Computer audio discussion

[Jim G]

No, I understand what you're saying. If I'm not mistaken, Charlie has a custom-built server with Minimserver installed and MPD installed, is that correct?

I wouldn't say custom. It's the CAPS Carbon v3 as described at Computer Audiophile, though built by Small Green Computer, not him. The big improvement he made (I believe) was stripping Windows and installing Linux, and then setting it up a DLNA renderer. MinimServer installed on the NAS. The renderer (computer) doesn't *serve* the music, the NAS does, if my lingo is right. Also, of course, the LPS.

Thanks for the correction!

What got me to post this morning was your saying you had that small PC based on the CAPS. I assume it doesn't have the SOTM card, but that could be a reasonable upgrade.(?)

[Jim G]

I believe your description is right on. I don't know/think you can eliminate the renderer.

DLNA is a convenience device. It doesnt add anything to the quality of the audio stream.

I believe MinimServer can run on a computer. Since you already have a linux box for DLNA, I would install MinimServer on it, disable DLNA, connect the box directly to DAC and play the music. You might be in for a sweet surprise.

I have a QNAP NAS which I use only as a storage and file sharing system.

Again, I'm not a software person. Give MinimServer a whirl both ways. It's free software though I donated after getting it working.

[Grover Gardner]

...If I understand you correctly MinimServers running on NAS (Linux) is streaming the music and DLNA server running on Linux is making it available to devices. So, if Charlie found that Linux based DLNA is better than Windows based DLNA, no surprise from me. But the real heart of the system is still MinimServer running on Linux. How would the MinumServer connected directly to DAC (ie: removing the extra DLNA layer) sound?

I believe your description is right on. I don't know/think you can eliminate the renderer.

A step in the right direction is an ethernet-ready DAC. There are a couple available.

[Jim G]

A step in the right direction is an ethernet-ready DAC. There are a couple available.

Yes. I'll be upgrading my PS Audio DAC and eliminating the stand alone renderer when I can, but I know when I take it to Charlie's it probably still won't be as 3 dimensional as that damn CAPS coming in on USB.

[Grover Gardner]

A step in the right direction is an ethernet-ready DAC. There are a couple available.

Yes. I'll be upgrading my PS Audio DAC and eliminating the stand alone renderer when I can, but I know when I take it to Charlie's it probably still won't be as 3 dimensional as that damn CAPS coming in on USB.

LOL

[Cogito]

I heard several times loud static while playing DSD files thru Daphile. Dumped it and moved over to foobar2000 and still I heard the static few times, not just as often. This evening I visited our DaveR. We were listening to a few numbers on his system (very good) and heard the same static on DSD from foobar2000. For little over a week I'm using only AP-Linux, not static issues at all.

[Grover Gardner]

What got me to post this morning was your saying you had that small PC based on the CAPS. I assume it doesn't have the SOTM card, but that could be a reasonable upgrade.(?)

No, it's a mini_PC indentical to their old Sonic Orbiter--at least on the outside.

[DaveR]

I heard several times loud static while playing DSD files thru Daphile. Dumped it and moved over to foobar2000 and still I heard the static few times, not just as often. This evening I visited our DaveR. We were listening to a few numbers on his system (very good) and heard the same static on DSD from foobar2000. For little over a week I'm using only AP-Linux, not static issues at all.

This was the first time I have heard the static, but it was clearly there. To clarify, the music doesn't have static, all you get is static when whatever happens happens. I suspect the DAC looses sync. I'm not familiar with the DSD protocol, but would expect it would incorporate a means to regain sync in the event it was lost. Assuming this is true, it would be Foobar that goes into the weeds and does not get back out. I haven't done any research yet to see if this is a known issue to the SACD plug-in author and if there is a fix.

[Cogito]

In your system it was pure static. In my system, static was in the background of the music.

For whatever reason, it happened to me with foobar2000 and Daphile. Never with MPD and jPlay.

[Jim G]

What got me to post this morning was your saying you had that small PC based on the CAPS. I assume it doesn't have the SOTM card, but that could be a reasonable upgrade.(?)

No, it's a mini_PC indentical to their old Sonic Orbiter--at least on the outside.

Send Charlie an email. I'm pretty sure that's the same motherboard in the same case (about 12" square) in that version of the CAPS and the early Sonic Orbiter. Is there room in your case for the SOTM card?