For many people their prime listening source will be a music server containing their music library (transferred from their CD collection losslessly, etc.) in combination with a high quality outboard D-A converter such as the Alpha DAC. In particular this approach when properly setup can produce rather stunning results with high resolution files. Couple that with the ability to listen to any musical selection instantly from any room makes this a very compelling proposition.

One thing in particular that this is ideal for is comparing different interpretations. For instance if you like Bach you might wish to compare three different pianists playing Goldberg Variation No. 16 in order to see how each artist treats it differently and to see what your preferences are!

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If you would like to pair an outboard D-A converter (for instance an Alpha DAC, etc.) with a Music Server below are four options for your consideration:

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Music Server Option #1 – A Music Server built by a Music Server company

In theory this could be the best choice for most people. The ideal would be to purchase a real music server like a ReQuest or a Kaleidescape that would have the sound quality of Option #2 below. It would be more robust and would have a great user interface and of course could also be controlled by a Crestron system.

However the problem is that no music server company makes a music server that can play high resolution files as well as Option #2 just below. You are invited to call us for the latest information as this is a fast moving field.

 

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Music Server Option #2 – A Custom-Built Silent Music Server

While the control interface may not be quite as slick as a ReQuest or a Kaleidescape, at present this will offer the highest level of sound quality that we know of. Plus it isn't vaporware but actually is available now. It will also be a less expensive alternative than Option #1. The reason that we are currently using this in our soundroom is that this offers a higher level of sound quality for playing back high resolution files.

In our soundroom we are currently using a computer designed and built around the Zalman TNN-300 and an Intel SSD. However this is a very complicated computer to build because the heat-producing parts are all connected to heat-pipes which are in turn connected to the chassis which then acts as a heatsink. The great thing about this approach is that this eliminates all fans and spinning hard disks which reduces any mechanical noise to what is essentially an inaudible level. Because of the intricacies involved with building a computer this way we have sourced a computer company to build these to our specifications. For the configuration that we recommend click HERE for more information.

UPDATE #1:  We have been using the Netgear ReadyNAS Pro which is a separate Network Attached Storage box. This can be remoted in another room, closet, or basement and connects via CAT 5e, CAT 6, or CAT 7. This particular unit can hold up to 6 hard drives—so for instance with six 2TB drives in RAID 1 it would provide approx. 6TB of mirrored storage. Or in X-RAID it would be closer to 9TB for the same 6 x 2TB drives. If you wish you can start off with just 2 or 3 hard drives and add more later if you choose. Since it would be in another room the noise from the fan (which is quieter than most) and the noise from the spinning hard drives would not intrude on the listening noise floor.

UPDATE #2:  When SSD's eventually grow enough in capacity to be used for music storage, we will also be testing an external chassis populated with SSD's in RAID 1 connected via eSATA. Although of course this would be more expensive for the foreseeable future if you want many TB's of storage.

UPDATE #3: You can use your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad with an app such as MonkeyTunes or RiverMote over WiFi. MonkeyTunes is for controlling Media Monkey and RiverMote is for controlling J. River. There are also Android apps as well.

With either the ReadyNAS Pro or an eSATA connected SSD array, there is the potential for as much external storage space as you would ever need for an enormous library of CD and high resolution files.

 

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Music Server Option #3 — Use a Mac-based Music Server

If you prefer to use Mac computers we suggest installing a Lynx AES16 digital audio card. You have a choice: If you are using an older Mac choose the PCI version. If you are using a current Mac choose the PCI-e version. You can click here for more information.

 

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Music Server Option #4 — Assembling a computer-based Music Server from component parts

If you are an experienced builder of computers and you wish to undertake building your own then you can click here for more information.