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Hi Everyone, Any thoughts on using a transport vs long balanced cables? To make things more complicated, any thoughts on using an ethernet cable's twisted pairs to carry analogue balanced signals in place of dedicated XLR/TRS cables? The three setups in mind are: (A) PC - router via CAT8 - transport via CAT8 - DAC - short balanced cables - preamp (B) PC - USB cleanser - DAC - 100ft balanced XLR/TRS cables - preamp (C) PC - USB cleanser - DAC - 100ft CAT8 cable carrying two balanced analogue channels - preamp I currently have setup (C) in my house. I use an LHY UIP as USB cleanser, LyxPro box to carry analogue balanced signals over CAT8 (https://a.co/d/81QHTcs), and occasionally switch the output to other rooms with a manual RJ45 switch box (https://a.co/d/5q2RTEE). Setup (C) sounds good to me, with relatively low noise only detectable close to the speakers. However, I wonder if SQ can be boosted further by using dedicated balanced cables in setup (B), or a transport in setup (A). Your feedback would be most welcome.

Hi all! I'm new to the forum, but have been reading around and been really enjoying the community, support, and ideas shared. I recently picked up some KEF Q150 bookshelf speakers, receiver, and a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB (DC) turntable (w/ Schiit Mani preamp)—just getting started in the world of hi-fi audio, and have much to learn (but having a lot of fun). However, despite the incredible sound coming from my vinyl collection with my new setup, I've been scheming a way to integrate digital music into my setup. After about a solid month of research and learning, I have a parts list for my planned digital audio PC / music server build. I wanted to share and hear all thoughts / suggestions / concerns before I pull the trigger—it's not the cheapest build (approx. $2650). The main goal is to run either Ubuntu or Windows 10 for a Roon server / Tidal playback on the DAC I'm about to buy—Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital. The other goal of the build was to allow for 4K HDR playback (so 3840x2160 @ 60Hz) as an HTPC. Also, trying to limit the TDP as much as possible and go completely fanless/silent/no moving parts. The PC will live "headless" in my living room next to the stereo equipment. Here it is! CATEGORY COMPONENT MODEL NO. NOTES Case Streacom FC9 Alpha Fanless Chassis, Non-Optical, Silver ST-FC9S-ALPHA Fanless, passive heatsink case, supports PCIe cards up to 155mm in length (with drive tray attached) IR Receiver Streacom Flirc SE IR Receiver FLIRC-SE IR control (for use with Logitech Harmony Hub / Echo Dot / Alexa) CPU Heatsink Riser Streacom HT4 Thermal Riser STHT4 For compatibility with MSI Z370M Gaming Pro AC Motherboard MSI Z370M Gaming Pro AC, Intel Z370 Intel Z370 Chipset CPU Intel i5-8400 8th Gen, 6-Core 2.8GHz BX80684I58400 65W TDP GPU MSI GeForce GT 1030 2GH LP OC, 2GB GDDR5 • 35W TDP • 153mm length w/ passive heatsink, to fit in FC9 case • HDMI 2.0b: 4K 60Hz (HDCP 2.2), takes up 1.5 slots, so connecting to lower x16 PCIe slot (blocking unused lower x1 PCIe slot) RAM HyperX Predator DDR4-4000 Black, 16GB (2x8GB) HX440C19PB3/8 (On MBO supported RAM list) Boot Drive Samsung 970 EVO SSD, NVMe M.2, 500GB MZ-V7E500BW NVMe M.2, 3400 MB/s read, 2300 MB/s write Storage Drive Crucial MX500 SSD, SATA 3 2.5", 2TB CT2000MX500SSD1 SATA 3, 2.5" NVMe M.2 Heatsink EKWB EK-M.2 NVMe Heatsink, Black 3830046991737 For NVMe SSD cooling PSU HDPLEX 400W HiFi DC-ATX Linear Power Supply HDPLEX 200W Linear Power Supply, Silver • 19V 7.4x5.0mm > HDPLEX PSU • 9V 5.5x2.1mm > SOtM tX-USBexp • 5V 5.5x2.1mm > Micro USB DC adapter > DAC USB Audio Card SOtM tX-USBexp USB 3.0 Audio Card tX-USBexp External power via LPS, connecting to upper x1 PCIe slot Power Filter Card Elfidelity Rainbow Sugar 2 Hi-Fi Audio Power Filter Card AXF-104 Internal power filtering, connecting to upper x16 PCIe slot USB Cable AudioQuest Carbon USB Cable, 0.75m/2.5ft 65-089-12 For connection to DAC USB Filter AudioQuest JitterBug USB Filter JITTERBUG SOtM tX-USBexp > AQ JitterBug > AQ Carbon > DAC DC Adapter Adafruit MicroUSB to 5.5x2.1mm DC Barrel Jack Adapter 2789 Convert 5.5x2.1mm DC jack (from HDPLEX LPS XLR to 5.5x2.1mm DC cable) to Micro USB, for DAC DAC Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital, Silver 5V Micro USB power Thank y'all very much in advance! Cheers, Z

I just finished this PSU for my CAT. Some figures measured from the AC receptacle (with +/-5% error I suppose) -when PC is off (in standby mode): 20W -when PC just starts (where the peak comes): 90W -when PC running smooth after boot up: 70W The circuit design refers to this: Linear ATX power supply - diyAudio with some change of regulators (I use LT1083 for every voltages, and dual 12V rails), basically they are the same thing just more capacity.