Putting Together Your Own Music Server

[MylesBAstor]

What suggestions do members have newbies wanting assemble their own digital music server? Computer, pieces, software, power supply, etc.?

[Garth]

Buy a turntable

[nc42acc]

Garth you crack me up but what you say is true. Much easier.

[Garth]

Live music they buy the gear set it up tear it down and a pretty girl brings you drinks

[MylesBAstor]

Yeah but you always have some idiot who has to talk or stand up and take pictures and block your view.

[Mike Lavigne]

I would read the information in these 2 links. my server is based on what is described in the first link; with some 'hot-rodded' parts from the second link.

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/co...s-v4-pipeline/

http://www.lampizator.eu/Fikus/KOMPU...IC_SERVER.html

then there is the question of operating system and music management system.

for my server I use Windows 2012 Standard RC in core mode, with Audiophile Optimizer. and then JRiver latest version.

[MylesBAstor]

I would read the information in these 2 links. my server is based on what is described in the first link; with some 'hot-rodded' parts from the second link.

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/co...s-v4-pipeline/

http://www.lampizator.eu/Fikus/KOMPU...IC_SERVER.html

then there is the question of operating system and music management system.

for my server I use Windows 2012 Standard RC in core mode, with Audiophile Optimizer. and then JRiver latest version.

Thanks Mike!

[nc42acc]

I really want to try and build one but my perceived complexity of it all keeps me from doing it. I will be the Guinea pig if I can get guidance along the way. I will be glad to document the process.

[MylesBAstor]

The topic really interests me but I think that building server is beyond my abilities now. But I do have a computer tech that I'm sure given the specs could build one for me. But I would want to build the best possible unit.

[nc42acc]

I have built many a computer in my day, but this requires a little more thought in the components being used. My biggest hurdle is the software and its configuration. Again I will build one and document the process if we have any experts for guidance in the event of a hiccup.

[Mike Lavigne]

if you google 'CAPS v Pipeline server' you will find a number of server builders who can do that at a nominal fee beyond the parts costs. immerse yourself into the subject and the clouds do part.

I'm blessed with a Network Engineer Son who has done this stuff for me.

understand that a NAS (bit bucket of some sort) is also part of the picture. personally I have a pair of 24 terabyte NAS's where my 15 terabytes of music are stored. one is the backup (called Crazy Horse).

[nc42acc]

Mike that's a LOT of music, 24TB! I thought my 12TB NAS was large.

[MylesBAstor]

if you google 'CAPS v Pipeline server' you will find a number of server builders who can do that at a nominal fee beyond the parts costs. immerse yourself into the subject and the clouds do part.

I'm blessed with a Network Engineer Son who has done this stuff for me.

understand that a NAS (bit bucket of some sort) is also part of the picture. personally I have a pair of 24 terabyte NAS's where my 15 terabytes of music are stored. one is the backup (called Crazy Horse).

Mike what sort of cost are we looking at to build a server? And for the newbie, what does CAPS stand for?

[Mike Lavigne]

$4K--$6K investment + software depending on how many hot-rod parts you use.

then plus the data storage costs.....

but it kicks ass sonically.

the info below is from the link I provided above.

[nc42acc]

What do I gain building this server Mike versus using something like a Mac mini?

[Mike Lavigne]

What do I gain building this server Mike versus using something like a Mac mini?

not having used a Mac mini I cannot really comment directly on that. however; I had a fairly current windows server that had been subject to considerable tweaking that I used prior to this new 'uber' one. and first off; you get rid of all the SMPS's (switch mode power supplies) which are noisy, and that alone lowers the noise floor considerably. and a solid state HD and no fan. again; quiet. then just better grade parts. and finally the software is reduced down to the minimum so all the unneeded crap that occupies the brain and reduces clarity is removed.

read the links I provided to get more solid information about these issues; your question has been written about excessively on Computer Audiophile and so my info is mostly my relating what I've read. I'm just an observer of the process, and have no techie chops of my own.

[nc42acc]

Myles let me know if you decide to go with a music server please. From getting tidbits of information from Mike (Blizzard) posts on WBF, browsing through computer audiophile, trying to decipher music server info elsewhere I am ok with staying with the Aurender. This doesn't include the software required, HQ Player, Roon, JRiver etc. and it's own set of complications.

[mep]

I have a very basic system for the here and now. I have a Toshiba laptop that I bought on Gary Koh's recommendation and stripped out a bunch of crap that Gary gave instructions for. The Toshiba acts as my server fed by my external HDs which are currently not NAS. I'm running JRiver 20 and the laptop hooks up via USB to my Mytek Stereo 192. I think it sounds great playing DSD files.

[Steve Lefkowicz]

On a simpler level, use a decent Windows notebook with a SSD to run JRiver media Center. Store all your music offboard on a NAS drive (QNAP, Synology or similar). Use a USB Power Supply (iFi iUSB3, Schiit Wyrd or maybe that new REGEN unit along with either an Audioquest Jitterbug or an iFi iPurifier to feed the USB DAC of your choosing. Spend money as fits your budget, and accept that this is still fairly early in the developmental stages, and you'll be updating regularly for a few years.
I still prefer my records and turntable, but am surprized at how good my server based system is sounding. I've got about a month on a new iFi stack (iUSB3, iPurifier2 and iDAC2, using a dual head Gemini cable), and it's playing way above my expectations for this price range.