Mini Review - AudioPhool Music Server 2.1

I installed my AudioPhool music server 2.1 with the JCAT XE network card option three weeks ago – powered by a Crystal Cable Ultra2 Diamond power cable, Stack Audio AUVA EQ CSA2 resonance isolation feet and connected with a SOtM dCBL-CAT7u Ethernet cable to my SOtM sNH-10G.

I copied my 650GB music files (PCM16/24 FLAC & DSD64/128 DSF) to the AudioPhool server and then configured the factory-installed MinimServer/MinimStreamer music streaming application – which is also (besides Roon) supported by AudioPhool (as MinimServer is also compatible with Arch Linux).

Prior to the AudioPhool, I used a mini-ITX motherboard-based PC in an aluminum casing with a linear power supply with also the Crystal Cable Ultra2 Diamond power cable – so I was not expecting a night-and-day difference in sound quality.

I am aware there is no scientific evidence for the burn-in effect, but after three weeks of continuous burn-in I experienced the following sound quality improvements - as compared to my previous EUR 1500 DIY music server:

• There is much more clarity and transparency – also layers of musical instruments can be distinguished better
• There is a gentler musical timing and separation between (groups) of instruments – especially within complex symphonic works and chamber music (e.g. piano trios)
• But most importantly: the sound is just more friendly, involving, and natural – wood instruments sound more like real wood and brass instruments sound more like real brass

I thought I already had done everything to make my audio system natural sounding, but obviously one needs a high-quality music server with excellent dedicated power supplies, multi-stage voltage regulation (both active and passive), low phase-noise clocking on the USB/Ethernet output, resonance control in the casing and a low latency Linux OS with a dedicate CPU core for the music streaming process.

Does this high-end music server solve all your problems with your sound quality? Of course not, but before spending a large amount on a DAC or cables, you could try out this option first.

There are other high-end music servers on the marketplace, but the low-latency Arch Linux OS, the installable JCAT Ethernet/USB cards, the MinimServer option, the solid casing with resonance control and the remarkably high quality of the power supplies against a reasonable price (± EUR 6500 before taxes), makes it an interesting value proposition in my opinion.

my audio stack: AudioPhool music server 2.1 " SOtM sNH-10G switch " Weiss 501 MKII DAC " ASR Emitter II excl. amp. " Harbeth 40.2