Dedicated Music Server/Player

Here is another option and review from Positive Feedback:

Euphony Audio Summus

@David Ten

I had heard of Pink Faux but in all my research it just did not come up.  No reason just so many others to choose from.  I do like the aspect of knowing who is building my equipment and that probably is a major reason I went with Lucas Audio.  That is similar to my Viking Acoustic Grande Voix Speakers and Canary Audio Amps.  In each case, I developed a relationship with the owner.  BTW, and I know this sounds crazy but all of my equipment was purchased without hearing it first.  A lot of that has to do with my confidence in who is building the equipment.  

WHY do you guys think a dedicated server makes a difference, IF you are using a separate streamer/player that is low noise, and only reads the data off your server (like a NAS)?

I am in the dilemma whether to get an Innuos with its own server, OR host all my music on my NAS server, and send it via Ethernet to a streamer like Aurender or Auralic?! I just do NOT understand, WHY, or HOW a file off NAS over ethernet can sound different, than Tidal stream going to the SAME streamer?!

Paul McGowan thinks NAS is better, as it's isolated away from the player/streamer.

@willgolf   Thanks. 

A dedicated server is a computer in a fancy box.  The folks making the well-regarded, dedicated servers typically pay attention to improving things like processing speed, power supply, fanless operation (i.e., quieter), optimized programing, EMI/RFI resistance (i.e., better cases and isolation), damping, clocking, and dedicated outputs like the JCAT XE or Femto cards.  However, more important than simply putting a bunch of better "stuff" in a box, the people who have been building servers for a number of years (like Mark Jenkins at Antipodes or Benjamin Zwickel at Mojo, and of course the other well-regarded designers) have found ways to continually improve their products to create quiet, reliable, great sounding servers.  That experience, expertise, and of course the premium parts and execution are what lead to the great sound and the premium pricing.  "Blown away" is a matter of personal perception.