I recently set up a music server and thought I'd share the details for those considering adding one. The route I took was very simple, very affordable, and sounds remarkably good. It can be improved upon and I may at some point, but for now the convenience of having almost all of my CDs at my finger tips and in stunningly good quality has been ear opening. I find myself creating playlists, and playing music that I hadn't bothered to play in years. It is good to break out of the normal rotation.
Background and system details to establish a point of reference... if you don't have the patience to read through this part go directly to The Server to get the set up details.
The audio quality of the server described below will likely satisfy almost anyone. I am a pretty picky customer and have been happily using it in my "above average system". My digital playback reference is my obscenely expensive and IMO obscenely good Mark Levinson No 512 SACD player. The ML No512 uses an Esoteric disc spinner with an exotic clocking system, data buffer, and unique DAC. I have not heard every digital playback system... but this one is the best one I've heard, or put another way; I haven't heard a better one.
I have done extensive comparisons between my Mark Levinson No 512 SACD player and my Wadia via my Bryston DAC or the new server through the Bryston DAC. Disc depending the ML No512 can sound somewhat better or indistinguishable. Typically I do prefer the No512 but can't always put a finger on it. I have balanced the two to within 0.1dB and made numerous double blind comparisons. At the most extreme, the ML No512 has more air and space between the instruments and even the notes if that makes sense. That said, the differences are typically so subtle there is no point in loading a silver disc unless I'm really going to focus. Originally I was considering adding a Berkeley Audio Design Alpha USB and possibly their Alpha DAC. While I'm sure these would be a step up over the Bryston DAC and a simple USB cable, I doubt the Berkeley Audio Design pair will exceed the ML No512 and since the difference is already so close to the point of diminishing returns, I've decided to live with the compromise.
I also have had a Sonos Connect as a source in my system with a S/PDIF connection to my DAC. Most of my music resides redundantly on a NAS drive which Sonos can access. While I love the convenience and the Sonos user interface is great, the sonic compromise has led me to rarely use it.
FWIW: My system consists of a Mark Levinson No326S analog preamp, some analog phono gear, the already mentioned ML No 512, the Bryston BDA-1 DAC, a Wadia 170i dock, a Meridian 500 CD transport, a Meyer Sound CP-10 EQ employing (2) narrow band cut filters per channel for some room issues, a pair of Parasound Halo JC-1 mono blocks, and a pair of DD66000/DD67000 speakers. (DD66000s upgraded to DD67000s).
The Server:
I was given a "mid 2010" Mac Mini from a friend. You can pick one up on eBay for $200-$300. This model has a built in CD read/write drive which is very convenient and is current enough to support the latest free software updates. The newer models do not have a built in disc drive, have faster connections and processors, but also cost more. I bought an external 2T drive, but this is optional. Mac Minis have an HDMI output, Toslink optical, and USB outputs. If you connect to an AVR you can use the HDMI or optical output. If you connect to an external DAC you will probably want to use the USB output. (With my DAC the optical did not sound as good as the USB.) If you are playing files with higher resolution than Redbook and want to use the USB output you may need a USB to S/PDIF converter.
I am using the computer's built in iTunes application as the server's backbone. I have imported about 620 CDs (Some Apple lossless others are uncompressed) into this computer's iTunes library and cleaned up the duplications, album art issues etc. I then picked up the free "Remote" app for iPads and iPhones and loaded it on my phone and my iPad. This computer is dedicated to my music system. Since there are no other applications running on it, once set up I removed the monitor and keyboard. My only interface with the server is via the Remote app. From my listening chair I can use the app to create playlists and to search by song, album, artist, or composer. When you hit play it is instantaneous, you can hop from song to song, jump from one genre to another on the fly and it is amazingly quick.
That's it. All you need is the $200 computer a USB cable to connect to the DAC of your choice or connect to an AVR with an HDMI or Toslink cable. If you want to avoid the monitor and keyboard like I did you will need an iPhone or iPad. I really like the Remote app. If you do not own an iPhone or iPad, you can pick an older iPhone for $50 and use it as a small iPad (no plan needed but you do need your own wifi).
You can go to Computer Audiophile and spend gobs of time and money, and geek out to your heart's content, or you can do what I did and get a pretty damned good bang for your few bucks.
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