[viggen]

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 ?

I use the term "server" loosely as the industry/hobby seems to call any computer device dedicated as a music front end to be a "music server".  So, unless there is consensus that a real server has an advantage over a standard computer, I think the term "music server" applies to just standard computers.  And, the standard computer could have a server OS installed as pointed out above.

I can't think of a reason why a server would have any sonic benefits over a standard computer though?  Traditionally, a server is just more robust than your average standard computer in terms of processing power, ram capacity, has environment sensor/control, lower MTBF and is usually rack mounted.  It can also imply it has capability to supply the processing power for multiple terminals which non "servers" can't do. 

However, I am not sure how a "personal computer" differ in terms of it being a standard or a server.  In Apple's lingo, the "server" seems to just have a larger processor with more cores than their non "server" variety?

[bladesmith]

It wouldn't,  only if you were wanting to use it for more than a music server. Or to perform many duties while serving you music.
If the unit will be just for music a dual core will work great.  And a ssd with a dual core would very quiet. And a very good platform. 

Your other devices,  ms  cordless keybrd/mouse will/can be used with mac software with out any troubles.  Just plug and play, if you like.

[planet10]

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

I got an 8GB  macMini, external USB drive and a FireWire DAC.

dave

[planet10]

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.

MacMini does not run iOS, it runs OS X (ie UNIX). iTunes can be made to work with FLAC, but there are other players that do so with no effort.

dave

[mcgsxr]

I will follow with interest, even if my wallet lags behind!

I guess for me, the idea of a server is that it is remote from the player.

In my case, the netbook is the server with attached 2TB music drive, and the hacked Pogoplug is the player - the USB-DAC will hang off the player, not the netbook.  For me it is the idea that one (in my case household) can have multiple players running off one server.

For folks that run a PC with a USB-DAC connected directly to their system, I guess they are combining the server and the player.

Lots I don't know about this, I fell into PC audio when the Squeezebox 3 came out, and have stuck with a similar model since (though the hacked Pogoplug has replaced any actual Logitech devices in my setup).

I am unclear if changes to the server as I have defined it would generate increased aural delights.

That's why I still follow threads like this, and all the DSD fun over in that Circle.  I am trying to glean through the exploration of others, what rewards are out there, and what $ they require.

Back to the thread - I used a first generation Mac Mini for a while as a server/player and it worked fine.  Totally silent, and could run either with connected display and keyboard, or heedlessly using other devices to control it.

[bladesmith]

Well, buying a computer is like buying a stand alone optical drive. It has variables.  You could buy a very economical computer and the thing could be the quietest machine, ever. Your neighbor could buy the very same unit, from the very same store,  and it may sound like a jet engine taking off.  I found about 15 to 23 percent of the purchases for optical drives and computers turn out to be dissatisfied customers,  because of noisy machines. One of the reasons people are opting for a SSD. I luckily have a HDD, which is quiet, for now. But, tomorrow's another day.

[viggen]

Extremely small sample size but looks like Mac Mini is the prevailing choice for a "music server".

This I knew from the onset.  I, however, have not personally had a good Mac experience.  My wife has a Macbook Pro, and i compared it to my Thinkpad a few years back with both connected to a USB DAC, an Audio Sector.  I even posted this experiment on Audio Circle asking whether I got the settings right on the Macbook, and the Thinkpad still sounded better even after I got everything sorted out.

The Mac wasn't bad sounding but was boring sounding compared to the Thinkpad. 

If I remember correctly, I tested with the same audio track but with iTune ripping the track into lossless AIFF format while comparing it to Foobar playing FLAC. 

Other than that, it doesn't SEEM like the purview is PC going forwards, at least according to the response in this thread thus far.  But, I hope there's more inputs going forward.

[dougme57]

I am cheap and cheerful. Small form pc from Tiger Direct off lease around 150. Hdmi  to projector and usb to Creative. Spdif to receiver, J River and all set.

[zybar]

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.

I went this route with a modified version of the high end CAPS server.

It works perfectly, is dead quiet, and runs JRiver without issue.

Very, very happy with the purchase and would do it again.

George

[viggen]

I went this route with a modified version of the high end CAPS server.

It works perfectly, is dead quiet, and runs JRiver without issue.

Very, very happy with the purchase and would do it again.

George

Which one did you get?  Just wondering if you got one of the first three models that doesn't use the intel processor and whether that has enough power for high res files. 

With my AMD desktop (forgot the processor type but it has 6 cores and was near top of the line when I got it 3 years ago) and with 8gb ram, it sometimes struggles to play 192khz.  But, with Jplay, I think that makes it more demanding on the PC.  So, I thought I couldn't get away with the first 3 models of the CAPS.  In my case, the PC isn't dedicated for music playing as I use it for everything else as well.

That leaves the fourth model with the intel processor that is close to $2k... albeit it has a gorgeous chassis and heatpipes for cooling...

[viggen]

I am cheap and cheerful. Small form pc from Tiger Direct off lease around 150. Hdmi  to projector and usb to Creative. Spdif to receiver, J River and all set.

I am imagining projector fan noise...

[viggen]

One plus for <a href="Surface Pro">http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f10-music-servers/microsoft-surface-pro-14991/#post267239[/url].

So this weekend, I hooked up the Surface Pro, and used it un-tweaked for a while. Even though it didn't sound as good as the CAPS, it was close enough that I probably wouldn't notice it after a while. I was willing to trade the convenience of the Surface for the slight decrease in audio quality. Then I tweaked windows 8.1 (per a modified script at Computer Audio Design » Computer setup), and I was thrilled by the improvement. I am not going the full route of jPlay and removing the desktop and such as they say on that website, just optimizing the OS and tablet per a modified services and features script.

[dougme57]

I set up my playlist and turn the projector off, just music.