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HINDSIGHT NOTES: The comments below represent our recommendations for a starter system back in 2009 - when the Computer Audiophile 'CAPS' machines were still a twinkle in their creator's eye. In principle, some of the advice remains valid, but technology moves on apace, and we've learnt a few new best-practice tips ourselves since then. For current recommendations, please see here . . . Specifying a ‘Music Server’ Sounds like a great new category of consumer device, doesn't it? Sounds like something Bang & Olufsen or Bose advertise in Sunday supplements. Sounds expensive. And indeed, if you buy something like a Linn DS, it is. But let's be honest – it's just a computer and a DAC. It has a large storage system for audio media – like a computer. It has an Ethernet input for attachment to a network – like a computer. It has specially optimised digital audio playback software – like a computer. And it has analog outputs – like a DAC. So why not just specify a perfect PC (which will do loads of other stuff as well) and spend half of all the money you saved on a fabulous DAC which will be much more highly specified (and easily upgraded) than the one hidden in the 'Media Server'? Which isn't even really a server. The ideal digital audio transport would be silent, energy efficient and have zero jitter. Just as manufacturer's claims of 'jitter immunity' should be greeted with derision, zero jitter is a practically unobtainable goal, although careful software selection and system setup can go some way to eliminating software-induced inaccuracies at source. But what about hardware? We currently favour fanless single core Intel Atom boards with passive cooling and simple digital audio drivers (our favourite Zotac ITX Ion B-E board comes with coax and optical outputs SPDIF outputs). We really like the ones that don't 'feature' onboard AC-DC conversion and wireless adaptors spewing out interference. We love eschewing switching power supplies in favour of a linear regulated PSU. We know there is a small improvement to be had running files from a solid state drive, but a (pricey) 60GB SSD is only big enough for a dozen or so albums at 24/96. The best compromise (in early 2010) is perhaps a quiet 1TB SATA drive in a hidden enclosure on the end of a SATA extension lead. A strategic scattering of Stillpoints fabric is no bad idea, too. We really like the fact that the whole thing costs less than £350 and sounds as good as we've heard a computer sound. Here's the parts list for our current 'reference' audio transport. If you're feeling really lazy, we can even box the components for you to plug together on a bread board, or install in your own case, for £340 plus postage. The motherboard also has a BluRay compatible Invidia Ion graphics chipset which drives a HD projector beautifully using Power DVD Ultra and a USB BluRay drive (for an additional £140).
For optimal results, we recommend running this system with Windows 7 64-bit and JRiver Media Centre using WASAPI outut, and siting the motherboard 1cm above a sheet of Stillpoints fabric (making sure there's no contact between the two). The same material can also be applied around the inlet of the PicoPsu (again ensuring no direct contact). If your technical expertise extends as far as plugging a kettle into the wall, you'll have no problem 'building' this system. We will also be offering a coaxial upgrade to the motherboard. Watch this space . . ..Alternatively, if you have an iPod and fancy putting it at the heart of a high-end system in which it becomes a digital transport as good as any available, you might be interested in our Audiocom-modified Wadia 170 iTransport (also coming soon). Why not just get a Mac Mini? Sure, an Apple machine is in every other way a nicer machine to cohabit with, but the bottom line is that you have to break the case to control EM interference, the power supply is nasty, and iTunes (unsupported) sounds bad. The Pure Vinyl player greatly improves sound quality but we've not heard a Mac yet (desktop or portable) that betters the system specified above. |
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