Computers and Sound

[jonathanhorwich]

I'd really appreciate the input of those who honestly know about the subject of how to set up a computer for the best Sound with, in this case, Windows 10. I'm not looking for comments but actual data on how to do the following or data one knows that proved to improve the sound quality of the computer.

I wish to set up a new computer which I will have built for the best quality sound using Windows 10. I am speaking of things such as which is the best power supply, best and quietest fans, best set up of the computer itself eliminating unnecessary features of Win 10 which drain the CPU, etc.

If anyone on this site has experience with this please weigh in. I'm sure it would help others as well. Thank you.

[Garth]

This could be a very good thread I wish you luck

[MylesBAstor]

I'd really appreciate the input of those who honestly know about the subject of how to set up a computer for the best Sound with, in this case, Windows 10. I'm not looking for comments but actual data on how to do the following or data one knows that proved to improve the sound quality of the computer.

I wish to set up a new computer which I will have built for the best quality sound using Windows 10. I am speaking of things such as which is the best power supply, best and quietest fans, best set up of the computer itself eliminating unnecessary features of Win 10 which drain the CPU, etc.

If anyone on this site has experience with this please weigh in. I'm sure it would help others as well. Thank you.

I don't know that much but from my conversations with people, Windows 10 may not be the best platform. At least yet.

[rbbert]

I'm certainly not an expert either, but my research and experience suggest that the Computer Audiophile Pocket Server (C.A.P.S.) is the most reasonable computer build option, and that a purpose built player (Aurender, Bryston, etc) can be easier to use and perhaps give better sound as well, but at a higher price.

[bmoura]

I don't know that much but from my conversations with people, Windows 10 may not be the best platform. At least yet.

Well, Windows 10 with JRiver Media Center and the NADAC MC-8 is what I'm using here to play DSD and FLAC files in Stereo and Multichannel, up to DSD 256 Multichannel.

Working - and sounding fine.

Windows 10 also works with the other DACs here including the Lampizator DSD DAC, exaSound e28 and the iFi iDSD Micro and Nano.

[cpp]

If a person wants to get teh very best out of their windows machine, it needs to be a music only machine, Like rbbert noted, a C.A.P.S machine ( http://www.computeraudiophile.com/co...s-v4-pipeline/ ) which will come with a really good USB interface etc and then use Fidelizer to turn off the services that you don't need in windows is the way to go.. http://www.fidelizer-audio.com/

It just depends how far down the rabbit hole your willing to go and how proficient are your computer skills..

[Alrainbow]

what your looking for is not that complex , if you able to build it yourself and load the software you are going to be fine .
i can give you some advise and you choose . each move i give you can be used now or later.
the internal psu you start with does not matter so buy a cheap one used for gamers . dont go nuts on power 350 is enough .
the internal drives should be solid state . you can start with one and add later . buy a 1 tb if you can music is large . if you plan to have 2 buy a 250 for the OS then a 1 tb or larger for music .
next up is audio optimiser 2.0 its the best improvement weather what insides you pick .
do you need help picking main board and cpu or do you have one already ?
a great external psu is made by hdplex . about 600 or so with the atx board dc to dc converter . he also sells them seperatly as well . .
j river is a good player but you must use jr20 nothing newer works without a mod to it . foobar is free and works sound wise very good as well .
fidlizer pro i use also a very simple install and then your done almost no choices to choose from .
the web forum above is the best for this stuff . very very smart people on there . not saying no one here is not either but thats a hangout for them .

just doing what i posted is very good and if you choose AO software there is digital filters to choose from that make it best for each of us .
great digital seems to be much cheaper than great analog that is what i see . end game is an anolog sound , a server is impertive to getting there . there are other ways to get there as well by buying one . but you can get 70 percent there doing what i said .
one last option is a pci usb audio card but this makes little sense at first get ti going a good card is a few hundred . and a better psu is a leap that should be fiirst .

[jonathanhorwich]

Thank you all so much for your input so far. For now I'm stuck with a Win 10 computer and must have that for my special activities. I have JRiver for my DSD work and high res PCM. What I'm asking about is building a computer. That is hardware. CPP and Alrainbow thank you for your suggestions. Very helpful. If either of you have more suggestions let me know. I will contact Alrainbow off the site. If you can email me at [email protected] it would be very appreciated. What I don't understand is on the link where one finds the C.A.P.S. machine, does one build his or her own based on the list of components given? That would work if that is what I'm seeing. Thank you.

[rbbert]

You can build your own C.A.P.S. machine or have someone build it for you. Mike Lavigne recently had his son build him one. A company called Small Green Computers has historically offered C.A.P.S. assembled, although I'm not sure if they offer one conforming to the latest recommendations

[jonathanhorwich]

Okay thank you and that is very helpful. I'll have someone build it for me based on the components listed there. If I'm tracking now that will do it. And thank you all.