[h2o8polo]

I am trying to dive into building my own media box for streaming audio and am somewhat lost in really finding a good place to start. Here is what I know I would like.

1. Streaming from a network connected drive
2. Wifi streaming from DLNA and Apple Air Play
3. Bluetooth streaming
4. Application connectivity, specifically Pandora and Tidal
5. System control via Smartphone/Tablet
6. CD/SACD/Blu Ray disc tray (if possible)

Those are in order of preference, since if I can get 1 and 2, then I can do without 3 and 4. Also, I am certainly not new to building a computer, or to computer systems. I plan on running the output over USB (but might like SPDIF support as well). Here is what I was planning so far.

1. Small form factor fanless case
2. Fanless motherboard/processor
3. SSD (or SD card)
4. Stripped down linux
5. MPD?

But that is just my guess. I know everyone will ask what my price range is, and I don't even know where to set it. I guess I am aiming for around $500 as a max. So here are some other concrete questions

Do I need a special sound card if my primary output is USB?
If I want the most from USB, do I need any special USB on board equipment?
I read that minimal is good, should I slim down my requirements, or build from a rasberry pi?

Thanks for any advice!

[jarcher]

New Auralic Aries Mini will do all but 3 & 6 for $549 including a year of Tidal rendering the final cost more like $309. Unless you really like tinkering with computers and building your own, that's the best option at that budget - or perhaps a Bluesound Node 2. Nothing around that price your likely to build yourself is going to sound better. With the Aries Mini I'd try to experiment with a linear power supply that you can source form $70+ off eBay.

It's tempting to think you can do better for less - and I've been down that road - and the answer is a definitive "no" -mparticularly if you count the value of your time at anything above $0.

[Odal3]

I have enjoyed setting up my own linux based system. If you haven't tried any of the available linux server solutions, I recommend that you try one out first on an old computer that you no longer use before investing in any new hardware - make sure you like the gui, etc. first. As you may know, linux requires a bit of tinkering to get to work.

There are several pre-installed system to try out such as Daphile or any of the mpd based distributions or set-up for example mpd from scratch, which I used. I never bought any specific hardware other than an USB DAC since I was only playing around with it, but I have now moved on to a raspberry pi2 solution. It probably will not be as good as some high end systems with expensive parts and PSUs, but I have to say that I'm more than impressed so far. It something with minimal power, no fan, no moving parts. There are several similar preconfigured systems set-up: Moode, Volumio and Rune, etc. They are all very similar, but it seems like only Moode is actively supporting updates at the moment while Volumio is working hard in the background with something new that will hopefully come out soon. For the time being, I would recommend Moode. Let me know if you need any help setting it up.

BTW: If you go for non raspberry pi solution: You don't need special soundcard if you use USB. Just make sure that the USB DAC is supported by linux (alsa) 

[Odal3]

if you count the value of your time at anything above $0.

  So true if you build it from scratch, but I have to say I enjoyed the learning experience. If using for example Moode on raspberry pi, all the hard work has been done for you, and it can be set up in an hour or two with little prior knowledge.

[h2o8polo]

I have enjoyed setting up my own linux based system. If you haven't tried any of the available linux server solutions, I recommend that you try one out first on an old computer that you no longer use before investing in any new hardware - make sure you like the gui, etc. first. As you may know, linux requires a bit of tinkering to get to work.

Thank you. That's really good advice, I will certainly try that out as I have a number of party lying around from an old broke down computer.

I never bought any specific hardware other than an USB DAC since I was only playing around with it, but I have now moved on to a raspberry pi2 solution. It probably will not be as good as some high end systems with expensive parts and PSUs, but I have to say that I'm more than impressed so far.

Did you follow any specific guide? I am more than capable of setting up raspberry pi installing linux and mpd, but I don't know what the next steps would be.

BTW: If you go for non raspberry pi solution: You don't need special soundcard if you use USB. Just make sure that the USB DAC is supported by linux (alsa)

If I decide to go the raspberry pi solution, what sort of special soundcard would I need? This will be feeding a USB DAC, so I can leave SPDIF out of the system if need be.

[srb]

If I decide to go the raspberry pi solution, what sort of special soundcard would I need? This will be feeding a USB DAC, so I can leave SPDIF out of the system if need be.

No internal soundcard is needed.  The external USB DAC is your soundcard.

Steve

[h2o8polo]

Unless you really like tinkering with computers and building your own, that's the best option at that budget - or perhaps a Bluesound Node 2. Nothing around that price your likely to build yourself is going to sound better. With the Aries Mini I'd try to experiment with a linear power supply that you can source form $70+ off eBay.

It's tempting to think you can do better for less - and I've been down that road - and the answer is a definitive "no" -mparticularly if you count the value of your time at anything above $0.

I actually do like to tinker with computers and build my own. I pulled the budget out of thin air, so I had no idea if it was reasonable. What would you expect a good decent build to cost? Where could I start to tackle my own build?

I guess my main question is, what really separates a hifi computer from just a standard laptop, or home built PC? All the articles I seem to read are usually extremely specific in what they are talking about. I don't see any general advice for building a hifi transport. Also, is it crazy to try to put so many duties on one box?

[Odal3]

If I decide to go the raspberry pi solution, what sort of special soundcard would I need?

Sorry - my original comments was a bit confusing so good that srb clarified. In linux you can easily pick and choose your sound card using alsa settings. If you go with a USB DAC, you have more flexibility to use it in both computer or raspberry pi or other boards. There are also many add-on boards for the raspberry pi that are directly connected via i2s. Many use them since they are cheap. I haven't tried one yet.

Regarding which one: If you already have a USB soundcard, I would start there before getting something else. I use a cheap hifimediy usb dac with my raspberry pi.

Here's a guide to get started: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/638-geek-speak-raspberry-pi-hifi-here/
but I'm using moode instead of volumio since I like the user-interface better (but they are very similar since they are based on the same core). Moode/volumio is pre-configured to pretty much most thing you need and most things can be set via the web based user-interface. In other words, you don't need to configure mpd,sambashares,airplay, dlna, etc. from scratch.

http://moodeaudio.org/

[Odal3]

I actually do like to tinker with computers and build my own. I pulled the budget out of thin air, so I had no idea if it was reasonable. What would you expect a good decent build to cost? Where could I start to tackle my own build?

Do a search for example a C.A.P.S server to get you an idea what's required. I don't think your $500 budget will be enough.

Also, is it crazy to try to put so many duties on one box?

I'm a big believer in a two box set-up: One server (or NAS ) with big media storage that doesn't have to be whisper quite since it can be placed in a different room, and one client such as a fanless minicomputer or raspberry pi that is connected to the DAC/amp, etc. Having a separate more powerful server based computer will avoid all the nasty power spikes, etc. from harddrives/ssd, fans, cpu, etc. since the media signal will go through ethernet/wifi to the client.

If you have the media storage and player on the same computer that is connected to the audio chain, a much more careful set-up (=$$money) is required and there is a balancing act between noise,cpu power and heat.

A simple start for a NAS server is openmediavault, which is a linux based nas system that is very easy to set-up on an old computer.

[mcgsxr]

I also a long time believer in the 2 box approach. 

You can use many different server approaches.  I use a dedicated netbook running 2GB RAM and Logitech Media Server.  With an outboard HD full of FLAC and ehternet connected I am set.

My player is a Squeezebox Touch running EDO so it can output high res to my modded Grant Fidelity DAC.  My other player in a second setup is a hacked plug computer running Vortexbox VAMP and using a USB DAC. 

Lots of great ways to leverage centralized music storage and playing. 

Separating the server from the player in my estimation saves $ to get a quiet solution. 

[h2o8polo]

Here's a guide to get started: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/638-geek-speak-raspberry-pi-hifi-here/
but I'm using moode instead of volumio since I like the user-interface better (but they are very similar since they are based on the same core). Moode/volumio is pre-configured to pretty much most thing you need and most things can be set via the web based user-interface. In other words, you don't need to configure mpd,sambashares,airplay, dlna, etc. from scratch.

http://moodeaudio.org/

Thanks for the link! I think I am going to start with getting a Raspberry Pi setup, and simply connect to my laptop to start playing music. I can build the NAS later once finish the build for the raspberry pi.