Redwoodgarden, sounds like you are going in the right direction. The new Bryston DAC is supposed to be quite good as well. I think you have all the pieces. One thing you may want to add is a netbook PC, link it to your server via wifi, and now you'll have a very cool remote control for your server for a little over 220 bucks.
PC, Lynx AES16 card, Berkeley DAC... What else?
All of my music files are stored in my computer as wav. files so Qsonix, Sooloos, and other comercial music servers are out of the question. I have decided on a computer based music server for this reason. The computer will be in another room outside the listening area, so the Goodwin computer-based silent music server is not needed. As of now, I plan on using the Lynx AES16 sound card because I've heard that it's the best sound card on the market. In a review, Robert Harley said that the Berkeley Alpha DAC is not only the best DAC that he's heard, but it only cost $5,000 which is cheap relatively speaking. This DAC will be part of my system as well.
The question now is what other items should be added to my computer-based music server that will give it the best possible sound?
The question now is what other items should be added to my computer-based music server that will give it the best possible sound?
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I have a Zalman silent music server running Windows 7 Pro 64 bit with the Lynx AES16 PCI card feeding a Berkeley Alpha DAC. This set-up significantly bested by previous CD/Pre reference player. I can assure you that the buzz about the Berkeley is not just over how it handles hi-rez files, but also how it renders regular CDRB 16/44.1 material. If you do want to play hi-rez files then you do need a sound card that can do 24/192 which the AES16 supports. Installing and configuring the AES16 is very simple, as is most sound cards these days. In terms of a software player if you're after the best possible sound quality I would highly recommend XXHighEnd. I did not audition the Weiss DAC and I'm sure it is very good as well. I think the fact that both Robert Harley and Chris Connaker (host of the Computer Audiophile website) have heard a wide range of DAC's and prefer the Berkeley is significant. Good luck with your project. |
Go http://www.computeraudiophile.com/here for the info you seek. If I understand he buzz about the Berkeley it's about how it handles high resolution digital files, not standard Redbook streams. The Lynx card works as advertised but it is somewhat complicated for what most audiophiles need. You might want to consider one of the Weiss firewire DACs as an alternative. |