For many people their prime listening source will be a music server in combination with a high quality outboard D-A converter such as the Alpha DAC shown above. In particular this approach when properly setup can produce 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 could compare 3 different pianists playing Goldberg Variation No. 16 and see what your preference is!
The Music Server OPTION #1: -- A Music Server built by a Music Server company
This will be the best choice for most people! The ideal is to purchase a real music server like a ReQuest or a Kaleidescape. It will be more robust and will have a great user interface that optionally can also be controlled by a Crestron system. Call us for the latest information as this is a fast moving field.
The Music Server OPTION #2 -- A Custom-Built Silent Music Server
While the control interface will not be as slick as a ReQuest or a Kaleidescape, this will offer the highest level of sound quality. 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 the highest level of sound quality for playing back high resolution files. And to date we have been unable to find a commercially-built music server that can play high resolution files at the highest level of sound quality.
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 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.
The Music Server Option #3 -- Building a computer-based Music Server:
NOTE: This is not for the faint-hearted or the inexperienced! Things can go wrong and you could damage your audio system! Please use care! If you are unsure of what you are doing we suggest that you let someone who really knows do it for you!
If you wish to use a regular computer then you need select one that is appropriate. We suggest a custom-made computer made with high quality parts that is as quiet as possible. While building a totally silent computer is quite complicated, building a reasonably quiet one is more within the reach of an experienced computer builder. For data either a hard disk array configured as JBOD or RAID 1 using enough terrabyte or larger hard drives is the way to go in terms of space and providing internal backup or redundancy. And at this time (2008) Windows XP is the recommended operating system. (NOTE: For some reason or reasons the computer itself can affect the sound of the digital output using the Lynx AES-16 card.)
As of mid-2008 here are the specific parts that we have used when building a computer. (Obviously computer parts change frequently so this list is subject to change.)
Case: Antec P182 (NOTE: A new P183 will be introduced shortly.)
Case fans: Scythe S-FLEX SFF21E 120mm
Fan Controller: Scythe SCKMPN-1000-BK "Kama-Panel" Multi Functional Controller
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS4 (make sure to update BIOS) (NOTE: As of August 2008 this is being phased out. We will be testing a new generation replacement motherboard.)
Video Card: Gigabyte GV-NX86T256H (NOTE: As of August 2008 there are other new generation video cards available now. We will be testing an alternative.)
Power Supply: Corsair CMPSU-520HX
CPU: Intel E8400 or E7200
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Ultima 90
RAM: 2GB (2x1GB) Crucial Ballistix BL2KIT12864AA804
(NOTE: During October 2008 we will be testing SSD's (solid state disks) for use with the OS, software, and high resolution music files. These will be absolutely quiet.)
C: Hard drive for OS: 250GB single platter SATA Seagate ST3250310AS
RAID 1 Array for music storage: multiple 1TB or larger SATA hard drives--number depends upon capacity required (NOTE: High Resolution 176.4/24 and 192/24 files are large.)
CD/DVD SATA drive: Plextor has been reliable in the past--see http://www.plextor.com/english/
Sound Card: Lynx AES16-XLR PCI (not the PCIe version) card. (NOTE: This version includes the AES-EBU XLR breakout cables.)
http://www.lynxstudio.com/aes16.html
http://www.lynxstudio.com/product_detail.asp?i=13
Music Playing Software: Media Monkey
NOTE: It is important to properly setup the AES 16 by using the right driver to keep the audio stream out of any imbedded Operating System SRC’s, volume controls, or EQ’s. Below you will find specific suggestions for a Windows XP system (not Vista) using the MediaMonkey player.
Lynx Studio Technology AES16 Installation for music servers running Windows XP
1) Install AES16 card in computer running Windows XP
2) Boot up in administrator mode
3) Cancel New Hardware Found Wizard, which should pop up (It installs the wrong driver, which confuses everything.)
4) Run "Version 1 Driver Installer 57g" program found in the '\Windows\LynxTWO L22 AES16' directory on the disc that came with the AES16 card. It can also be downloaded from the Lynx web site: http://www.lynxstudio.com/support_downloads.asp (check "Search Archives")
5) In the Lynx Mixer, under the Mixer Menu, select "Restore Defaults" and check version numbers under "About" menu. Verify that Driver: LynxTWO Version 1.30 Build 057g and either Firmware Rev 22 or Rev 23 are installed.
6) If Firmware Rev 22 or Rev 23 is not installed, use this link to download the correct firmware updater. Save it to the desktop.
7) Double click on the "L2Update21o.exe" icon and follow the prompts. Repeat step 5 to verify that Firmware Rev 22 is installed. Note: if another AES16 driver version was previously installed, it must be manually uninstalled and the system rebooted before installation.
After you setup the sound card is setup then you need to install and configure Media Monkey.
MediaMonkey Installation
Go to: http://www.mediamonkey.com/index.htm
Download Standard version and follow installation instructions
Media Monkey setup:
1) Select "Tools" - "Options".
2) Select "General".
3) Uncheck "Pop-up track info in tray" to avoid alert tones.
4) Select "General-File Types"
5) Check "extensions to be associated with Media Monkey". Include at least FLAC and WAV (NOTE: We recommend using WAV files.)
6) Select "Player - Output Plugins".
7) Select "WaveOut".
8) Click on "Configure" button
9) In "Device" window select AES16.
10) Under "Buffering" set "Buffer-ahead on track change" slider to 0 ms. The 200 ms default causes noise problems with high-res material.
11) Check that "Prebuffer" slider is also set to 0 ms.
12) Leave "Buffer length" at 2000 ms default.
13) Under "Volume control" uncheck "Enable".
14) Click on "OK" in "waveOut"
15) Click on "OK" in "Options"
NOTE: Verifying data integrity from the hard drive to DAC is easy if you have any HDCD recordings and an Alpha DAC. When playing the file the HDCD light on the Alpha DAC should illuminate. If it doesn’t there is a problem caused by data alteration and you should investigate all of your settings.