[viggen]

Just wondering what the opinions are if you only had $1k to spend then which would provide the greater bang for the buck in terms of SQ?

A few years ago, I think most people thought an ultrabook would be the better choice as it's off the grid and has SSD.  But, now it seems the PC is more viable as there's more audiophile options in terms of USB cards and such.  But, these options' total expense adds up quickly.

So, for $1k, what would you get?  A souped up audio pc or an ultrabook?

Personally, I'd still go with an ultrabook or even a Surface Pro 2 because of the smaller form factor, portability and multifunction utility.  But, I've never heard a souped up audio PC in action before.

[newzooreview]

Just wondering what the opinions are if you only had $1k to spend then which would provide the greater bang for the buck in terms of SQ?

A few years ago, I think most people thought an ultrabook would be the better choice as it's off the grid and has SSD.  But, now it seems the PC is more viable as there's more audiophile options in terms of USB cards and such.  But, these options' total expense adds up quickly.

So, for $1k, what would you get?  A souped up audio pc or an ultrabook?

Personally, I'd still go with an ultrabook or even a Surface Pro 2 because of the smaller form factor, portability and multifunction utility.  But, I've never heard a souped up audio PC in action before.

I would get a Mac Mini, convert it to battery power, and use Audirvana Pro.

[viggen]

I would get a Mac Mini, convert it to battery power, and use Audirvana Pro.

Hey you're cheating!  Mac Mini starts at $599 and just googled a bit for battery conversion and the cheaper option I found is $499 by PI audio.  Core Audio would be the more expensive option at about $800 I think.  So, already, you're over $1000 and we're not including peripherals yet since Mac Mini doesn't come with keyboard/mouse or display.  Of course, you can always buy a used mac and you might already have the peripherals. 

And, more money if you add SDD and ram.

But, personally, I prefer to stay with PC because I don't like using iOS.  Plus, not sure iTunes work well with flac?  All my music is flac.  But, that's just me.

I have to admit though, Mac Mini's industrial design is second to none.  I wish I can find a PC built as nicely as the Mac Mini is.

Overall, it does seem like no matter it's a Mac or PC that a desktop solution is now better than an ultrabook or tablet since there's more upgradeable options such as the power supply tweak you've mentioned.

[bladesmith]

You can get a mac mini, with a quad core processor,  slightly used for $700.00. That's a pretty good starting platform.

[k6davis]

The Audiophile Optimizer application...

http://www.highend-audiopc.com/optimizer.html

... has had more impact than anything else I've tried when it comes to servers. The improvement it makes is immediate and not at all subtle. It absolutely lives up to the bold claims made by the author, who also provides excellent, free support. There are threads about it here and on a few other popular audio forums.

This software runs on Windows Server 2012. I recall one posting about it running on a Mac (running Windows Server 2012), so it's probably possible to use it even if you prefer the Mac.

Windows Server 2012 + Audiophile Optimizer gave me better sound than I thought was possible from digital. I wouldn't be without it now.

[wilsynet]

For best sound quality, get a Computer Audiophile CAPS server:

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/section/c-p-s-489/

If you want to buy one of them pre-assembled, go here:

http://shop.smallgreencomputer.com/Computer-Audiophile-Pocket-Server_c5.htm

Make sure you buy one that has the trick USB card.

[toddbagwell]

as a pure value consideration, PC is my answer when compared to ultrabook.

SSD prices have continued to drop, making it cheaper to put your OS drive and any other programs on non-moving storage.

an ultrabook has a screen and other hardware, software and drivers that a music server would not need.

If your question is a "value" one, I'd say don't pay for anything you don't intend to use.

If the server is a dedicated device, I'd say don't use any unnecessary parts that could cause driver or hardware incompatibilities with the parts you would want to use.


just my two cents,
todd

[mg8]

IMHO - mac mini, PC, laptop

[sts9fan]

Will it be in the same room as the system? I have an ultra book and it is super annoying with a high pitch noise. I have read this is common with them. Are Mac mini quiet?

[mcgsxr]

To clarify:

1 - agree with the question above - location of the unit?
2 - Redbook or hi rez?
3 - USB DAC or some other method of getting the tunes to the system?
4 - control how?

Thanks!

[viggen]

The Audiophile Optimizer application...

http://www.highend-audiopc.com/optimizer.html

... has had more impact than anything else I've tried when it comes to servers. The improvement it makes is immediate and not at all subtle. It absolutely lives up to the bold claims made by the author, who also provides excellent, free support. There are threads about it here and on a few other popular audio forums.

This software runs on Windows Server 2012. I recall one posting about it running on a Mac (running Windows Server 2012), so it's probably possible to use it even if you prefer the Mac.

Windows Server 2012 + Audiophile Optimizer gave me better sound than I thought was possible from digital. I wouldn't be without it now.

Thanks for your input.  I read a bit about this on the jplay forum awhile back but didn't get too far reading about it.  But, just went to the site and watched a couple of youtube videos, and it seems quite straight forward to install and use. However, this means the PC/Mac will become a "dedicated" music server and not be able to be used for other stuff say Office or even CD ripping?

I did also look up whether Windows Server 2012 could be installed on a Mac Mini.  It seems it could be done if used in a VDS environment, so the Mac Mini would be a thin client in this application.  Even in the audiophile optimizer youtube I saw, the proprietor seems to be using a VMware solution.  So, there might be an additional monthly surcharge to subscribe for a virtual desktop if one chooses to go this route.

What other front end software do you use for audio playback?  Jriver?  Foobar?  Jplay?

[viggen]

For best sound quality, get a Computer Audiophile CAPS server:

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/section/c-p-s-489/

If you want to buy one of them pre-assembled, go here:

http://shop.smallgreencomputer.com/Computer-Audiophile-Pocket-Server_c5.htm

Make sure you buy one that has the trick USB card.

Thanks for that.  Actually, CAPS is one reason why I started this thread as the parts used in the CAPS as well as other desktops using audiophile parts either jplay, paul pang sotm and such seem to make it more compelling to use a desktop rather than an ultrabook.

[viggen]

as a pure value consideration, PC is my answer when compared to ultrabook.

SSD prices have continued to drop, making it cheaper to put your OS drive and any other programs on non-moving storage.

an ultrabook has a screen and other hardware, software and drivers that a music server would not need.

If your question is a "value" one, I'd say don't pay for anything you don't intend to use.

If the server is a dedicated device, I'd say don't use any unnecessary parts that could cause driver or hardware incompatibilities with the parts you would want to use.


just my two cents,
todd

Thanks for that as well.  Value is a major consideration for me personally.  Functionality is one as well but probably not so much as I already have 2 laptops, a desktop, a Win8 and an Android tablet, so I have other machines to do productivity and content creation but would be nice to have the "new" machine be a bit more than a dedicated music server, but I am starting to see that a dedicated music server's value is increasing especially since I already have a lot of other computers around.

[viggen]

Will it be in the same room as the system? I have an ultra book and it is super annoying with a high pitch noise. I have read this is common with them. Are Mac mini quiet?

Well, it's just a thought experiment.  Not really asking the question for myself but just seeking a general consensus or to see whether there is a general consensus. 

But, for my personal use, the computer would be in the same room as the audio system is in.  I have an ultrabook with i7 processor which I sort of regret getting because it sounds like a 747 taking off on the run way when the fan turns on.  I suspect an i5 would be quieter.  At least, it seems my coworker's ultrabook are quieter.  I have an i5 ultrabook for work but is a different model.  It does make a droning noise when the fan is on, but it's much quieter than my i7 ultrabook.

[viggen]

To clarify:

1 - agree with the question above - location of the unit?
2 - Redbook or hi rez?
3 - USB DAC or some other method of getting the tunes to the system?
4 - control how?

Thanks!

These are good questions for everyone here as I am merely trying to get a consensus on what solutions they would target if people were planning on building a music server today.

For my personal use:
1 - in the same room as the audio system.
2 - I only have redbook flac ripped via EAC.  They are all 44.1khz and between 600 to 900 kbps vbr.  But, I also stream Mog at least for another couple of months as its demise is eminent.
3 - I use a USB dac - RWA Bellina
4 - Currently, I use a PC with wireless logitech mouse and keyboard.  PC is hooked up to a 46" Sony TV via HDMI.  Foobar GUI and Jplay ASIO.

[mcgsxr]

Good answers all viggen, and agreed that this is a crowdsourcing experiment!

Personally, I still use Logitech Media Server as my s/w for my dedicated netbook (Acer Aspire with 2GB RAM) in the media closet adjacent to the listening room.  I run a hacked Pogoplug as my player, with a usb-spdif converter into my AVR. 

In the mail is an HRT Streamer USB DAC that I plan on testing out vs the DAC in my AVR.

I use iPeng on any of our 3 iDevices as the remote for the system.

I run a mix of 44.1 FLAC, and increasingly 24/88.1 and 24/96 FLAC files.  The AVR can decode the 24/96 but not the 88.1.

I see lots of info about great servers, and I follow with interest - I could run a server with a USB-DAC given how my system is isolated from my listening room, but it would require an investment in hardware, such as your proposed questions.

I am sure this crowd will help dream up a good solution, and in time I may trend in that direction myself!

For now, I am staying in the cheap and cheerful end of PC Audio, where I have been chilling for over a decade.

[sts9fan]

I have an i5 and its not.  I think it has to do with fan size.

[bladesmith]

I have a i7, 2.0ghz processor,  it is an actual 'server'.  Which is different than the standard mac mini. Mac 'servers' are built a little more heavy. And it has a quad core processor,  it won't get bogged down, while using it for multiple chores, if needed. And it is quiet. 

Although, sometimes I hear the smallest 'chirp', when I am standing right next to it, when the drives revs up/down. Which, I have found out is common or not unusual.

Do you want to purchase an actual 'server' or are you saying you are going to use a 'standard' computer as a server ?

[viggen]

Good answers all viggen, and agreed that this is a crowdsourcing experiment!

Personally, I still use Logitech Media Server as my s/w for my dedicated netbook (Acer Aspire with 2GB RAM) in the media closet adjacent to the listening room.  I run a hacked Pogoplug as my player, with a usb-spdif converter into my AVR. 

In the mail is an HRT Streamer USB DAC that I plan on testing out vs the DAC in my AVR.

I use iPeng on any of our 3 iDevices as the remote for the system.

I run a mix of 44.1 FLAC, and increasingly 24/88.1 and 24/96 FLAC files.  The AVR can decode the 24/96 but not the 88.1.

I see lots of info about great servers, and I follow with interest - I could run a server with a USB-DAC given how my system is isolated from my listening room, but it would require an investment in hardware, such as your proposed questions.

I am sure this crowd will help dream up a good solution, and in time I may trend in that direction myself!

For now, I am staying in the cheap and cheerful end of PC Audio, where I have been chilling for over a decade.

Thanks for that.  There is a price to pay as you move up the food chain in terms of higher SQ music server.  I think you're pointing out how easy it is to adopt PC audio which is simply by acquiring a PC or netbook in your case and hooking it up SPDIF to any DAC,  an AVR in your case, and an USB DAC after your HRT arrives.  USB DACs are just becoming better and cheaper.  Price of entry is super low now.

But, after the initial entry, the learning curve (as well as price) seems to get much steeper at least it is for me as I don't have any experience building a dedicated music server.  Honestly, I am sort of intimated by it when I read what people are doing on jplay forum such as using multiple pcs running Windows Server OS and multiple copies of JPlay to store and control the music. 

[viggen]

I have an i5 and its not.  I think it has to do with fan size.

You're right.  Smaller/thinner form factor leads to smaller fans hence higher fan rpm speed hence annoying whining wind tunnel noise.

My coworkers have same model ultrabook I have but i5 instead of i7.  Their computers' fans don't turn on quite as often as my i7 iteration.  I hardly notice their fan turning on whereas mine seems like it's always on.  So, it's more of a matter of frequency and duration of fan noise rather than loudness that's different between i5 and i7.  I stand corrected.