIe and the mobo is PCIe. The other older larger PCI card won't work, won't fit. The newer card is smaller, has only one USB port, but slightly better filtering. I can't imagine why a DAC would prefer one vs the other. You have detailed the remaining differences. I use the other SOtM-TX USB card is my Auralaiti PK90USB (soon for sale; I do not need 3 servers)
Doh, thanks Ted. Totally wasn't paying attention to PCI versus PCIe. :duh:
-
uses the full (unsupported but obviously works) 8GB of memory. Nice!! That's a CAPS I'd buy in a NY minute if I didn't have mine.
Below is the screen shot showing the RAM. Yeah, if I was starting from scratch I think I'd go this route but between buying more drives and such I'm not so sure it would be wise. :scratch: It does sound good though.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69680)
-
In this exciting (ok, read: sometimes confusing :) ) world of computer audio I have come to realize that it is better for Fidelizer to do its thing (takes about 30 seconds) BEFORE any player is loaded. Well, I want J river to load with Windows starup, and I want J river to load as Media Server (no GUI) so I was in a bit of a conundrum.
I solved my second issue first. I have changed the J River options to Windows Startup -> none. Then I found the wonderful Windows feature called Task Scheduler. I followed the wizard and created a simple task. Task scheduler is in Control Panel/Adminstrative Services/Task Scheduler. Create a basic task, tell it to start a program, choose “when my computer starts”, browse in System32 folder (Task sched's default folder, which is nice cuz that's where MC18.exe actually starts from anyway) for MC18 app and use the text " /MediaServer" as an addendum/argument (it's all wizard based). Then click on Show properties and hit finish. In the properties screen go to trigger tag and add a 2 minute delay (delay is programmable for any time period). Done.
Now that J River as Media Server autostarts with a delay of 2 minutes I can manually run Fidelizer then have J River start. My next little project is to either udnerstand what Fidelizer does to re-prioritze streams, etc or simply use Clickoff (Windows robot) to automate starting Fidelizer. Stay tuned.
-
STOP THE PRESSES (temporarily)
I am putting this caveat on the post regarding Windows tweaks. Now that Windows 8 Pro ($40 upgrade, allows ISO and clean install, do NOT do anything but clean install) is out it seems that the disabling of services that Terry and I have documented might be hampering Windows Upgrade Assistant and subsequent download to progress properly. I undid everything (20 min process) and it proceeded fine; not sure what disabled service or turned-off-Windows-feature caused the problem.
One needs to do the downloading upgrade process on the host computer (i.e 64 bit CAPS) or another 64 bit computer in the house, or the download will be 32 bit.
ALSO, Fidelizer sounds basically just as good with a stock Windows setup as with a tweaked one (but without Fidelizer the tweaked one sounds better). Until we know why I'd hold off doing the Windows 8 tweaks. SORRY..I said proceed at your own risk. :)
For those of you fine with the Win 8 preview until late January, feel free to tweak. And Terry and I have discovered how to auto run with Fidelizer and J RIver, so I will post that later on.
-
I currently have an Alix-based MPD setup but this looks very interesting.
One newbie question which I can't seem to find an answer for; I can see the need for the SoTM SATA filter but if you're feeding USB out from the CAPS PC to a USB-SPDIF converter (I have an Art Legato) do you still need the SoTM card? Wouldn't the converter handle the USB-related issues before the signal gets to the DAC?
-
I currently have an Alix-based MPD setup but this looks very interesting.
One newbie question which I can't seem to find an answer for; I can see the need for the SoTM SATA filter but if you're feeding USB out from the CAPS PC to a USB-SPDIF converter (I have an Art Legato) do you still need the SoTM card? Wouldn't the converter handle the USB-related issues before the signal gets to the DAC?
The latest build does NOT use a SotM SATA filter, it uses the mSATA SSD card which plugs directly into a mini PCie slot on the motherboard. And iff you are using a USB-to-SPIF converter then the SotM USB card does less of what you are spendng the extra $$ for, but it is still incredibly clean and quiet, much better than the mobo USB slots.
-
The latest build does NOT use a SotM SATA filter, it uses the mSATA SSD card which plugs directly into a mini PCie slot on the motherboard. And iff you are using a USB-to-SPIF converter then the SotM USB card does less of what you are spendng the extra $$ for, but it is still incredibly clean and quiet, much better than the mobo USB slots.
He can see pics here http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=110836.0
-
I've been able to spend some more time with my version of the CAPS V2+ and combined with the mytek (via FW) is the best I have heard digital in my system. Right on par with my analog setup, very very happy.
A few pics of my build, I put the whole thing in the smallest wesnea case (I like that small form factor).
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a4kV953V3pw/UJMKDd1ChtI/AAAAAAAAChY/skUF9lGRagI/s800/IMG_3847.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DGF7Dh4cOhI/UJMKD4-hieI/AAAAAAAAChk/JViTgGRoNXU/s800/IMG_3849.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zaIGtxn_mqA/UJMKEL0iCOI/AAAAAAAACho/89q4ohgPs4U/s800/IMG_3851.JPG)
-
04dgmsilv-
looks fantastic, what are you using for storage?
-
I stream everything from a Synology NAS, works great.
-
I stream everything from a Synology NAS, works great.
Which model?
-
I stream everything from a Synology NAS, works great.
What is your streaming player? Why stream vs using the NAS as a file server (I just point J River to my NAS and use it as a file server)?
-
I have the DS413. I guess I was a bit loose with my terminology. I am just using it as a file server for the CAPS. I also run Logitech media server on it and a dlna server for videos and photos to other devices around the house.
-
Hi
i just received the caps v2+ from Jason and spent all afternoon trying to connect it to my system .
its running windows 8 trial version.
i connected to the internet , mouse and keyboard , jriver 17 loaded and recognized my music very fast on my seagate external Hd , and then i got stuck .
it seems like the caps does not recognize my Jkenny jkspdif mk3 which is basically a modified m2tech evo .
it requires drivers to run on the pc , which i installed but my guess is that they are not compatible w/ windows 8 . or i missed something else .
i have used the jkenny w/ my pc and just for fun also connected it to my laptop this afternoon and it works .
the unit does not show up in the output devices list .
now i am wondering if i should still buy the full version windows 8 and get another spdif to usb converter ? what do you guys use , and did anybody run into driver incompatibility issues w/ windows 8 ?
or i install windows 7 which i would like to avoid having heard that windows 8 sounds better.
i contacted j kenny and m2tech for clarification but most likely the drivers available do not work w/ windows 8 .
any help is much appreciated .
-
I am running a C.A.P.S. V2+/JRiver v.18 with Windows 8. Before this though I was running Windows 7 with Foobar2000. I also had JK MKII converter. I decided that there were just too many very good choices in USB capable DACS. So I sold my MKII and DAC and bought a Lindemann 24/192 USB DAC and was very happy. For $1,100, it is a very nice sounding DAC.
However, I now have the DSD disease and am currently running the Mytek 192 DAC(on loan from Ted_b :thumb:) via USB from the C.A.P.S. and couldn't be happier (unless Ted_b loans me his Meitner DAC which ain't going to happen. :lol:).
My suggestion would be to sell the JK converter and do what I did. Believe me you won't miss the SPDIF and you won't look back. You have a great sound card in the Sonore which does USB very well.
Regards
Randy
-
I have installed the M2Tech Evo drivers on Windows 8 full release and prerelease versions in compatibility mode and it works correctly here without issues. Did you do the install the driver from the Desktop environment?
I used the Windows 7 driver with Windows 8.
-
I have installed the M2Tech Evo drivers on Windows 8 full release and prerelease versions in compatibility mode and it works correctly here without issues. Did you do the install the driver from the Desktop environment?
I used the Windows 7 driver with Windows 8.
Hi
well that gives me hope that i did something else wrong .
installing the driver from desktop environment , i don't know what that means.
honestly . windows 8 still takes some getting used to . i am having a hard time just finding my usual stuff like control panel etc .
so if you could give it to me in baby steps how you installed the evo driver that would be much appreciated .
i will try again after i ate something to calm my nerves ...
-
If you connected the M2Tech Evo before the software driver was loaded on the machine that might cause a problem. Do not connect the Evo during the following process until you are sure the driver is loaded.
First go the the Control Panel, look at Programs loaded and see if the M2Tech driver software shows as being installed. If, so try connecting the Evo to a different USB port and see what happens. If you do not see it in the list do not connect the Evo yet.
If it is not installed, go to the Windows desktop panel in Windows 8, open up the file folder. Find where the M2Tech Evo Windows 7 driver file is located.
Double click the Windows 7 version M2Tech Evo driver. It should then install. After you are sure it installed, then connect the M2Tech Evo.
You will need to select the Evo as the output device in your JRiver MC17 music player.
-
windows 8 is driving me nuts on the caps. i tried what you suggested but it still doesn't work .
the programs loaded on the caps that show on the control panel are only jriver17 jriver 18 and usb 3 host controller driver.
i downloaded the driver for evo from the m2tech webpage and extract all and then run it , then connect the evo but it still does not show up as an audio device .
if i go into device manager i can find the hiface in sound video and game controller but when i click on it it says that no drivers are installed for this device.
i feel really stupid and don't know what i am doing wrong , i performed the exact same setup on my laptop this afternoon and it took me 5 min.
If you connected the M2Tech Evo before the software driver was loaded on the machine that might cause a problem. Do not connect the Evo during the following process until you are sure the driver is loaded.
First go the the Control Panel, look at Programs loaded and see if the M2Tech driver software shows as being installed. If, so try connecting the Evo to a different USB port and see what happens. If you do not see it in the list do not connect the Evo yet.
If it is not installed, go to the Windows desktop panel in Windows 8, open up the file folder. Find where the M2Tech Evo Windows 7 driver file is located.
Double click the Windows 7 version M2Tech Evo driver. It should then install. After you are sure it installed, then connect the M2Tech Evo.
You will need to select the Evo as the output device in your JRiver MC17 music player.
-
i just had some partial success .looking at the m2tech evo manual helped a little and after a restart of the caps i actually got sound from the regular usb outs on the caps and jriver recognizes the spdif device , BUT ,
still no sound from the sotm usb out , darn . i will open up the unit and see if here is a connection missing perhaps ??
everything looks good on the inside .
so what could that be if only the usb outs from the motherboard recognize the m2tech evo but the sotm usb out seems blind ?
could it be that i installed the drivers only for the usb outs on the motherboard ?
strange , strange .
-
If JRiver is seeing the M2Tech Evo via the normal USB port and playing music then you have everything working. The Evo does not use USB power, it uses power from the external power supply. Should be a very quiet setup like mine here.
Someone familiar with the SoTM USB board will need to help. Does it need a driver to be loaded? Do you see it in the Hardware list for the computer under Control Panel in the USB devices?
Just some thoughts.
-
There is a small switch on the front of the SOTM card. It allows you to either use or not use the C.A.PS. As the power source for the USB. Try the switch in the other position.
-
There is a small switch on the front of the SOTM card. It allows you to either use or not use the C.A.PS. As the power source for the USB. Try the switch in the other position.
Good point. The simple check for this is to plug a USB stick in the SOtm and see if it's seen. Then flip the switch....this way you will know if it's on or not.
-
First of all i would like to say that i am very grateful for everyone who chimes in and tries to help.
so here are my latest findings.
when i connect a usb stick in the sotm card output it is recognized only with power on.
when i plug in the Evo at either setting (power on or off) it is still not recognized .
looking into device manager . when the evo is connected to the usb out from motherboard it says everything is working properly , drivers installed . and this is the way it works .
if i connect to the sotm usb out it still shows up on the device manager list but says that no drivers are installed for this device.
now what?
-
Here would be my method of attach.
Power down the unit and remove the Evo USB cable.
Reboot the macine.
Deinstall the Evo driver.
Reboot the macine.
Install the Evo driver.
Power off the Evo.
Connect the Evo to the USB bus and then power up the Evo with the external supply.
Watch to see of the Evo driver is being installed from the desktop.
-
thanks HAL
i tried that , did a total uninstall and reinstall and end up w/ the same phenomena .
the driver installs and the evo shows up in jriver player as source but ony from the usb out of the motheboard.
as soon as i connect to the sotm usb out i get the messages in device manager that no drivers are installed , but if i go to driver update it tells me that my driver is up to date . and yes i did the whole driver reinstall by connecting to the sotm usb .
in jriver the evo only shows as a source when connected to the motherboard usb out , when connected to the sotm card it does not appear in the menu.
-
Have not run JRiver MC17 on Win8 with the SoTM card, so that was the best advice I have.
The SoTM device driver would be my only other suggestion.
Since the Evo works with the motherboard USB2 ports, that is the one possiblity that I see.
-
I am in Houston airport and coming back from week long travel, arriving midnight tonite. I will chime in tmrw if this is still an issue. Make sure power molex is attached to SotM card. And makes rue m2tech driver is installed, probably in win7 compatibility mode.
-
I am in Houston airport and coming back from week long travel, arriving midnight tonite. I will chime in tmrw if this is still an issue. Make sure power molex is attached to SotM card. And makes rue m2tech driver is installed, probably in win7 compatibility mode.
thank you , that is much appreciated , i am right now on another run of uninstalling the drivers and it takes forever , something with the install device is not working properly , this should be done in less then a minute .
molex is attached to the sotm , i checked , i also plugged in a usb stick which showed up in the caps , so there is a connection and the usb out is not dead .
sorry but i do not understand what :
And makes rue m2tech driver is installed, probably in win7 compatibility mode.
means , could you elaborate ?
i will try one more thing and then i have to relax and see perhaps tomorrow things will work out ...
-
Sorry, typing on iPad. It should have said make sure m2tech driver is installed, and you might need to install it either in win7 compatibility mode, or maybe in safe mode called disable-digital-signature
-
Sorry, typing on iPad. It should have said make sure m2tech driver is installed, and you might need to install it either in win7 compatibility mode, or maybe in safe mode called disable-digital-signature
aha, there is something new i can try as soon as i understand what it means .....
in safe mode / disable digi sig do you mean like described here :
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f11-software/preinstallation-failed-please-run-setup-again-if-you-are-asked-confirm-installation-software-please-confirm-13783/
in win7 compatible mode , i have no idea how to do that .
-
i tried one last time , uninstalled all the drivers , downloaded the evo drivers to the desktop , run them , installed , connected the evo and it shows up like this :
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=71065)
that looks good and should work , right ? but it still does not show up in jriver .
so no sound .
if i go to driver details back in device manager it gives me the timer again and i have to restart the caps to get out of this .
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=71062)
i will take a break from this nightmare and revisit tomorow.
again thanks for everyone who tried to help , it is much appreciated
-
What is shown when you go to the lower right and right click on the speaker? What devices show up in that window?
-
What is shown when you go to the lower right and right click on the speaker? What devices show up in that window?
i will look at that later today in the afternoon. and take a few more screen shots .
-
in win7 compatible mode , i have no idea how to do that .
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f11-software/how-install-xmos-thesycon-usb-drivers-windows-8-a-13772/
-
What is shown when you go to the lower right and right click on the speaker? What devices show up in that window?
it shows: Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
is this your last device that you ran on the caps ?
-
it shows: Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
is this your last device that you ran on the caps ?
No my last default was ODAC.
-
No my last default was ODAC.
i have no idea what that is then , i might try to change it in the audio device settings ..
i tried running running the driver in win7 compatibility mode , well the caps took 5 min to restart and gave me this :
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=71129)
and more details:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=71130)
-
it seems that every time i look at the driver details for the hiface the caps locks up and needs a restart .
when i look at the driver for the HD Audio Device i can look up the details of the driver etc without any problems. i still don't know what that device is as it was installed before i got the caps :
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=71134)
-
For reference in the thread that ted_b posted, I did the Windows 8 install for the M2Tech without seeing the pane that the thread posted about the Thesycon driver. The M2Tech Evo version 1.03 driver always worked well with the motherboard USB driver. This was with both the Windows 8 preview OS and the full version OS installs.
Have you contacted the SoTM USB card folks about this issue to see if they have any suggestions?
-
For reference in the thread that ted_b posted, I did the Windows 8 install for the M2Tech without seeing the pane that the thread posted about the Thesycon driver. The M2Tech Evo version 1.03 driver always worked well with the motherboard USB driver. This was with both the Windows 8 preview OS and the full version OS installs.
Have you contacted the SoTM USB card folks about this issue to see if they have any suggestions?
that's the thing , i got it to work with the motherboard usb outs too, no sweat .
but whenever i try to even download the driver w/ the evo connected to the sotm pcie card i get the 5 min restart and blue screen warning as posted above.
actually when i tried downloading the driver now it tells me that it loads properly but it does not show up in the programs .
i did talk to someone at sonore , Jesus , the only thing he suggested was try running the driver setup to disable driver signature inforcement which i tried without success . after that he suggested to try another dac.....
-
Have you listened to the M2Tech Evo without the SoTM USB board? The Evo is powered externally, not from the USB bus. This solves most of the PC based USB power supply noise issues. You might find it works very well without the SoTM board.
-
Halleluja , and I mean HALLELUJA !!!!!
i finally got sound from the sotm card . i uninstalled a TI driver from the sotm pcie that Jason still had on there because it was needed to run his DAC . obviously not to run the evo , those guys were fighting ...
once uninstalled things seem to work as they should now , thanks for bearing w/ me , i got a little worried for a moment . thanks to everyone who chimed in and helped .
now i need to find out how to remote access the caps.
or perhaps i should just listen to some music now .
malcolm
-
Glad it's working! :thumb:
How does it sound? :green:
-
the sound is great , i am very happy
next steps are:
trying to optimize things , see how fidelizer works , load the full version of windows 8 , find a remote ....
-
see how fidelizer works
It should be installed already you just need to start it.
-
JRiver support shows how you can use either a Iphone, Ipad, etc as a remote.
http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Remotes
Randy
-
I do this:
1) find a good VNC app for your ipad or remote desktop (I use Splashtop; you can also simply use Remote Desktop from Windows) and install it on CAPS and wherever you are going to do headless maintenance
2) buy and install jremote on your ipad or ipod. Follow jremote install instructions (which means having J River produce random media network key that you then copy to jremote setup).
2) find Windows Task Scheduler in Windows Control Panel (system admin) and schedule JRiver for like 4 minutes after start up (/Mediaserver is put in the argument, it makes J River come up as a background task, without GUI, but GUI is available) .
3) Restart CAPS and then fire up VNC. Go to fidelizer (put it on desktop for easy access) and run it in audiophile mode. It will finish in under 2 minutes (close stupid browser it opens after finishing); that way J River is not running when you fidelize.
4) Wait the extra couple of minutes. J River will show in taskbar.
You are ready for jremote to be used as your remote, and your CAPS will be fidelized. :thumb:
-
Will the Jkenny spdif work with that USB card that you have installed?
-
Will the Jkenny spdif work with that USB card that you have installed?
they work in my system
-
hi
i am still running the windows trial version on my caps and want to install the full version windows 8 .
is there anything i have to pay special attention to ? or just use the tools provided by windows ?
i never installed and OS so that is new to me .
-
hi
i am still running the windows trial version on my caps and want to install the full version windows 8 .
is there anything i have to pay special attention to ? or just use the tools provided by windows ?
i never installed and OS so that is new to me .
Don't do an upgrade. Instead buy the $40 Win8 Pro upgrade and have it downloaded and installed as an ISO to a bootable USB drive (i.e clean install) using same WinUSB bootable app as in my first directions. Upgrades leave too much crap around (tech terminology, sorry :) ).
-
Don't do an upgrade. Instead buy the $40 Win8 Pro upgrade and have it downloaded and installed as an ISO to a bootable USB drive (i.e clean install) using same WinUSB bootable app as in my first directions. Upgrades leave too much crap around (tech terminology, sorry :) ).
that's what i thought .
i have never done that so i really hope that this is going to work out ok .
i will have to look for some more information on how to install as an ISO and the boot ......
-
UPDATE as of Nov 22:
I am going to explore the USB power play going on, especially given that my Meitner MA-1 DAC requires the 5V from the USB cable. So I have several options I'm gonna try, listed in order of delivery (likely) and theoretical cleanliness too :
* Jesus is sending me the ac-charged intelligent battery option that simply plugs directly into the SOtM card and provides off the grid 5V power. Simple, clean, no need for additional USB cables or connections.
* iFi USB power kit, which uses a generic USB cable to get the signal+power to the iFi power supply. The ifi then allows for a dual conduit power leg and signal leg, or the standard power/signal in same lead. i will test the latter with my current Wireworld pltinum Starlight.
* I will test the former (signal plus power) with a dual conduit Acoustic Revive USB 1.0SP cable I am borrowing. Since i have the PCie SOtM card, which only has one USB output, I can't demo this dual conduit cable any other way currently.
* I may try and dial down my Hynes SR3-12 (Paul thinks I can only get it down to either 8.5V or maybe just 10V, which is no good). and use it in place of Jesus's battery power, but only if I can get assurance that it will do no harm. This solution is doubtful.
I know there are other solutions (QVOX, other dual conduit cables, etc) but my head may explode by then. Frankly, I can't imagine a blacker background than I'm getting now, and I'm currently feeding the Meitner dirty mobo 5V power, filtered via the SotM card filters.
-
Fast forward to today:
the SOtM battery power arrived. It is a wonderfully simple design, with two batteries and and an intelligent charger inside a case, a charger that charges one battery at a time (via provided wallwart) while the other provides the 5V to the USB card via the card's external dc plug (2.1MM). As one runs down the other takes over, yadayada. All is included.
As I said above, this is likely the simplest way to get clean power with the SOtM card cuz there is no need for additional hookups, addtl USB umbillical cabling, etc. And theoretically, off the grid is awfully nice.
Well, after one night of letting it settle in i did some a/bing last night with the standard mobo power. As I said earlier, my soundstage and overall presentation has been magically musical, with a very black background. Well....make that a dark gray background, cuz the battery power redefines BLACK! I use subtle recordings (bombastic rock recordings don't really bring this forward) like the micro cues in the eponymous Cowboy Junkies church recording The Trinity Sessions. I know this record as well any, and listening last night via battery USB power was revelatory. Ambient cues and microdynamic shadings came through as never before. Like I was hearing it remastered (well) in 24 bit or DSD. It floored me, actually, as I wasn't expecting such a low noise floor to go that much lower...again, not evident on some music, but clearly evident on the quietest of passages. And this lowering of noise floor has great affects on bass musicality, too, as everything seems tighter and more well controlled. I can't go back to mobo-induced power any more.
I think this is such a simple and elegant addition to the great musicality of the CAPS V2+ that I negotiated with Jesus (Sonore US) to offer fellow CAPS and SOtM users a nice approx $50 discount. Jesus set up a special page for us, where we get the battery pack for $375 shipped to your door in the US ($415 outside US) for the remainder of the year.
http://www.sonore.us/ted.html (http://www.sonore.us/ted.html)
and no..I don't get any commission on this. :)
As stated above, I will be checking out other USB power options, but suffice it to say that the SOtM battery power case works, and is simple to attain!
-
Ted, sounds awesome, we need to talk, AGAIN! I will need some help, ha as usual!
Mark
-
Below is the screen shot showing the RAM. Yeah, if I was starting from scratch I think I'd go this route but between buying more drives and such I'm not so sure it would be wise. :scratch: It does sound good though.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69680)
I thought that board only supported 4 g limit and 32 bit os?
http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/dn2800mt/sb/CS-032624.htm
-
Nope, I've answered this a few times. I have a full 64 bit Win 8 running fine, with no blips, no hiccups, no stutters, etc. I don't have 8 GB but Jason shows it does.
-
Does the board handle win7 64 bit though?
-
Does the board handle win7 64 bit though?
The DN2800Mt m/board uses a N2800 Intel ATOM CPU. This is a 64bit CPU as shown here: http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Atom/Intel-Atom%20N2800.html
I believe the confusion over whether the m/board can run 32bit or 64bit Windows derives from a (previous?) lack of 64bit graphics drivers. The GPU in this atom processor is a third party PowerPV core. This was pointed out in reviews earlier in the year, e.g.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/atom-cedartrtail_4.html
The Intel download pages for the DN2800MT only list a 32bit graphics driver fro Windows 7 and nothing at all for Windows 8. Yet clearly, Win8 appears to run in 64bit mode on this DN2800MT. So the question is can you find and run the Windows 8 64bit graphics driver on Win7?
May be by this time next year there'll be a ValleyView/Haswell m/board with "sandybridge" type graphics core on which you can actually run win7 64bit.
P.S. Probably no one took any notice of my post, but it needs correcting. There really are no 64bit graphics drivers for cedraview cpus. But this doesn't stop you installing win7/8 64 bit as Windows will just use a standard non-optimal (VESA?) graphics driver. Hence the screen shot in an earlier post. This is OK for this "audio server" application. One possible downside is that the system power usage may not be low as it could be when using a 32bit install and proper GMA3650 drivers.
-
I think I want to try this setup with JRiver and run it through the DAC on an OPPO BDP-105, any issues or thoughts?
edit: oh, I see jtwrace is using JRiver...any update on the stability, SQ(with JRiver, I have read Ted_b's comments?
Thanks
-
Yes, J River is the player of choice.
-
I'm seriously thinking of giving this design a try, but noticed that the SOtM tx-USBexp does not support devices with the M2Tech board, which includes my Wyred4Sound DAC-2. Presumably you can disable legacy USB in BIOS and it will work, but I'd like to verify this before dropping $350.
Has anyone tried the SOtM USBexp with the W4S DAC-2?
Does disabling legacy USB cause any other problems? The DAC-2 will be the only USB device I'll be using, so I would expect not.
Thanks - and looking forward to giving this build a go.
-
I was going to build a CAPS V2 but I am now going with a core i3/16GB -- everything else same. Also ordered the 5 volt SOtM - mBPS-d2s Intelligent Battery Power Supply from your discount link. Thanks. :thumb:
-
I'm seriously thinking of giving this design a try, but noticed that the SOtM tx-USBexp does not support devices with the M2Tech board, which includes my Wyred4Sound DAC-2. Presumably you can disable legacy USB in BIOS and it will work, but I'd like to verify this before dropping $350.
Has anyone tried the SOtM USBexp with the W4S DAC-2?
Does disabling legacy USB cause any other problems? The DAC-2 will be the only USB device I'll be using, so I would expect not.
Thanks - and looking forward to giving this build a go.
Jesus updated the Sonore SOtM page to say that these driver compatibilities should work in Win 8. Dunno the exact answer though, sorry.
-
I'm seriously thinking of giving this design a try, but noticed that the SOtM tx-USBexp does not support devices with the M2Tech board, which includes my Wyred4Sound DAC-2. Presumably you can disable legacy USB in BIOS and it will work, but I'd like to verify this before dropping $350.
Has anyone tried the SOtM USBexp with the W4S DAC-2?
Does disabling legacy USB cause any other problems? The DAC-2 will be the only USB device I'll be using, so I would expect not.
Thanks - and looking forward to giving this build a go.
Check out this post to see if it helps clarify your issues...
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f10-music-servers/next-c-p-s-design-underway-13431/index5.html#post186744
-
Thanks ted_b for documenting this - a lot of very useful information for anyone considering a HTPC build - especially solutions for nice clean supply rails.
A couple of queries - I think the source for the wesena htpc case is Perfect Home Theater - and not "Personal Home Theater" as is in the Bill of materials ? (thanks be to google).
The second query is the needed wattage of the linear power supply - according to the table on page 70 of the Intel dn2800mt Technical Product Specification ( see http://downloadmirror.intel.com/20714/eng/DN2800MT_TechProdSpec05.pdf ) a possible estimate of the power requirement is 50W - that is a likely max figure and with a voltage supply of 12V and an 80% efficiency rating of the on-board voltage regulator then the required amperage is 5.2A. (The required current will vary depending on supply voltage 8V (7.8A) to 19V (3.3A)). If we stick with a 12V supply and halve the needed power with an average of 25W then the required current is 2.6A. Personally I would prefer to use a linear power supply capable of supplying at least 50W and maybe even 75W to not limit future HTPC options - although that will also depend on how much a higher capacity power supply costs too.
Has anyone actually measured the steady-state current drawn by the HTPC - and under load as well ? That way we will all have a better idea of the needed power supply wattage.
-
Weff, I can't confirm the power draw, but your math is probably right. I;m sure my Hynes SR7, dialed to 12V, provides plenty of amperage.
BTW, my CAPS is in no way an HTPC, but instead a minimalist music server. I'm not trying to be pedantic; those two descriptions are VERY different. An HTPC needs way more power, typically a spinning optical disc drive, and is intended to do way more work...while not necessarily having, as a goal, fanless low power silence (both musically and physically). My CAPS v2+ is intended, by design, to be minimalist.
-
Hi Ted
would you still say that it is not necessary to optimize windows 8 pro full version if you use fidelizer or is there a list of things besides the one that you gave in post 44 (see below ) that you would recommend for best sound ?
Sunday OCT 28 UPDATE: STOP THE PRESSES
go here:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=110542.msg1147653#msg1147653
OCT 28 UPDATE: Windows 8 tweaks (not recommended until you install production Windows 8, or if you are waiting until January, go ahead with these temporarily )
I will post my ( special thanks to Terry Hubbart and Chris Connaker) detailed Windows 8 optimization activity. In the meantime Fidelizer is a great free optimization product; just goofy cuz you need to rerun after reboots, etc.
This Windows 8 Audio Optimization set of routines is early, based on Windows 8 Preview, and is somewhat experimental, meaning it won't harm your CAPS server (turning stuff off is good) but has not proven to be perfect yet. Fidelizer STILL IMPROVES THE SOUND, SO CONTINUE TO USE IT!![/i] If you try to run Update Assistant it may fail due to these tweaks!
Windows 8 Audio Optimization
1) In control Panel (Computer, right-click -> properties) go to Windows Features. Turn off Internet Explorer (it will leave some residual IE stuff, don;t worry about it) and uninstall nearly all other Windows "Features" including Games, Indexing, Search, Printing, etc.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69620)
2) Then disable System Restore, Windows Defender, Windows Firewall, and Windows Update. Obviously there is no anti-virus software on the C.A.P.S server.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69619)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69621)
3) Remove everything you can from the startup folder (in Win 8 it's in a tab in Task Manager, which is found via right-click on bottom task bar)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69623)
4) Unpin (right click, unpin) all the extraneous apps (yes, they now call them apps) from the Start menu , so you end up with something as stark as this (Chris recommended to replace IE with a much lighter and more secure Google Chrome, for those few times artwork is needed to be retrieved):
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69624)
5) Then head back to Task Manager and go to the Services tab. Pick "open Services" , sort by name then status to get all the "running" services first. Then, using the attached list, right click on those missing from this list, go to Properties and first stop, then disable each service (hit apply, ok).
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=69625)
This seems like a lot of work, but doesn't need to be done all in one sitting. The first few steps, however, can be accomplished in 5 minutes.
I have tested Fidelizer with these changes, and although not the stark differences as before it continues to improve the sound. It is clear we are not exactly sure what Fidelizer does to re-prioritize streams, etc. I will continue to use Fidelizer after each reboot.
-
I haven't decided yet. I am still running Preview, so I will leave the optimizations alone until I move to full Win 8 (it's bought, downloaded and on my bootable USB, just haven't done it yet). My gut is yes, it is good to do these things, once you have full Win 8 loaded. But i still swear by Fidelizer too, regardless. I have added a 3 minute delay, via Task Scheduler, to J River/mediaserver (argument in Task Scheduler that loads j River as server only) so Fidelizer can do its thing upon reboot, and J River is not "in the way".
-
I have a CAPS V2 optomised for low latency. Maintenance is carried out via mouse and keyboard. I have tried both Chrome RDP and windows RDP and cannot connect my Desktop with the CAPS. Please give me some guidance as I am definitively doing something incorrect.
-
I use Splashtop VNC, so not sure how a remote desktop sets up. Anybody?
-
I couldn't get any of the RDPs working either. I use Splashtop.
-
Is it because of firewall issues? Would I be able to use the VNC programme you are using with the firewall disabled?
-
Oh Sorry! Splashtop is not a VNC programme.
-
I use TeamViewer for remote access from another computer. Free program and works excellent.
http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx
-
Oh Sorry! Splashtop is not a VNC programme.
Yes it is (they claim proprietary but it is generally a VNC type app), and can be run on a pc (my easiest setup for any maintenance requiring more than a reboot, etc) and an IOS device (I have it on my ipad for simple reboot issues while in the listening chair)..
For Remote Desktop you need Win 8 Pro, as standard Win 8 does not include it.
-
Thanks for the information but I am still using Windows 7 that is optomised for low latency by small green computers. The firewall and all attachments are disconnected. Can I connect the CAPS remotely to my Desktop or Laptop for maintenance purposes without enabling the firewall. I was checking Splashtop that was mentioned in a previous post but I think the firewall comes into question as well.
-
I have no firewall enabled. It's fine with Splashtop.
-
unless I missed it on the previous pages, if using W8 why not using JPLay? Windows with JPlay is entering a different domain leaving all other render programs behind. Also Caps V2 needs mods to sound best :green:
-
unless I missed it on the previous pages, if using W8 why not using JPLay? Windows with JPlay is entering a different domain leaving all other render programs behind. Also Caps V2 needs mods to sound best :green:
Have you heard my CAPS V2+?? Why get on here to my thread and say my design needs mods?? My Caps V2+ needs no mods, thank you. And jplay is a disaster (and not necessary anyway) with anything I or TJhub have tried with this server. I am in a "don't fix what ain't broken" mode. Jplay is a layer that is troublesome and redundant.
-
Any Electromagnetic interference needs mods, also yr caps v2, and you dont fix what is broken? So why did you upgrade in the first place? Was yr CD player broken??
And you KNOW about JPLay without given it a try?
and last but not least this is your thread?? I know you started it...but you dont know what is in the public domain belongs to the public?
sryI may have a too strong habit to reflect ppl attitudes . ;)
-
Yes, my cd player was broken. And yes this thread is about MY design; you are calling my baby ugly without ever seeing him (has nothing to do with public domain argument). And finally, please read my all words if you are going to respond to them; I HAVE tried jplay (as I stated, both TJHUb and I have tried it in this almost identical-CAPS setup). I do NOT like it at all! YMMV.
Do some work: do the V2+ build, do the mods, listen, a/b it and report back on your findings.
Happy Holidays.
-
I have played with JPLay and I would touch it with a 10 foot pole!
Snake oil.
Alex
-
I actually admire yr endeavor and wanted to give you two suggestions which helped me and hundreds if not thousands of others to uplift their listening pleasure
1) the use of JPlay, I learned that only the most stubborn JRiver worshipers detest JPlay on all kinds of ideological grnds, those with "cotton ears" or those with a non transparent "flat" sound equipment. In better equipment it may the wrong USB audiophile cable. If Jplay can play in hib mode on the system and yes some configurations do not allow hib mode, than guaranteed a difference must be heard unless, see above. I had no clue in which camp you were, so I thought I gave you a golden tip with JPlay as you did not mention it, unless I missed it?
2) All motherboards also the one you choose are very unmusical as all motherboards are. All motherboards are still extensions from the historical root idea what a computer is and obey that idea: a number cruncher processor and digital data storage and it that case a computer is practically perfect. Audio streaming? A complete alien idea to any computer design (still)Why do you think the better motherboards have so many sometimes over a dozen coils?Why should they be there in 1st place? But even the best coil cannot stop the broadcasting of RFI at its multiple sources that bounces all over the innards of the computer. The existence of EMI comes on top of that. There is an extensive search and in depth dialogue of the caveats and 'wonders' of PC as music server going on many forums and the one I follow over more than 15 months. From that rich source I wanted to give you those 2 advises as there are many many other missing from yr text description of yr v2. Maybe you did incorporate some of them but that would only be guessing. And I did not mention yr baby ugly, these are yr words. I am convinced she looks very beautiful
happy Xmas and a fine intense New years eve.
-
I actually admire yr endeavor and wanted to give you two suggestions which helped me and hundreds if not thousands of others to uplift their listening pleasure
1) the use of JPlay, I learned that only the most stubborn JRiver worshipers detest JPlay on all kinds of ideological grnds, those with "cotton ears" or those with a non transparent "flat" sound equipment. In better equipment it may the wrong USB audiophile cable. If Jplay can play in hib mode on the system and yes some configurations do not allow hib mode, than guaranteed a difference must be heard unless, see above. I had no clue in which camp you were, so I thought I gave you a golden tip with JPlay as you did not mention it, unless I missed it?
2) All motherboards also the one you choose are very unmusical as all motherboards are. All motherboards are still extensions from the historical root idea what a computer is and obey that idea: a number cruncher processor and digital data storage and it that case a computer is practically perfect. Audio streaming? A complete alien idea to any computer design (still)Why do you think the better motherboards have so many sometimes over a dozen coils?Why should they be there in 1st place? But even the best coil cannot stop the broadcasting of RFI at its multiple sources that bounces all over the innards of the computer. The existence of EMI comes on top of that. There is an extensive search and in depth dialogue of the caveats and 'wonders' of PC as music server going on many forums and the one I follow over more than 15 months. From that rich source I wanted to give you those 2 advises as there are many many other missing from yr text description of yr v2. Maybe you did incorporate some of them but that would only be guessing. And I did not mention yr baby ugly, these are yr words. I am convinced she looks very beautiful
happy Xmas and a fine intense New years eve.
I realize that you might be trying to help on some level, but please understand you are not. You should also know your audience a bit more before making your generalized statements.
I personally think nothing of JPlay; not its sound, not its function, nothing. Everyone should try it. If they like it? Great! If not, I wouldn't tell them they are wrong about anything.
Have you heard a CAPS server? A SOtM USB card? Please don't answer these question as I mean them only for you to ask yourself.
-
I understand where you come from but dont make Einsteins of normal logical approaches to make a good sounding computer from of the shelves gear.
Hynes power will do some good but cannot restore the faults further up the power line. SotM is nice too but not the best approach. All in all much better than a laptop I agree but not better than other approaches, on the contrary. I rest my case
-
Yes, Kyrill, it IS better than other approaches that I have tried. That is why I went to the significant work of not only designing it, but publishing my findings, my tips and my sonic feedback. Until you build the Caps V2+ (or publish your own designs on another thread) you have absolutely no right to empirically say mine is flawed and/or other approaches are much better. What kind of person comes on a thread like this, sh%ts on the approach of the designer, with no actual experience with it, and expects an attentive audience of "gee wiz, tell us more". You can have your opinion, but it is simply based on heresay, and your credibility (and agenda) is questionable based on that logic, cuz you have not even tried my approach. How is it that you don't understand this, yet continue to be insensitive?
And don't add in the Hynes comments as being yours (as some measure of trying to be on the same page), cuz I've already said multiple times that the Hynes may well be overkill, since it loses its domain over clean power once the mobo dirties it up and sends it downstream. Hence, the use of USB power solutions like the SOtM battery or iFi power supply.
Net/net, we understand you don't like my design. I'm not interested in hearing it again until you show me what you have actually done to the design to improve it (actual CAPS V2+ feedback please, not theory and bs). I'm very open to real world actual working tweaks, mods and other improvements.
-
I hate to be misunderstood, I do like your approach, my harsh like responses are more to the way ppl react.
I would have responded with. "Interesting( there is even some room for some mild sarcasm but then you have to pronounce it) Kyrill, I (we ) have put a lot of thought in our design, if you think more improvements can be made can you elaborate? Have you listening experiences?"
That would be an invitation to gather more information and then after requiring it can be explained with "we have been there and no,,,etc etc) or come into a dialogue/discussion of pro and contra. After all we are all after the best sounding source made possible,
ah well on paper it becomes maybe more laden than meeting in real life :)
I did not post my findings of my year's long search to a better PC on this forum as I found a dedicated PC forum elsewhere. Yr post triggered with me a ( apparently in a clumsy way) motivation to support yr line of approaches, not so much caps V2 which will be an intermediate product to v3, v4 and so on
-
Greetings to all.
Thanks Ted, I got through with Splashtop it has made life so much easier. I have been following the CAPS thread by both Yourself and TJHUB with interest. I am awaiting your final response to Windows 8 and Fitziler before going that way. As I become aware mods and tweaks I will try to implement. In the final analysis we are all chasing that invisible sound.
-
I continue to be a big Fidelizer fan (of the sound, not the process or the app...but they come with the territory :) ). After a reboot I manually run Fidelizer and have J River (server mode) on a 3 minute delay.
-
I've been using the SOtM tX-USBexp card for a while now and like what I'm getting for sound quality although the road has been rocky. One issue I solved was that my brand new external hard drive has issues. I plugged in my older 3TB WD drive and I no longer get drive errors so so far so good.
For xmas I received an external power supply. It's a Welbourne unit 8VDC. Looks sweet, let's see how it works.
I read the instructions which seem confusing to me when one wishes to use external power.
According to the manual jumpers J401 and J402 are enabled which means they are jumpered.
Here's the confusing bit. J403 internal power connector which is the auxiliary power connector connected to external power input jack. I assumed this means that this jack also needs to be jumpered. It does NOT state this clearly. Jumper or No jumper. I tried it with the jumper. What I got was a strange oscillation and then the smell of burning electronics. Not frickin good :evil: So I quickly unplugged, went back to my original settings and see if in fact, I get to buy yet another card or a motherboard. So far, the boards seem to have survived as I'm playing music.
Now I have this cool power supply but I'm not going to perform anything until I know just how this card is jumpered to an accept external power supply.
Any help out there and,
Merry Christmas to ALL :D
-
Michael, the exp (PCIe) SOtM card requires NO work to get it powered. Just plug in the dc plug to the external dc jack, period. When it senses an external ps it shuts off internally. Do not screw with the jumpers, etc.
-
Thanks Ted.
I plugged it in and it works - seemingly. The smell of frying electronics is not a good start.
When I read the precautions on page 8, this is not a product I would recommend to anyone other than a hardcore user. I was disconnected from thew internal power source and quickly unplugged external power when I sensed something wrong. :scratch:
-
Sounded fantastic, when I got the opportunity to listen. Visiting family members love TV- don't like music.
I mean it sounded amazing before, but maybe I heard a bit better stage and I had to turn down the servo subs. Even more "in space" and air. But then again, no way to AB.
How do I know if in fact I damaged something? Would it not play with an external PS attached?
-
CAPS V2+ - SOtM tX-USBexp - Mytek Stereo 192-DSD issue
After reading the enthousiastic post of ted_b I built my CAPS V2+ server with some differences: I installed Windows 8 Pro 32 bit to be able to install the Intel 32 bit video drivers, used a mSATA for the OS and software and a SSD + SOtM filter for my DSD files. I have the SOtM battery PS on order. I also got the Mytek Stereo 192-DSD.
The sound is fantastic. So far so good. When starting to play music there is some click sound (I heard that Mytek is working on this). However, what is very annoying is that while enjoying music there are dropouts about every two minutes. I checked for and could not find any interrupt conflicts. After booting the computer I run fidelizer and thereafter Jriver.
Although I know that DPC Latency Checker gives unreliable results with Windows 8 I ran it to get an idea what is going on. After booting, DPC shows appr. 1000 uS Latency (yellow bars). After running fidelizer this goes down to 500 uS (green bars). As soon as music starts the figure goes up to appr. 2000 uS (red and yellow bars).
On the Korean SOtM site they say that there are issues with the tx-USBexp card. Recently, on the Sonore site, the Mytek is added to the blacklist of unsupported DAC’s.
My question is now if anyone could tell me how to improve things. When browsing through numerous posts on various sites I read something about this dropout issue, but only very few. Apparently many people are enjoying their music without this problem. Maybe I did something wrong. I don’t know.
Any help here is very welcome!
-
I have to post after some serious listening to this CAPS V2 server, the Core power supply driving the MB and the Welbourne driving the SoTM exp card, this is totally amazing. It completely blows away my vinyl rig :o
As I wrote earlier, we were already extremely pleased, I mean seriously good sound. The Allnic preamp, Joule Electra combo would be hard to beat at any price in any system but the power supply's attached to the CAPS combo and a NAD M51 to perform the DAC duties... it's crazy. :duh:
-
Sebassie, I run the Meitner generally, but when i put the Mytek in the system (mostly used for home office setup) I get no dropouts, zero. I run Win 8 64 bit, Samsung 830 as OS SSD, and a NAS as my file server, not internal SSD for music...but everything else pretty darn the same. I run ASIO (for Mytek). It's trouble-free. Maybe mSATA and internal SSD is too much power load?? Dunno..let me think about it and ask around.
-
Just ordered everything to build this system now.
Where can I download the Windows 8 Preview?
I only see the Pro upgrade?
Thanks,
Jeff
-
Now that it is production I doubt if Win 8 has a preview site anymore.
-
Sebassie, I run the Meitner generally, but when i put the Mytek in the system (mostly used for home office setup) I get no dropouts, zero. I run Win 8 64 bit, Samsung 830 as OS SSD, and a NAS as my file server, not internal SSD for music...but everything else pretty darn the same. I run ASIO (for Mytek). It's trouble-free. Maybe mSATA and internal SSD is too much power load?? Dunno..let me think about it and ask around.
Hi Ted_b
There is not too much powerload. I tested several combinations with/without msata/ssd with same result. Today I probably solved most of the problem by pure coincidence. After replacing the USB cable from Mytek by an Audioscript carbon cable almost all drop-outs were gone. Could you please advise me how to set parameters for ASIO (Jriver/Mytek). I use Wasapi now and like to try ASIO.
BTW Fidelizer 3.0 is out and can be run at startup in audiophile mode by putting it in the startup folder and run it with switch /S. I got this information yesterday from Keetakawee Punpeng, who is the creator of fidelizer. The only problem remaining is how to close the browser window automatically before JRiver starts up through the task scheduler.
-
Lost power to the house this morning. Looks like another dead card. I mean... really? Looking at the precautions in the owners manual, it states "While PC is on using the product with external power, make sure do not be blocked the external power". So depending on how components power down and back up again during a power failure is tied to the amount of damage that one can experience?
So far I see that the motherboard is toast. No longer boots up and I can't even get into the bios. And looking at the instructions of this SoTM card, this thing seems really sensitive and chances are it's gone too. :evil:
Of course this could have something to do with the jumper setting early on - a weakened component somewhere. Checked both power supplies are they are perfect. Looking at the card, I see no physical damage to anything, but I know that means little.
-
Looks like my v2 motherboard has died as well. It won't do anything even after stripping it down to just the motherboard. I'm a little pissed about this. I've never had a motherboard die before, and I've owned a crap load of machines in my lifetime.
-
Hi Ted_b
There is not too much powerload. I tested several combinations with/without msata/ssd with same result. Today I probably solved most of the problem by pure coincidence. After replacing the USB cable from Mytek by an Audioscript carbon cable almost all drop-outs were gone. Could you please advise me how to set parameters for ASIO (Jriver/Mytek). I use Wasapi now and like to try ASIO.
BTW Fidelizer 3.0 is out and can be run at startup in audiophile mode by putting it in the startup folder and run it with switch /S. I got this information yesterday from Keetakawee Punpeng, who is the creator of fidelizer. The only problem remaining is how to close the browser window automatically before JRiver starts up through the task scheduler.
Yes, I have Fidelizer 3.0 but like the sound of 2.1 better...go figure. I also saw the /s switch but would have the same issue with the damn browser. Argh!
ASIO is simply:
1) pick ASIO in J River options ->audio
2) pick the Mytek ASIO driver in options -> audio settings
3) set bitstream for DSD, NOT DoP (DSD is second button from bottom, right above DoP) in options -> bitstream ->custom
-
ASIO is simply:
1) pick ASIO in J River options ->audio
2) pick the Mytek ASIO driver in options -> audio settings
3) set bitstream for DSD, NOT DoP (DSD is second button from bottom, right above DoP) in options -> bitstream ->custom
[/quote]
Thanks, I give it a try
-
Looks like my v2 motherboard has died as well. It won't do anything even after stripping it down to just the motherboard. I'm a little pissed about this. I've never had a motherboard die before, and I've owned a crap load of machines in my lifetime.
I'm a former IT guy and cared for 1000's of machines. MB failures were very rare. In fact, so much so, I refuse to believe this stupid card took out my Mboard. I stripped it down, reassembled, and got into the boot menu, then got it booted. One by one I added peripherals. It froze on my Hard Drive. The hard drive is now plugged into the main system and works perfectly. So I suspect the USB channels are gone. I'll conyinue to plug away no pun intended.
This is looking like a $500 dollar lesson.
-
Terry,
I am sorry your mb died. (NOTE: I need, however, to tell folks on this thread that Terry's CAPS is NOT my design (i.e the subject of this thread). It is the original CAPS V2 that has the Jetway mobo, not my Intel DN2800MT. ) How does a mobo die??
-
So after spending most of my day troubleshooting I've determined that the card is dead. The MB USB may be damaged but I found a temporary workaround for the USB issue. I've got music playing again without the card so at least I can listen to computer audio which is remarkably good without the card and power supply!
This really is frustrating. It's not just the money but it's time spent. I'm willing to spend time in setup but I bet I've logged 20 hours between 2 cards. The first one came broken and the second dies because house loses power?
I'll report back how the company wants to warranty this.
How does a MoBo die? See items 3 & 4 under the precautions part of the manual.
According to the "precautions" see items 3 and 4!
-
At the risk of derailing this thread further, the mobo on my server crapped out as well the night of December 21, for which I blame the Mayan calendar and solstice. Good thing I'm getting ready to build my own Intel DN2800MT based version of the CAPS V2+ or CAPS V3 Topanga/Lagoon/Carbon. NOTE: the server that crashed is not a CAPS design but a cheapass basement computer I built to rip CDs and run slimserver for my Squeezeboxes.
Woke up Saturday morning to completely powerless brick of a computer - no lights, no fans, not a beep or even a peep when hitting the power button. Spent a good couple of hours messing with it before getting a new power supply even though the current one tested fine with a multimeter. Then the real time-wasting began (I'm with you MichaelHifi, the wasted hours diagnosing a problem and not knowing if you can even get it running again is the the biggest loss when a mobo goes down).
Suffice to say I've narrowed it down to several potential problems - bad PSU which I replaced, a possibly bad RAM chip which I've removed (computer will only POST without this RAM chip in place) and a possible power management issue with the mobo. I won't go into the agonizingly convoluted trials and errors I went through, but at least it is back up and running and at the very least I can use it for CD ripping (I purpose-built this server with a specific CDROM drive and use EAC for ripping).
Time to order my CAPS parts - should be a helluva alot easier and quick to build than what I've been dealing with the past week.
-
So after spending most of my day troubleshooting I've determined that the card is dead. The MB USB may be damaged but I found a temporary workaround for the USB issue. I've got music playing again without the card so at least I can listen to computer audio which is remarkably good without the card and power supply!
This really is frustrating. It's not just the money but it's time spent. I'm willing to spend time in setup but I bet I've logged 20 hours between 2 cards. The first one came broken and the second dies because house loses power?
I'll report back how the company wants to warranty this.
How does a MoBo die? See items 3 & 4 under the precautions part of the manual.
According to the "precautions" see items 3 and 4!
I am going to build a CAPS soon and I am doing it without the SoTm card. Your story was the clincher for me, a simple loss of power caused all of that. I am a former IT guy too and I have read too many stories about card failures to be comfortable with spending $350 on one. I have a couple of 10 year old computers with far cheaper components that withstood years of use during my college days running off a simple surge protector and they can run Linux flawlessly to this day. This after hundreds of power outages between them.
So, I guess we could run both the CAPS and the SoTm card off battery power. When I get around to doing battery power for my upcoming CAPS build I'll consider a SoTm card at that time.
Michael, how do you have your computer hooked into your system right now?
-
I think cutting the VCC or power wire to a standard USB port would give alot of the same benefits as the SoTm card. The main benefit to the SoTm seems to be power filtering which you simply don't need if you plan on using a external DAC or some other usb to DAC device that has its own power.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Adding-an-external-power-supply-to-a-cheap-USB-hub/step3/Cut-the-VCC-wire-of-the-USB-cable/ (http://www.instructables.com/id/Adding-an-external-power-supply-to-a-cheap-USB-hub/step3/Cut-the-VCC-wire-of-the-USB-cable/)
Then you could output USB without the noise USB power introduces into the system. Maybe DIY a USB cable and cut the VCC wire or put a large resistor inline. USB ports only give power when required like a wall outlet so simply cutting the VCC wire in a USB cable should not cause any issues downstream in the computer. This is going to be the first thing I try after I build my CAPS in mid January.
-
AKLegal,
Not all together true. Just because an external DAC is powered doesn't mean it does not use the potentially noisy 5V that travels down the USB wire. Many many DACS do. Don't cut that wire if you use my Meitner MA-1; it won't see the computer!! Hence the existence of better power for the 5V (filtering, iFi USB power supplies, SOtM battery, etc etc).
-
I get what you are saying but I'll try it out. The worst thing that could happen is that I waste a USB cable. No big whoop. If that doesn't work, maybe I'll try a small inline cap.
-
Had PI Audio make me a externally powered DISCREET USB cable that can be powered by the 5V side of a BatteryBUSS to run my DAC. Works well and sounds great!
That is another alternative if you need DC power for the USB DAC.
-
Yes, dual conduit cables are an option, and the iFi USB power supply allows for it, too. I will finish my review iFi and comment on using the AR 1.0SP.
-
The iUSB looks interesting. I am near a retailer seller, maybe they will allow a audition.
-
OK got up and running today on my system.
Coming off a Mac Mini and I am not complaining!
Going thru the SoTM card to a Tranquility DAC no preamp
direct into a Audio Alchemy OM150 amp.
I am using WASAPI but don't know much more about JRiver.
Since I am using JRiver volume should I have a dithered setting enabled?
Thanks all.
Jeff
-
I am using a Keces DC-115 for the PS and a separate adjustable supply for the USB board.
Does anyone know if I can drop one of the outputs of the Keces to 9v to feed the USB card?
Jeff
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73413)
-
Jeff,
I think 9V will be too much for the SOtM card.
-
Just going by the specs - should I drop to 6v?
External power input (not included)
Input voltage : +6.5V ~ +9Vdc
Input current : 2A max
5.5mm OD x 2.1mm ID DC adaptor jack
Jeff
-
I know it says that but a couple folks have fried their cards at around that voltage I think...I'd ask Jesus at Sonore US. I have both the SOtM battery and the iFi USB external 5V power supply. Neither are more than 7V I don't think.
-
Thanks - I am now at 6v. and I have a email in.
Jeff
-
I am using a Keces DC-115 for the PS and a separate adjustable supply for the USB board.
Does anyone know if I can drop one of the outputs of the Keces to 9v to feed the USB card?
Jeff
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73413)
I assume that's possible. My KECES does 12v and 5v so just shoot them an email.
-
Upon return from CES my CAPS V2+ tells me the Windows 8 Preview has expired. I then installed the $39.99 upgrade as a clean install (via WinUSB bootable USB thumb drive) and all went well. I have everything back up with full Windows 8 Pro 64 bit. Yeah!
-
After using the CAPS V2+ build for two weeks, I have to say I am very pleased with the sound
in the system.
I am running Win8 32bit with 4 gig ram Sota and internal mSata drive and external USB drive with Flac.
Startisback Start menu.
Still using the KECES PS for the PC and a separate 2 amp variable supply running at 7 volts for the USB card.
JRiver 18 with WASAPI. and Fabfilter Pro Q at 80 hz for a little bottom help.
Fidelizer - Extreme mode. This was the tipper for me. Brought the magic and strength.
Feeding Tranquility DAC and Ampino amp to Open Baffle MJAO (design by Scorpion)
Going forward I will move to 64 bit when I can grab a 64 bit download. and play with other power supplies.
Thanks!
Jeff
-
@ Ted_b
Today I got email from Keetakawee Punpeng about killing the browser after running fidelizer.
I quote "You can add taskkill after some specific second. I need to add that as counter-measure against company trying to integrate Fidelizer in their platform and claim for $$$ as their own innovation.
Regards,
Windows X"
I googled a bit and found taskkill.exe plus some advise how to set the right switches. It should be possible to close the browser.
Maybe this helps?
-
Nice find. lets work on it; I just got back from some travelling so I will attack it this week coming up.
Jeff,
I am glad the Caps V2+ is sounding good. Be careful of using USB for both hard drive music library and for SOtM card. They just might fight each other within the bus architecture somewhere, but sounds like they don't.
-
I am going to build a CAPS soon and I am doing it without the SoTm card. Your story was the clincher for me, a simple loss of power caused all of that. I am a former IT guy too and I have read too many stories about card failures to be comfortable with spending $350 on one. I have a couple of 10 year old computers with far cheaper components that withstood years of use during my college days running off a simple surge protector and they can run Linux flawlessly to this day. This after hundreds of power outages between them.
So, I guess we could run both the CAPS and the SoTm card off battery power. When I get around to doing battery power for my upcoming CAPS build I'll consider a SoTm card at that time.
Michael, how do you have your computer hooked into your system right now?
It's been another weird journey into computeraudioland. Frustrating at times, magical at times as well. I tested my card in another system and it lives. My mainboard is damaged though. So then I had an expensive card, and instructions which outline how easily this card and the associated mainboard can be damaged. Now what? So I bought another mainboard, a ASRock E350M1-USB3. Added a SATA3 1TB internal hard drive and 16 gigs of memory. Also picked up a 150watt PICO supply to feed the rails. With the CORA 12volt supply I hardwired using 18awg gold over 4 nines silver (cause I had it in my inventory :) to the PICO. The SoTM is being fed with a Welborne supply a friend bought me. (Got good audio friends, crazy but good). The supplies get their power from a Power Plant Premier using some very nice DIY power cords.
2 nights ago I had installed some blocking caps on the input side of my amps. My speakers are Super V's which have separate amps to power their servo subs so I thought, let's give the Joules only what they need. It was revelatory. I mean stunning. There was such clarity, space, depth, it was tough to put my little one to bed and shut down the system. Then I discovered that Fidelizor wasn't running in the system. Employing Fedilzor changed the system to a more analog sound than my turntable. My wife was loving it big time but I had some issues with this "new Sound". Was it too smooth? Have I become accustomed to some noise which translates into perceived leading edge transients? Not leaving what was already spectacular alone I plugged my amps into the wall bypassing the AC re-generator, just to see. Not good. Bringing them back to the PPP didn't bring back what we were hearing the night before, something had changed. My system had retreated back somehow. This analog sound we had witnessed had disappeared mostly due to my fiddling about. :duh:
Don't get me wrong, the system sounds amazing 8). But where did that "analog" sound come from?
One oddity that keeps coming to mind is that somehow running Fidelizor so dramatically changed the sound from what is was, there must be some switch or setting that I've missed. :?
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=74435)
-
It's been another weird journey into computeraudioland. Frustrating at times, magical at times as well. I tested my card in another system and it lives. My mainboard is damaged though. So then I had an expensive card, and instructions which outline how easily this card and the associated mainboard can be damaged. Now what? So I bought another mainboard, a ASRock E350M1-USB3. Added a SATA3 1TB internal hard drive and 16 gigs of memory. Also picked up a 150watt PICO supply to feed the rails. With the CORA 12volt supply I hardwired using 18awg gold over 4 nines silver (cause I had it in my inventory :) to the PICO. The SoTM is being fed with a Welborne supply a friend bought me. (Got good audio friends, crazy but good). The supplies get their power from a Power Plant Premier using some very nice DIY power cords.
2 nights ago I had installed some blocking caps on the input side of my amps. My speakers are Super V's which have separate amps to power their servo subs so I thought, let's give the Joules only what they need. It was revelatory. I mean stunning. There was such clarity, space, depth, it was tough to put my little one to bed and shut down the system. Then I discovered that Fidelizor wasn't running in the system. Employing Fedilzor changed the system to a more analog sound than my turntable. My wife was loving it big time but I had some issues with this "new Sound". Was it too smooth? Have I become accustomed to some noise which translates into perceived leading edge transients? Not leaving what was already spectacular alone I plugged my amps into the wall bypassing the AC re-generator, just to see. Not good. Bringing them back to the PPP didn't bring back what we were hearing the night before, something had changed. My system had retreated back somehow. This analog sound we had witnessed had disappeared mostly due to my fiddling about. :duh:
Don't get me wrong, the system sounds amazing 8). But where did that "analog" sound come from?
One oddity that keeps coming to mind is that somehow running Fidelizor so dramatically changed the sound from what is was, there must be some switch or setting that I've missed. :?
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=74435)
I got my CAPSv3 up and running yesterday, unfortunately for me Danny has my Decade D2 crossovers for a upgrade :(
I'll try the Fidelizer program. I was going to shut services off manually but it should save some time. Good to hear that things were not as bad as you feared.
-
One oddity that keeps coming to mind is that somehow running Fidelizor so dramatically changed the sound from what is was, there must be some switch or setting that I've missed. :?
Unless you configure it to do so automatically, don't you have to run Fidelizer anew each time you turn on your server?
-
Unless you configure it to do so automatically, don't you have to run Fidelizer anew each time you turn on your server?
That is correct and before you launch your music software like JRiver.
-
As stated earlier I used Windows task Scheduler to just set up J RIver (as Music Sever only, no GUI) to start 3 minutes after boot up, thereby allowing me to start Fidelizer in plenty of time. I will look into automating it a little more as per earlier post.
-
Ted, if you mentioned it I missed in my reread of this thread. Did you ever try the iFi iUSBpower on your SOtM card? Results in comparison to battery supply?
And BTW, thanks for being one of my guiding lights on this journey.
Peter
-
Ted, if you mentioned it I missed in my reread of this thread. Did you ever try the iFi iUSBpower on your SOtM card? Results in comparison to battery supply?
And BTW, thanks for being one of my guiding lights on this journey.
Peter
Yes, I have been using both solutions for a month or so. I owe a website/ezine my review, so I'll post it here when I'm done too.
And thanks for the kind words, too. :)
-
Hi
I'd read about the CAPS V2, it sounds excellent. Looked on other forums, googled it, etc and now read this thread . .
Everyone likes it a lot; forgive if I missed it/ them, but I haven't noticed any poster mention a comparison, to another server or servers (on the same system)
Can anyone share their experiences with a comparison/s?
Thank you
-
Hell fellow CAPS Owners
I will like to take my CAPS v2.0 to the next level with a Linea or Battery power supply. My components are CAPS V2.0; Wired 4Sound DAC-2. Do I need a supply with only the following three (3) rails?
12V for Motherboard
12V for SSD hard drive (OCZ Agility 256GB Sata 3)
12V for Older SOTM Card
Thanks for your guidance