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● Computer-Based Silent Music Servers
We have been getting requests from clients saying that they wish to purchase a music server computer just like the one that we are using in our soundroom. As once they have visited us and heard the level of sound quality that is possible out of high resolution files they want to have the same thing in their own system. So we found a small US-based computer company who will hand-build computers to our exact specifications.
These computers are designed to put out the highest quality signal possible and can play high resolution files with higher sampling rates/bit resolution. Examples of high resolution files include 176.4kHz/24 bit, 192/24, 88.2/24, and 96/24. In addition to these high resolution files, it can also play regular 44.1kHz /16bit CD files (with or without HDCD encoding) so you can have your whole digital music library all accessible in one place.
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Silent Music Server (Tower Style Chassis)
In our soundroom we have been using a computer designed and built around the Zalman TNN-300 and an Intel SSD. This is a rather complicated and time-consuming 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. Because of the intricacies involved with building a computer this way we have contracted a computer company to build these to our specifications. The great thing about this is that all moving parts such as fans and spinning hard disks have been eliminated thus making it silent so that it can be right in your listening room next to your D-A converter.
UPDATE: As of January 2009 the 160GB Intel SSD's are now available. As you can have 2 SSD's inside that means 320GB of completely silent internal storage. If you need more storage capacity than that then either external eSATA or a NAS can be used to give you as much extra storage as you require.
If you would like to purchase one of these computers for yourself please click HERE. This is the link to EndPCNoise who manufactures this computer to our specifications. Once you have configured the computer by selecting your desired options you can purchase it directly from them at that link just above. Then you have the choice of having it shipped directly to you so that you can install the Lynx AES16 PCI digital audio card and set it up yourself—or if you wish you can specify to have the computer dropshipped to us and we can sell you the audio card and set up the computer for you.
Next you can call us at 781-893-9000 in order to purchase the Lynx AES16 card ($695).
We will then either install it—or if you prefer we can ship it to you and you can install it yourself. In addition you will need some cables which you can also purchase from us—please call us with your length requirements. Finally if you wish you can hire us for a flat fee of $500 to install the Lynx AES16 card and configure the drivers, software, and do a final listening test to ensure that everything is working correctly. The charge for shipping will obviously depend upon where you live and how fast you want it shipped. Alternatively if you would like us to come to your home and install it in your system the charge for doing so would be at our standard hourly rate.
There is more detailed information if you scroll down to the bottom of the page—plus you can read our technical FAQ. If you have any questions or would like additional information please let us know.
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Silent Music Server (Component Style Chassis)
If you would prefer to have your music server sitting on a shelf, here is the other option. The only difference between this and the tower computer is the case and power supply—everything else is identical. Once again this is totally silent with no moving parts.
UPDATE: As of January 2009 the 160GB Intel SSD's are now available. As you can have 2 SSD's inside that means 320GB of completely silent internal storage. If you need more storage capacity than that then either external eSATA or a NAS can be used to give you as much extra storage as you need.
If you would like to purchase one of these computers please click HERE. This is the link to EndPCNoise who manufactures this computer to our specifications. Once you have configured the computer by selecting your desired options you can purchase it directly from them at that link just above. Then you have the choice of having it shipped directly to you so that you can install the Lynx AES16 PCI digital audio card and set it up yourself—or if you wish you can specify to have the computer dropshipped to us and we can sell you the Lynx audio card and set up the computer for you.
Next you can call us at 781-893-9000 in order to purchase the Lynx AES16 card ($695).
We will then either install it—or if you prefer we can ship it to you and you can install it yourself. In addition you will need some cables which you can also purchase from us—please call us with your length requirements. Finally if you wish you can hire us for a flat fee of $500 to install the Lynx AES16 card and configure the drivers, software, and do a final listening test to ensure that everything is working correctly. The charge for shipping will obviously depend upon where you live and how fast you want it shipped. Alternatively if you would like us to come to your home and install it in your system the charge for doing so would be at our standard hourly rate.
More detailed information is just below—and you can also read our technical FAQ. If you have any questions or would like additional information please let us know.
● Silent Music Servers - More Detailed Information
There are several important aspects to understand about these computers. First of all they are silent so you can put them in your listening room right next to your other components. Second, they are designed to be used with a high end outboard D-A converter utilizing AES-EBU. Of critical importance is that they are setup to have the lowest possible jitter, as without low jitter the full potential sound quality of CD quality files or high resolution files cannot really be appreciated.
These computers are setup with Windows XP SP3 and a Lynx AES16 PCI digital output card. Among other things the way that Windows is setup along with the proper drivers and firmware for the Lynx card is critical—as are a number of software settings which need to be made.
Right now we are using MediaMonkey as the music file player software— as properly setup it will not impede the inherent sound quality of the best high resolution recordings. It can thus enable the output of the high quality digital bitstream necessary to produce a very high level of sound quality. In the future if we find other Windows or Linux file playing software with a better control interface that can produce high quality sound as well as MediaMonkey, then it can be substituted if desired. You can take a look at the MediaMonkey interface here: www.mediamonkey.com
Using the links above you may purchase a computer from the company with whom we have been collaborating on the design of this music server. They will build the computer to our specifications along with your preferred options and sell it to you directly. After it is built you can have it dropshipped directly to us—or if you prefer you can have it shipped directly to you and you can install the Lynx card and set-up the software yourself.
You can then purchase whatever else you need from us. We can provide you with the digital soundcard, cables, DAC, and some high resolution files. And we can set it all up for you if you wish. If it is shipped to us, when the computer and whatever else is needed is all here, we will then install the sound card, install the software, and configure everything in order to optimize it. The final stage is we will do a listening test in a high end audio system to each computer-based Music Server to make sure that it is functioning properly and performing as it should sonically.
Here is a list of everything needed to play High Resolution as well as CD files at a high level of sound quality:
- A customized Music Server computer with the Lynx AES-16 card with everything properly setup in terms of BIOS, Windows, drivers, Lynx software, music file-playing software, firmware, etc.
- One D-connector to AES-EBU cable to connect the Music Server to the D-A converter
- A high quality D-A converter. For a D-A converter we are currently using the Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC which does a great job of playing high resolution files as well as CD-quality files.
- A high quality interconnect from the D-A converter to your preamp or direct to your power amp. If you are using the Berkeley Alpha DAC in most systems we suggest that you use XLR-XLR cables. However in some systems an RCA-RCA cable will need to be used.
- We definitely suggest that you get some high resolution files so you can hear how amazing they sound for yourself!. For high resolution files we are currently offering the Reference Recordings HRx files which are bit for bit copies of the 176.4/24 masters.
We can supply a complete turnkey system with all of the above parts including the HRx files preloaded. Once it is plugged in and you click Play, you will hear what everyone is so excited about—exact copies of master recordings in your home! Up until now for many music lovers that has only been a dream—but now it is finally a reality!
You're invited to visit and hear our setup for yourself—as then you will really understand what all of the excitement is about. Hearing is certainly believing!
If you'd like to know more about any of this you can read our rather technical FAQ or simply please give us a call at 781-893-9000.