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Post by brubacca on Apr 16, 2014 16:36:14 GMT -5
Well I have caved to the pressure and am building a dedicated music server. I have the chassis ordered. www.oemproduction.com/products/ITX-300A3.asp MSata drive - corsair 240 GB Ram - 4 GB Corsair , DDR3 1066 SODimm Going to us daphile for the operating system. www.daphile.com Haven't made final decision on the audio card. Leaning towards a ESI juli@ xte, which is similar to the card used in the bryston bdp-1 (they use a modified Juli@) May do Asus Xonar SXT or SOTM tx-USB (PCIe version). Lastly will add linear power supply from welbourne labs, but that will be end of the year. People interested in seeing build pics? |
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DYohn
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Posts: 18,365
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Post by DYohn on Apr 16, 2014 16:38:10 GMT -5
I use an SOtM tX-USBexp in my Vortexbox. Works well.
Have fun and good luck!
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Post by cburbs on Apr 16, 2014 17:08:17 GMT -5
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Post by cd on Apr 16, 2014 17:29:46 GMT -5
Brubacca, it looks like you are building a quality piece. Do keep in mind that 240GB is not going to be able to store a large number of hi-res files. Expect that your average hi-res album will consume approx. 3-6 GB per album. This means that you will be able to store 40-80 albums.
Personally, I would opt for several large USB drives of 1-3 TB in size. This will allow you to store 4-12 times as many albums, generally enough for most folks' music collections...
CD
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Post by brubacca on Apr 16, 2014 18:51:31 GMT -5
Thanks for the great advice. On the sound (USB) cards.
I will have a internal 2.5" bay available for future expansion. I am going for silent no moving parts. I fully expect to use a 1TB ssd in a couple of years. Everything that I have now is 115GB total. I don't anticipate getting much hi-Rez in the near future.
System will also do DSD.
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Post by cwmcobra on Apr 16, 2014 20:01:50 GMT -5
Yes, pics please!
Cheers!
Chuck
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Post by brubacca on May 3, 2014 16:18:03 GMT -5
This I exactly why a company needs to come up with a affordable solution. I am not bad with PCs, in fact I have assembles many since my Celeron 300 that I over clocked to 400 MHz.
This build has not gone well by any stretch.
Barebones came in with the wrong processor (after 3 weeks to get it). I ordered a system which stated N2800 atom very clearly. I got a N2600 instead (after almost 3 weeks of waiting).
My mSata drive does not work ( not sure if it is PC or drive).
Sound card is still unavailable (going on a month).
I don't have the patience for this bunk anymore.
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hemster
Global Moderator 
Particle Manufacturer
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Post by hemster on May 3, 2014 16:30:26 GMT -5
^Sorry to hear of your woes. This exasperation is exactly why I can't be bothered. I work with computers but would love to buy an affordable turnkey solution that's expandable.
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Post by Topend on May 3, 2014 17:12:25 GMT -5
I would be interested to see this build, I hope it works out for you.
What is the price on the chassis?
EDIT: I found the price for the chassis, it seems it is out of stock on a few websites.
Cheers,
Dave.
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Post by daveburt on May 3, 2014 21:22:55 GMT -5
People interested in seeing build pics? Please post some pics!  Guess you gave up on the idea of building a NAS with your old AMD-E processor? I played around with using an Asus Xonar DX card in my HTPC, but sending the signal out via toslink didn't offer any better sound quality than the mobo's chip. My UMC-1 did a much better job of decoding the signal than the sound card did! I'm not really skilled in the whole audiophile realm, but if your planning on using digital out from any sound card I doubt you'll hear much difference. If your planning on using the analog outs that would probably be a whole different story... Reguardless, I'd be really interested in following your adventures with this build!  Dave |
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Post by brubacca on May 4, 2014 9:17:00 GMT -5
This project seems to have a black cloud over its head. I mocked up the system using an older SSD that I have laying around using a Musical Fidelity USB-spdif converter plugged into one of the on board USB ports.
This went together very well and I moved it up to my TV system,. Here I ran it for a day and had the chance to use it feeding my XDA-1/Usp-1 system. This definitely shows some promise and sounded really good as a source. In fact it sounded so good that I decided to move it to my actual stereo system where I want it to me long term.
As all things with this little project I hit another snag. I had planned on using Powerline networking to get a wired node out at this location. The powerline units just put to much junk on the Powerline, I switched to my phono input which was obviously picking up the chatter in the Powerline. In fact, that is the sound my system was making, chattering.
I have a wireless to wired Ethernet adapter (somewhere), I'll see if I can get that working.
As far as my NAS 4 free server project. That is the one after this one.
Right now I am disappointed with how the server is going. I have ordered a msata to sata adapter so I can test my mSata drive. Either that is DOA or my new system isn't functioning correctly. I am still considering sending back the main unit because I paid for a n2800 based system and was delivered a n2600. Lastly I need to figure out how to get the music server connected to my network so I can control it, as of now my intended way is not going to work. Also my desired sound card has had production problems and has been unavailable for the last month.
I am very tempted to send it all back and put money towards the new Marantz Streamer that is coming out.
Pictures eventually if it makes sense to figure out how to load them.
Discouraged in Philly.
Ps- my Flyers also got knocked out of the playoffs this week, and they didn't deserve to win.
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novisnick
EmoPhile
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Post by novisnick on May 4, 2014 9:59:37 GMT -5
This project seems to have a black cloud over its head. I mocked up the system using an older SSD that I have laying around using a Musical Fidelity USB-spdif converter plugged into one of the on board USB ports. This went together very well and I moved it up to my TV system,. Here I ran it for a day and had the chance to use it feeding my XDA-1/Usp-1 system. This definitely shows some promise and sounded really good as a source. In fact it sounded so good that I decided to move it to my actual stereo system where I want it to me long term. As all things with this little project I hit another snag. I had planned on using Powerline networking to get a wired node out at this location. The powerline units just put to much junk on the Powerline, I switched to my phono input which was obviously picking up the chatter in the Powerline. In fact, that is the sound my system was making, chattering. I have a wireless to wired Ethernet adapter (somewhere), I'll see if I can get that working. As far as my NAS 4 free server project. That is the one after this one. Right now I am disappointed with how the server is going. I have ordered a msata to sata adapter so I can test my mSata drive. Either that is DOA or my new system isn't functioning correctly. I am still considering sending back the main unit because I paid for a n2800 based system and was delivered a n2600. Lastly I need to figure out how to get the music server connected to my network so I can control it, as of now my intended way is not going to work. Also my desired sound card has had production problems and has been unavailable for the last month. I am very tempted to send it all back and put money towards the new Marantz Streamer that is coming out. Pictures eventually if it makes sense to figure out how to load them. Discouraged in Philly. Ps- my Flyers also got knocked out of the playoffs this week, and they didn't deserve to win. Your right, the Flyers are not the best team,,,,,,,But I sure rooted for them like they were! Maybe next year! |
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Post by wizardofoz on May 4, 2014 13:16:22 GMT -5
I started thinking about doing a new Mac mini server but decided to hold off as the likelihood of a new mini coming out at WWDC is fairly high. In the interim I was looking at a nas to store music and other stuff...and got a Synology DS1813+ and have been able to use controlled from all of my pc/mac/ios devices and stream to them in the house and out of the house too, as well as the oppo105, squeezeboxes and even the AppleTV's and panasonic tv too. This nas is really quite something. I might not even need a macmini now, bar the need to rip my vinyl that I could use any machine really. I can even plug my dragonfly dac in the back of it and it can play through that too, and multiple combinations of devices with same or different tracks at the same time. I can access it via the internet from anywhere on the planet, and it does timemachine backups and video streaming too. It even has a web server and ftp and email too, plus vpn and virus scanning...give it a look. Its pretty quiet too with 4 drives in it so far out of 8 max www.synology.com/en-global/products/overview/DS1813+ |
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,230
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Post by novisnick on May 4, 2014 13:52:29 GMT -5
I started thinking about doing a new Mac mini server but decided to hold off as the likelihood of a new mini coming out at WWDC is fairly high. In the interim I was looking at a nas to store music and other stuff...and got a Synology DS1813+ and have been able to use controlled from all of my pc/mac/ios devices and stream to them in the house and out of the house too, as well as the oppo105, squeezeboxes and even the AppleTV's and panasonic tv too. This nas is really quite something. I might not even need a macmini now, bar the need to rip my vinyl that I could use any machine really. I can even plug my dragonfly dac in the back of it and it can play through that too, and multiple combinations of devices with same or different tracks at the same time. I can access it via the internet from anywhere on the planet, and it does timemachine backups and video streaming too. It even has a web server and ftp and email too, plus vpn and virus scanning...give it a look. Its pretty quiet too with 4 drives in it so far out of 8 max www.synology.com/en-global/products/overview/DS1813+Sounds interesting, what is the price point? thanks, |
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Post by brubacca on May 4, 2014 17:36:53 GMT -5
My server has taken a turn in the right direction. My wireless bridge works to put the unit on the network and I can use iPeng to control the server. We'll see what the next couple of days brings. Hopefully the corsair mSata drive is bad and I can just get a replacement and keep going forward.
It is quite disconcerting to have a PC that is absolutely dead silent. I am so used to some kind of fan running that it just was an awkward feeling the first couple of power ups. The only indication is the halo,around the power button (green not blue).
Nobody seems to stock this unit. I believe that the Atoms are getting scarce. They will build to order generally. My unit was $200 for the base unit. One catch is that there is only one power connector internal to the unit. So don't plan on using any PCIe cards that need power if you a are going to also use a regular SSD.
If I get this mSata thing resolved I'll take some internal and external pics and figure out how to post them. The front profile is smaller than a Mini-x and it is only 8" deep.
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Post by dad311 on May 4, 2014 18:31:47 GMT -5
I think the Raspberry Pi would make the perfect music server. Cheap, uses very little power and free software.
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Post by wizardofoz on May 5, 2014 1:53:39 GMT -5
Synology prices will vary by model and where you buy. I got mine in Singapore because I live here, as a bare system (no drives) and was S$1400 but I have heard its cheaper in Australia and maybe even cheaper in the USA. Suggest you go to their website and see where to buy near you or online. The are several models depending on your needs and some tools to determine what might be the model that best suits your needs. Mine is 8 drive bays. And I can add another 2 x 5 drive bay units to bring the capacity up to 18 drives of up to 5tb each.
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Post by moko on May 5, 2014 9:33:21 GMT -5
this should be seen as a market opportunity by emotiva : a music server by emotiva. half the price of a macbook pro. 500 gb harddisk but upgradeable. controlled from distance by touchscreen. and other bells and wistles. or is this just my wishful thinking ?  |
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on May 5, 2014 10:11:05 GMT -5
It's not really my sort of gadget, but some folks say the Beagle Bone is better.... And, if you're looking for something to run on a "full size" machine, Vortexbox is pretty highly thought of... I think the Raspberry Pi would make the perfect music server. Cheap, uses very little power and free software. |
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on May 5, 2014 10:24:41 GMT -5
Yes, a Vortexbox appliance is a great solution. It is controllable from any phone, tablet or PC and interfaces with nearly any USB DAC. shop.smallgreencomputer.com/Or, if you want you can DIY it with nearly any computer you wish to use and their free software. vortexbox.org/downloadsDisclaimer: I have no affiliation with this group I only use their products. |
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