DCAudioDIY.com

I've been using a DLNA renderer (Sonore) servered from my NAS as described above, and as Charlie does. Lower noise floor and more dynamic range than coming off a PC.

However, my system (speakers/amps) can't reproduce a reasonable 3 dimensional soundstage, rather it's 2 dimensional. It has depth and width, but not the 3rd dimension of complete transparency with instruments layered.

Charlie's system has the ability to be very 3 dimensional. I heard it with his analogue set up when we 1st met, but his digital rig didn't do it at that time. Now, his digital is as good or better than the analogue.

Because we both serve music from our NAS the same way, and are using DLNA devices, we can drop mine in his system or vice versa easily. Put mine in his system it becomes 2 dimensional. Put his in my system, it stays 2 dimensional. Put his in his system without the LPS, it becomes 2 dimensional. Hope that makes sense.

I recognize these kinds of observations are annoying. I'm sure there's nothing to be measured that can explain it. Most of us probably don't have systems capable of exposing the difference, but if you do, his server/renderer is a good model to follow and not crazy expensive.

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?

Stuart,

You left out key part of my post.



For the sake of clarification, I am not a naysayer. I dont believe in DBTs.

In my experience, there is no holy grail in audio. A gizmo that sounds wonderful in one system might not be so good in the other. Jim said above he found the Charlies SOTM noisy in his setup.

Its all about synergy of the components.

Having said all that, whats wrong in trying to understand the technology? What wrong in knowledge seeking?

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.

....In my experience, there is no holy grail in audio. A gizmo that sounds wonderful in one system might not be so good in the other. Jim said above he found the Charlies SOTM noisy in his setup....

Some DAC's may have internal power supplies, but the USB receiver maybe bus powered. The XMOS async USB receivers use low phase noise clocks that supply the DAC clocks. If they are powered by the USB +5VDC power, that can be another noise source.

Case in point is using the DIY XMOS based USB receivers like I did last year for CAF2016 in the DIY HiRez DAC. The XMOS board was powered by the USB bus. Improvements can probably be made by adding a separate regulated DC power supply for the USB receiver and modifying the board to use it.

...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 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.

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