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I would like to the obtain the best possible SQ from a UPnP/DLNA server, but have heard conflicting opinions on how important the hardware side of things is when it comes to such duties. There are a few options for a UPnP server: 1. NAS with or without linear PSU 2. NUC in a fanless case, with or without linear PSU 3. Raspberry Pi, with or without linear PSU Since the signal sent over UPnP/DLNA protocol is data only (please correct me if I’m wrong), different rules should apply. Many people say the hardware choice for such a server is irrelevant as long as it works, as it shouldn’t or won’t affect sound quality, especially if the signal travels through an optimized network path (fiber optical isolation, OCXO switches, lan filters, etc.). What do you think? Should I invest in expensive equipment (say a dedicated audiophile server) or is a simple PI4 enough? How important is linear PSU there?

I posted orginally in music storage. This is the proper category. Just wondering if anybody out there has the new JCAT Xact S1 server/streamer?? I have had one for a under 1 month and it is quite impressive IMHO. It combines all the knowledge marcin_jps has learned in the decades of time he has spent working in the digital playback field. JCAT components help optimize DIY or custom servers all over the world now. This is a new place or category in digital playback field. This component is as important as the MOST expensive DACs out there. I am just a client and have no other affiliation to JCAT or Marcin. I am giving my opinion because I feel the Xact S1 is an exceptional game changing product. I would like to hear about others who have or are about to have the JCAT Xact S1 in their system. Thanks for reading. Celebrat

So are you afraid of ESD? Does the thought of Arctic Silver Heatsink Paste make you go cold? Are you fearful of Phillips screwdrivers? Do you still want to play with the NUC? I have found the Goldilocks computer for you. Semi-Custom Fan-less NUC using the Dawson Canyon boards, we have come to love! Orderable with Optane SSD and much more. The system is fully warranted and you can extend the warranty. You can order it with our without an OS installed. (At least get Ubuntu installed for backup and order a USB stick from them) Simply NUC has a custom build that is perfect: https://simplynuc.com. At the top of the page see the custom NUC button. Click that and scroll down to the Fanless case section and pick the i7 model. The options I have selected above are "perfect" for a NUC to run Roon Server, etc. Get Ubuntu installed so the machine has something to run when you start up. The PORCOOLPINE comes with a power supply so you can get going right away. I purchased my Dawson Canyon board from them so I am only a happy customer. I was going to have a model of these custom built for resale, but there was not enough interest and my budget would not allow speculation. You can get an upgraded power supply at some point. You can order any of the options you would like. I just did an Euphony OS setup post that you can follow or you can setup Audio Linux from my NUC build post: HAVE FUN Bob Here is an interesting review of the PORCOOLPINE from another site: https://techsterweb.com/2019/01/27/porcoolpine/

I have decided to not head down this road! I was going to do an enhanced custom version of this with OS installed and provide setup. The numbers are not there for my business to proceed. Here is what I think is a better way for everyone. I am looking at a way to source a semi-custom fan-less NUC endpoint or server running the NUC7i7DNxx board (Dawson Canon). I am proposing a product that would use this board with a case and an SMPS. There would be a couple of configuration options that include memory, Optane SSD, possibly WIFI. The hardware would have a 1 year warranty that could be extended for a fee. The system would include a license an support for AudioLinux. The current thinking is to provide time limited online and phone support to get the product going on the end user's system as a part of the cost. I am trying to gauge interest. There are several ways that this could go. I am open to suggestions. Think of this as a Raspberry Pi in theory. One step above buying parts at Newegg. No Soldering required. You will still need a display, mouse, keyboard for setup. It might not work with your DAC or your whatever. The final cost is not determined. Bob NOTE I am a managed service provider and this is a possible extension of my business.

I'm doing a clean install on my music-dedicated mini and would like to know what is the latest and greatest of the optimizations I can do. Machine: - mac mini 2012, i7 quad, 16GB RAM, 120GB SSD (Mercury 6G) - External HD over FW - Bridged networking: Thunderbolt/ethernet adapter bridged to internal ethernet - network switch to thurnderbolt, internal ethernet to dCS Rossini - LPS (Uptone JS-2) with internal mini MMK board - Run headless with one of those dongles in the HDMI port keep graphics alive (screen sharing very slow otherwise) OS: macOSX 10.14.4 (downloaded the 10.14.4 installer so this is my scratch starting point) Players: Roon (over network to dCS Rossini) Audirvana (not used much at the moment) I run installation last night and did all of the standard things like turn wifi, bluetooth off, disable spotlight, etc. I did NOT disable SIP so I cannot disable Notification services, etc. View on disabling SIP? Any recommendations? Thx.

Looking for advice on how to proceed with Audio Server setup. Here is the current status: 1. My house is wired with CAT6 going to a 16-port Gigabit Switch. I also have the house fully wired with RG-6 for video (and possibly audio, see below) 2. I have just acquired a Synology DS218+ NAS which is to be used as storage and back-up. 3. I have an almost new Denon AVR-X1500H Receiver and do not intend to replace it. This what I know about it: The receiver has a Digital Audio (Coax) input The receiver has an Ethernet port. Can receive audio (in my case FLAC files) streaming from a DNLA compliant server. 4. I also happen to have an Intel NUC7i3BNH with 64GB SSD, 8GB Ram and a built -in 500GB HDD. I could use that and also keep my music (about 25,000 FLAC files) on it. I have been thinking of using Roon ROCK on the NUC but I’m not sure yet due to the fact the software license is almost $500. I understand there are other Media Player software out there that could serve me well and cost less? Q1. I assume if I use the NUC setup that I can stream my music directly to the receiver via Ethernet and using any compatible device such as my Android tablet to select music and view music information? Q2. I’m also contemplating getting a Raspberry Pi3 Model 3 and connect with an ALLO DigiOne Signature so that I could connect to my receiver’s digital coax input via my CAT6 coax cable. Cost is very reasonable for this hardware at $239! Is this a better idea? Q3. Or could I perhaps use the NAS (installing the music files there)? If so which Media Server software will work well on my NAS and does not cost a fortune. Q4. Which of the above approaches would you recommend? Q5. Which is most future proof or flexible (I do not wish to make a lot of equipment changes later)? Q6. Which one is most flexible in regard to selecting and providing information on the music played to a portable device and/or perhaps also showing it directly on my TV screen (a brand new LG OLED)? Thankful for any advice/ Bjorn

I am working on my server design, and I am debating about putting internal storage on the server or use my NAS. The machine will boot from Optane and store the Roon database. I am approaching 4TB of storage now so I would get an 8TB for safety. Here are the three options I am investigating. Desktop Class Spinning Drive. (does the RPM matter) Laptop Class Spinning Drives. (5TB seems to be the max so leave room for two) Seagate Surveillance Drive. The Surveillance drive seems to have a better "lifetime" rating. Has anyone tried them? Bob

Hello all, I have a Linn Klimax DS, connected by ethernet to my Internet provider box, as well as a qnap 109. These were Linn's recommandations when I purchased my first DS streamer. Reading the forum, I feel it may not be the best set up. I would like to try Roon and not have too many boxes and cables. What would you advise me to do? Get a nuc for Roon + a Switch, another nas with ssd cache, or going the innuos or sonictransporter route ? I'm a bit lost as many threads seem open to debate in the long run and tend to favor USB related solutions. Thanks a lot!

Melco N1A ($1999) ...the level of transparency is in another league to that I have encountered with streaming servers in the past, it’s one of those rare components that makes you feel as if the truth is within your grasp. The mythical absolute sound is just a whisker away!" -Jason Kennedy (TheEar.net) Streaming. Solved. Nothing is hotter than streaming audio. It promises instant access to your entire collection of music at the touch of button. Unfortunately, streaming audio also comes with the configuration of a home network and associated equipment. Almost every bug or quirk associated with streaming audio relates back to the dreaded network... So, what is an audiophile to do? With purpose-built Melco servers,we finally have a plug-n-play music storage device that requires no network configuration or computer. It plugs directly into your streamer or USB DAC, and provides 4TB of storage with UPnP operability. Simple, elegant and high performance. Melco - Audiophile Engineering High grade power supplies with audiophile grade components. N1A - 60W x 1 Dual high grade power supplies. N1Z – 30W x2, separate supplies for external data interfaces means no pollution of sensitive internal data and clock supplies. Audiophile grade capacitor bank for absolute stable supplies (*N1Z only) Solid Aluminum front fascia (N1Z) rigid metal chassis. High stability noise eliminating H cross-frame construction for mechanical integrity (N1Z) Specialist audio isolators (Japanese TAOC brand) Melco - Simplified Installation and Operation No PC required for setup and installation - no specialist knowledge needed. Specific IP port for Streamer / Player with additional Network port for Control and Ethernet. Simply creates robust network for streaming high resolution music and control even on complex networks. Pre-installed media server - no configuration required. Supports multiple specialized media servers - currently shipping with Twonky 7 with DSD support. Informative OLED front panel display - displays current streaming track data, system status, and setup. Simple menu navigation structure and track selection Simple front panel on-off switch - just like Hi-Fi. 15 seconds only to full power-on. 5 seconds to full shut-down Safe against unintended power down - no requirement for UPS Melco N1ZH ($4499) "The Melco buffaloed my MacBook Pro + Synology NAS. It destroyed them, embarrassed them, and gave them a good schooling to boot. Music sounded frighteningly obviously comparatively more refined, more spacious, and more natural. End of story. I cannot imagine anyone in this universe who listens to music as an activity unto itself making the same comparison and not hearing the difference." - Michael Lavorgna( Audiostream.com) To purchase, arrange for a home trial or for more info click here

Peachtree Audio nova150 + ELAC Discovery Music Server - JUST ADD SPEAKERS In an effort to provide a complete system solution, we have put together some of our most popular and highest value lines into complete system packages. Not only is the Peachtree Audio nova150 an excellent integrated amplifier that is capable of driving all types of speakers, but it also features a world-class DAC for all your digital sources, a phono stage for a turntable, a discrete headphone amp and a home theater bypass to integrate into a home theater system. We selected the ELAC Discovery Music Server ($1099) as the perfect match with the Peachtree nova150 ($1599) because together they form a serious digital music system, offering playback of local and streaming music, rich multi-dimensional metadata and multi-room audio, all with an interface that anyone can master in a few minutes. ELAC Discovery Music Server lets you discover the world of computer audio without the computer. Keeping in line with quality music, the lossless, high-fidelity music streaming service Tidal® has been tightly integrated into the Discovery’s software*. Content from your local collection and content from Tidal are presented in the same beautiful, easy-to-use interface. It’s really very simple The Discovery Music Server lets users open their personal music vault from another computer, Apple iPad** or Android tablet. Whether your choice is a full ELAC system, powered by an ELAC integrated amplifier and running an ELAC loudspeaker system, or a pair of ear buds, you can listen in one room or around the house with other Discovery-compatible products. A wave of music Discovery delivers music based on relationships between performers and composers, starting from the tracks you choose. TIDAL* delivers no-compromise music streaming, with millions of tracks in lossless, audiophile quality—a bigger music landscape than ever before. * Separate Tidal Subscription required Your music, as you like it Between users and across devices, you can select from downloads, ripped CDs and streaming services. Your collection is supported by a rich library of images and information—an archive of material that adds depth, knowledge and excitement to your listening. Audiophile reproduction The artists and engineers who recorded your music took great care creating it. It’s no secret that Discovery takes the same care playing it back. One component, infinite sound. Adding the Discovery Series DS-S101-G Music Server to an existing system is simple. Connect the Discovery to the internet and one of the outputs to the upcoming ELAC Integrated Amplifier or your existing system. Adding your personal music collection is a snap. Connect either a hard drive to the rear mounted USB port or point the Discovery to your NAS (Networked Attached Storage) device and the Discovery will take care of the rest, organizing and gathering feature rich meta-data for your entire music collection. Expanding your Discovery system to other rooms is easy. Whether you want the full functionality of an integrated amplifier or a simple wireless speaker in the kids’ room, the Discovery eco-system is ready to grow when you are. * iOS (64-bit Devices), Android, Windows (7, 8, and 10) and Apple OSX the best sub $1,000 loudspeakers we've ever heard and the nova150 will help them reach their full potential and sound their very best. When combined with the ELAC Uni-Fi UF5 floorstanding speakers, this combination creates an incredible, high performance stereo system for under $2,450. The Peachtree Audio nova150 integrated amplifier + ELAC Uni-Fi UF5 speakers are truly a match made in musical heaven. Peachtree Audio nova150 - First of a New Generation The Integrated Amplifier… Reimagined The nova150 isa completely new generation of Peachtree integrated amplifiers that reimagines the original concept and takes it to an even higher level. I represents the culmination of everything Peachtree has learned as a leader in computer audio, plus a few new things they hadn't gotten to - until now. Highlights ESS Reference 9018K2M Sabre DAC 32-Bit/384kHz PCM and 5.6MHz DSD (double-DSD) compatibility New generation ICEPower amplification - 150 watts per channel Extensive internal grounding Designed by a world-class engineering team Asynchronous USB, Coax and (2) Optical inputs Asynchronous iOS input for direct digital input from Apple Lightning devices Phono (MM) input Home Theater Bypass Loop feature to add an external tube buffer, EQ or other processor into the signal path Discrete, custom-designed headphone amplifier Optional Wi-Fi module to be announced Available in Gloss Ebony Mocha and Piano Black High End Audio Store NYC - Experience Ciamara1-844.CIAMARA (1.844.242.6272)

I read about this device recently, and it is described as an endpoint. Roon newbie questions; what is the difference between a Roon Server and a Roon Endpoint? if I store my music on a NAS, do I still need Roon Server hardware, or is Roon Server software that I can install on my Netgear Ready Cloud NAS?

I'm in need of an end-to-end introduction to what I understand are the very few options for playing multi-channel files on disk (somewhere) on my audio-visual systems, which are at present networked but which are NOT co-located with computers. I'm beginning to know of a few pieces (such as getting the files from primephonic.com), but I can't see how to make the process work end-to-end. I have tried for years to get about six separate Sony devices just to see my computers' DLNA on Windows - none of them even see my main computer running Windows 7. There seem to be no DLNA troubleshooting tools for either the server or player ends of the network. I installed Serviio and again, no devices (or other computers) see the Serviio DLNA (Serviio can plac FLAC and DSD files, but not sure about multichannel). I just discovered primephonic.com, and their website seems to be talking only about playing surround sound on computers directly, not playing files stored on my Windows computer (I guess I run some kind of non-network cable(s) 50 feet between two rooms to play on my A/V system?) I see the exaSound e28 DAC, but $3,800 for just one piece of the puzzle? Seriously? From the bullet above, you may infer that I am a music lover, not an equipment lover. Yes, I've spent five figures over decades on media (about 1500 CDs and 100-200 SACDs and miscellaneous) and equipment, and my main system includes items from 1970s Janzsen electrostatic speakers to a 2014 55" Sony Bravia television. But it's not about the gear, it's about the music (video, schmideo, I'm not a videophile, either) I'm a software/database developer with almost 40 years experience (H-P mini-computer, then Microsoft stack), and for me computers are work tools, not toys. I don't love 'em any more than my father (an auto mechanic) loved his wrenches. So, "thank you" first of all to anybody who has read, not just skimmed, this post. I'm stubborn enough to still want to troubleshoot DLNA, just to prove I can get it working, or at least understand why it doesn't, but my ultimate goal is to play surround sound on my A/V systems. P.S. For the last 10-15 years I've been grumpy about the conflation of "hi-res" with multichannel sound. Strange bedfellows - I'm perfectly happy with a 44.1 kHz sampling rate, but view stereo recording as a historical artifact of the 1950s (wait a minute, I was born in the 1950s).

Need help here. I m trying to install SOtM sCLK-48 as an upgrade to my existing tX-USBexp card. My case is an HDPlex H5s (1st gen), it's very similar to the Streacom F5. My motherboard is microATX size and I have one SSD in the case. The good old CAPS v3 Zuma setup. Is there anybody out there who has accomplished this? Comments? Recommendations? Any pics?

I'm at the Munich High end show this week hanging out with the guys from Ayre. They are running the QX-5 demo in their booth using our new server. Our new server has a quad core i7, CD ripping and dual Ethernet, plus 5TB of internal storage. In the picture your can see we have the sonicTransporter attache to the Roon Ready QX-5 using a Cardas Ethernet cable. This configuration works and sounds great! To show case different a network player option we are running the Ayre Codex using a microRendu in DLNA mode.

I was ripping some of my CDs on my old macbook using XLD. I found that task quite boring and since the optical drive in my old laptop died and my new MacBook Pro doesn't have one I have not done any ripping recently. Presently I am mostly downloading or streaming and listening to my CDs via my CD transport which sounds better than any ripping I did. I like the simple physical act of getting up and searching for a CD instead of being on my computer but ripping has the advantage that one can use these files on different devices like my DAP (AK120) or my SD-trans 384(restricted to WAV) or a future second audio system. Talking to some audio dealers they claim that the quality of the rips are much better using dedicated music servers. I do not understand that statement as any rip which is accurate should be identical to other accurate rips. But I would prefer not to use my MacBook for audio purposes so I am interested in some of the newer music severs which have builtin optical drives and can +/- automatically rip CDs like Naim Unity Core or Innuos Zen (mini /-ith). One main concern is whether these rips are useable universally by other devices (of course the file format itself should be one these these devices can use. That includes the metadata! So is ripping with these servers really more convenient and are the files fully transferable? And which one?

I have a Daphile system running, on this Aopen dual core mini-PC I have. I was wondering what else is out there. I know about Volumio already but what else is out there to use? The PC is a 64-bit Pentium D, 4 Gb ram, and an 80 GB SSD.

Hi, I have a used Aries on the way to me. I have been studying the Auralic documentation. For music storage, it keeps referring to NAS, but not a PC as a host. I have my FLAC files on an internal drive on my Windows 10 PC. I have set that up to share. Can I access those files from the Aries? I also can move the files to a USB hard drive on the PC if necessary. The Auralic documentation goes back and forth whether I need server software somewhere beyond the lightning server on the Aries. Thanks, Jerry

Bricasti M1 > M5 > M12: Network Player - Member REVIEW w/OEM Response from Brian Zolner President/Owner Bricasti below s Hey Guys - I have been going back and forth between what to go with for a Ethernet Network Media Player - either Innuos, SOtM, Sonore, Uptone, Bricasti M1 Network Player or M5, etc. I have a thread dedicated to working toward this decision and got some fantastic help from many CA members. I learned so much and in such a short time. This forum is Fantastic - so many people are so helpful and I appreciate it very much. I am including the link below to anyone interested in that very educational journey. Great stuff if you are interested in Innuos, SOtM, Sonore, Uptone, Bricasti Network Player or M5 I purchased a bunch of these product to try and learn for myself to be sure. I did not want to question my decision with any what if's and wanted the best sounding option for me and my system. I ended up going with the Network Player Option installed in my Bricasti M1SE DAC and I wrote this feedback to one of the best people in all of Hi-End Audio, Brian Zolner President/Owner/Designer Bricasti Design. His digital and analogue products sound absolutely fantastic and the build quality is second to none and the support is as good as it is anywhere. All made by hand right here in good old Massachusetts, USA. I asked Brian if it would be OK if I share my thoughts with the super helpful crew - the CA members that were so important in helping me get to this decision. He said no problem I also asked if he wanted to respond and comment and he provided some great insight below my feedback on his thoughts on the M1, M12, M5 network players and USB audio. I am glad to be able to share this with you guys. I will send Brian this link and I am sure if any of you have any questions or feedback or thought that would be fantastic. We will get you all the info you need. This is some seriously good sounding gear and its a lot less money than the Aurender and Lumin and it blows their doors off! Also, I would love some idea's and feedback and any idea's really now that I am all in with Ethernet audio what is my next step? One member told me to buy The Linear Solution OCXO Audiophile Switch. (link at bottom of the page). This is supposed to provide a great bump in SQ and it is $679 and comes with a dedicated purpose built Linear Power Supply. Please share you thoughts on this or any other upgrade that can help me get the most out of my Bricasti M1SE Ethernet Network Media Player. Subject: Re: Feedback Send to Brian Zolner and Joe at Bricasti Hey Brian and Joe, I wanted to reach out and thank you both for the very kind and outstanding service installing the Bricasti M1SE Ethernet Network Player option in my M1SE DAC. Guys, it is absolutely fantastic! It needed about 40 to 60 hours of burn-in to get to where it was going and honestly the upgrade over that time was substantial. I get that some people don't believe in burn-in and others like me clearly hear it but I am just telling you guys this Bricasti M1SE Ethernet Network Player option is absolutely fantastic. At first I was strongly considering the M5 just because I already own all of the premium - supporting USB Gear and thought it might be great and I am sure it is but honestly guys in all fairness I didn't think the Bricasti M1SE Ethernet Network Player option would end up being this good? Man is it good! I thought it would be good and/or even great but it surpassed even those expectations and that's not an easy thing to do. I am looking for an awful lot out of my gar and I had some premium gear it needed to stand up against. I can speak from first hand experience about this Network Player option and how it compared to all the similar other gear listed below. All my thoughts are in comparison to the gear listed below. I was able to do a/b verse some really good Ethernet / USB options that are some of the hottest, best selling products going and I assumed from an a/b it would be close and/or maybe I couldn't even tell the difference but this is where my non-audiophile wifey serves as a sort of blind test. Yes her ear has evolved but she is not an audiophile. What the Bricasti Network Player option does that is so much better than everything else is actually something you never even knew was missing until you hear it and then remove it. It jumps off the page during A/B's. Sometimes A/B's can be tough but here it stands out as clear as day it was simple. To test myself I asked my wifey for her help and what she thinks. I set up the Sonore/Uptone Combo and then the SOtM/Uptone power supply combo and the Bricasti Network Player and mixed them up and she picked it out each time. She actually picked out the SOtM over Sonore also so maybe her ear is getting better than I think but she heard it and picked it out clearly and simply so that reinforced what I already knew but wanted to check it. Bricasti Network Player is so much more direct and decisive. It's immediacy and directness just can't be missed. I was like "yes, yes, oh man yes"! "Thats what I am talking about" and you know what - those are far and few between these days so when it happens you REALLY appreciate it. Thank you It not like it is a little warmer and a little clearer or it widens or deepens the stage or something like that which by the way it does all these things but that's not my point. It is immediate, decisive and startlingly quick. Its got jump and you are just much closer to the event. It was a combo of heightened transparency with just layers removed and more information magnified and exposed in all its greatness. Also, I want to make sure to note that I am not talking about being more upfront either because it offered a deeper stage and the voices are actually pushed further back which normally I don't prefer. I actually like that dynamic and sort of upfront sound as a rule but that is not what this is. This does it totally different! It does it the only fashioned way. It earns it. This is no designers voicing choice, this is simply a much more robust and substantial component. It performs at a much higher level and it is shows on so many levels. Vastly better separation and delineation in that more direct package. The stage opens and the walls expand and out comes a richer and more layered and more natural presentation. Man that separation is just fantastic! I just can't get over that open space it puts around everything and the air and the extension go on and on. It's just that every item is so sharp and precise and magnified in 3D space. Everything is tighter and wider and deeper and it all just holds together so well and is so confident and that heightened image precision is such an enjoyable effect. I don't want to touch anything - this the best sound I've ever had and I'm ecstatic! Better than analogue IMO. I am sure there are some uber turntables that will out do it but pound for pound I doubt it IMO. I was impressed at this much closer to the event effect. It's kind of hard to articulate but I think this might shed a little more light. Sort of that same effect you get when you have a great DAC or CD player and then you remove the preamp. The only thing with removing a great preamp is you gain that great immediate directness but then lose all that greatness that a great preamps provides but that increased directness is such a desirable effect so many people do it. I did it but then you get a great preamp and you say man I love the directness but I am giving up so much to get it. Some big time trade off's and many go back and forth. I know I did for a while. So this new Network Player upgrade was like keeping your amazing preamp and all the great benefits the pre provides while still getting that great directness a preless set up gives you. Best of both worlds! How often do you get to have your cake and eat it too? Well that is what happened here IMO with this so I think you can see why I am so happy about it and hope this does a little better job of explaining the main effect of this Ethernet Network Player option I added to my system. This preless type directness while keeping all the greatness of a preamp is worth the price of admission all by itself but there is more. All that directness has a great effect on the bass which is tighter, cleaner and more nuanced with much better separation. There isn't any more slam or power. It is not rounder or warmer which some may prefer but it is different. It is more nimble and lighter on its toes with more precision and definition. I don't think its any less powerful but it's different sort of like my Magico speakers are. People think or feel with Magico's sealed Aluminum cabinets there is less bass when in actuality there isn't any less but it is faster and more defined but some interrupt this as less bass but I don't agree but also each to their own. I find it to be a nice improvement and upgrade but I can see someone that likes to listen to a lot pop or rap music they may refer a thicker or rounder sound but everyone else will love this IMO. I will take quality and precision over quantity every time but that's just me and everyone is different. I want take a moment to thank you and your company again for your approach to supporting the folks that purchase your gear. Premium Hi-End Audiophile gear is quite expensive and so many of the top Hi-Fi companies come out with a new model every few years and that kills us. We need to sell our old one to get the new one and that makes expensive gear insanely expensive to own. Many people like me want the most recent and best gear they can afford. You guys make this possible and care more about your customers than any of the other OEM's and we appreciate it very much! You guys are totally different from the Vast Majority of high ends OEM's. Also, this feedback was not made in a vacuum. Here are the items I had in my system that I did an A/B with that allowed me great insight into how your Ethernet Network Player option worked verse the others. Some of these I only owned a for a short while because I knew there was no contest. Most have either been sold or are in process of being sold on Audiogon because your Network Player made them obsolete. I am keeping the JS-2 and P10 for my new system set up. Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB Cable Curious Regenlink USB Cables (2) Uptone Audio USPCB Connectors Uptown Audio ISO Regen USB Uptown Audio LPS-1 UltraCap Power Supply Uptown Audio LPS-1 UltraCap Power Supply Breeze Audio 12v Linear Power Supplies Breeze Audio 12v Linear Power Supplies Uptown Audio Amber Regen USB Uptown Audio JS-2 Linear Power Supply Sonore mircoRendu 2.5 Ethernet / USB Player Ghent customer DC power Cables PS Audio P10 Regenerator SOtM tX-USBultra w/50 ohm connector SOtM sms-200 Ultra w/50 ohm connector I honestly thought in my heart of hearts USB might be the way to go just because it has come so far in not that long of a time. Sonore, SOtM and Uptone Audio in my opinion changed the world in regards to the USB landscape and in a huge way. There are a few others as well. They brought, real world price upgrades to USB that made semi-inexpensive gear better than super expensive legacy products from just a few years back (CD and SACD Players) and this changed the game. Now it appears you have changed the game on the Ethernet side. I call tell anyone out there that doesn't own a Bricasti M1 is to buy the M5. I am not sure how the M5 sounds because I have not heard it but if it sounds anything like the M1 Ethernet Network Player then there is nothing that can touch it. Great job and thank you guys. With your permission I would like to share this personal email on my forum post and if you are ok with it any of your responses as well. People are waiting to hear my thoughts so I thought I could email you and inform them at the same time. Thanks Frank Fsmithjack Subject: Re: Response / Feedback from Brian Zolner Bricasti President/Owner/Designer to Frank Smith / Fsmithjack Frank, Thanks for all that commentary, and well guess only thing I can say or add is once we got the LAN working in the M12, and then the M1 ( it’s the same streamer used in all products) I never went back to USB, clearly better even just connecting with 50’ cat5 from my server to the M1. We do all shows with the LAN and try to convince users this is the way. I feel that regardless of the cables and power supplies and clockers etc for USB that seem to make some differences, one might say they create differences and subjective to if its better or not, but I feel USB is fundamentally flawed and when the player or renderer is installed directly in the M1 it eliminates all the issues of USB, it removes it from the computer, and places it in the M1. We made our own player, running on a linux core on an ARM processor, runs off the linear supply in the M1 too. so no extra processors running as with a PC where the computer is doing all kinds of other co processing, switch mode power regulation on the PC mother board etc. But in the end of all that stuff, this approach eliminates it. For the sound of USB, People are fooled by things and as you point out someone might like the effect of the USB, but I think what we get with the streamer is true sound reproduction with no jitter and noise added to make the sound dance a bit, I hear it clearly on my Tidals, and our M28s, no loss of bass at all for me, but tight clear and excellent extension, no bloating. The M5 was made so that a user could run off the network or PC without using USB, I feel the AES is the best as removes these issues. But installed in the M1 or M12 is the best, direct I2S to the DSP and then to the DAC. The M5 with AES is darn close to what you have, I have done a lot of listening and that was the idea of that product to offer great playback and no USB for anyone and any DAC. Enjoy it, I know it changed my life, my server PC is in another part of the house and I run it all from Jremote, there is just no other way to play, besides the sound there is the convenience factor and I play tracks from my phone or stream from it to the M1, or the server, or the NAS or any PC in my home, all the computer stuff goes in another room away from the listening room. It’s a network and that is what starts becoming interesting and you don’t get that with USB or any other point to point interface. Go ahead and share the story, its what we hope others will find out too. Brian Subject: Re: Response / Feedback from Joe at Bricasti to Frank Smith / Fsmithjack Hi Frank, thank you for great write-up! Enjoy your M1, if you ever need anything just let me know. Thank you again, joe http://www.bricasti.com/en/consumer/m1se.php http://thelinearsolution.com/ocxo_switch.html

Teddy193 - 19V 3.5A 66.5W (12 nanovolt ripple - lowest on the planet!) picoPSU-160-XT, 160w output, DC-DC Power Supply MSI Z370i GAMING PRO CARBON AC mini - ITX PF i2s PCIe expansion card. (PF have verified voltage requirement) I am interested to know if: the setup should be left alone - as is? (i.e. just PICO?) OR is it possible to put a linear regulator on the PATA/MOLEX 12v line for the i2s card? (what device would be required?) is it possible to put a linear regulator on the CPU 12v line for the CPU? (what device would be required?) OR Have a seperate LPSU for the PATA/MOLEX 12v line for the i2s card? Have a seperate LPSU for the CPU 12v line for the CPU? Please refer to picture! Many thanks! PS: I know I need the 4 to 8 pin CPU converter cable B.T.W. (LOL)

I have been out of touch for a few years thinking that my digital front end is all sorted for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, my world is a bit upside down right now after direct comparison between my transport & my file as source player. The transport with spinning disc seems to sound better than the file player. I have been dabbling in computer audio since the late 2000's with RME sound card, Foobar 2000 etc & progressing to my current setup. Now, it seems if I want to get best CD / redbook playback, I have to go back to spinning disc. Therefore, I need help from all to point me in the direction which component can beat my transport in terms of sound quality. My current digital front end consists of : 1) Aurender W20 (wordclock fed from DCS master clock with RS232 interface for auto switching) 2) DCS Vivaldi 4 stack with latest streaming hardware in the upsampler & latest firmware + Antelope 10M Reference clock 3) Songs mostly ripped to FLAC level 5 using dBpoweramp Since the above revelation, I have tried a few things : 1) ROON with ROCK with upsampler as end point & QNAP fanless NAS as file server 2) ASSET with QNAP fanless NAS as file server into upsampler via network 3) SSD direct into upsampler USB input So far none is even as good as the Aurender. (2) does come quite close though. What other components should I audition to challenge my transport ? In this day & age, cannot be nothing that can surpass the transport.

I found an interesting review published on 23rd of September 2017. You may need to use google translator. Link: http://www.salonav.com/arch/2017/09/audioserver-aurender-n10.htm

When it comes to off the shelf computers for running dedicated music servers, players or integrated server + renderer solutions, many users appear to opt for a mac mini. Mac minis are relatively power hungry, come with an electrically noisy internal fan and are rather expensive. Is there a particular reason to prefer mac minis to fanless, low-power devices like those of the Fitlet ranges (https://www.tinygreenpc.com/computers/fitlet.html, https://www.tinygreenpc.com/fitlet2-unique-intel-apollo-lake-micro-pc-for-iot), NUC devices or, for even lower power, Raspberry Pi devices?

I just got my first proper system with just an Amp (Hegel H90) and a stereo speakers (Monitor Audio Silver 6) for my living room, and I need something to play music on. I already have a HTPC with Node 202 case, and a server running FreeNas with Xeon E3, 16gb ECC, and 9TB storage. My amp has a USB input, and supports DLNA. I also have a bunch of CDS and Blurays ripped on my FreeNAS running plex server in a container, and I have a turntable. But mostly I listen on Tidal/Spotify (I just started Tidal while still waiting for Spotify lossless) So, my options are: Using HTPC and consider upgrading everything inside and connect via USB. Using FreeNAS server and DLNA to stream to Amp. Buy a Bluesound Node 2 and connect amp via S/PDIF Can you please provide opinions thank you

Hi! Like many in the forum (to which I'm new): - I think Roon delivers the best front-end available; - I discovered (recently) HQPlayer. I subscribed it since the SQ is outstanding; - My experience confirms the idea that upsampling done by a good DSP (like HQPlayer) outperforms the DAC upsampling ... - I've learned how CPU hungry is the HQPlayer (specially in DSD, as expected) So, I need to replace my dedicated server and would like that it would check the following boxes: Be able to run ROON + HQPlayer upsampling to DSD 512 ... and, if this is not asking too much, use the xtr family of filters (heavy as hell but the ones I like the most) Silent and relatively compact due do space restrictions and the fact that I must keep it in the system room. Silent implies fanless cooling and compact means that a case no bigger than the Streacom FC10 would be ideal The FC10 is specified to TDP up to 95W, but 65W is the comfortable(?) TDP. [should I really stick to the 65W or can I stretch it up to the 95W limit? ... air circulation is not constrained] I hope that these conditions are not exclusive ... A CPU like the AMD Ryzen 1700 has a TDP of 65W and its performance seems decent (?) ... but would it support DSD 512 + xtr filters? Other questions: - Would a LPS (say from Teradak or JCAT) bring a significanf improvement regarding a ZF 240 (SMPS but a very decent one?) - Are the Femto USB and NET cards from JCAT a recommendable upgrade? - How important are the SATA cables and SATA noise filters? - Wouldn't it be preferable (even if more costly) using a 2TB SSD than a smaller SSD + an HDD? Thank you! Joao

Isabelle is plagued by multiple sclerosis ; i.e. I witnessed her failing to type her credit card’s PIN, though she knows it by heart, because of combined vision and motility coordination issues. I guess the solution should involve streaming + vocal command ; on this forum I mainly discussed the charms of rebooting a Mac on Windows (minimum) Server in order to get the best from HQP : I’m not the most savvy when it comes to convenience and hope you will help me help Isabelle building a system. She owns obsolete Android tablet and Windows PC but could afford an iPad or new PC or Mac. She lives alone in an apartment and can’t obviously fight the neighbors ; thus the front part might be decent but in a consistent price range with the fact that speakers and amp won’t have to be able to reproduce forte at 92 dB nor choruses at 94. She lives in France so I’m thinking of Qobuz for the streaming part (she should be able to go from Gould playing Goldberg to Massive Attack or Miles Davis) but maybe there’s a more integrated solution Thank you