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  3. 170661-100084

Ready For Digital Source...Computer?

I have speakers and amplification all figured out, now I need a source. No vinyl and not concerned with CD's at this point.
Only steaming online. No Roon either, been there, done that. 

Honestly, (because I need a new computer anyway) I would really like to use a computer to play Spotify (hopefully CD-quality soon), Tidal, Qobuz, etc. but most say a computer is too "Noisy" to use for this purpose. Although, I have heard there are ways around this.

Rather than having to purchase a dedicated music server, does anyone know how to set up a computer as a high-quality music server? I can't really seem to find anything online.

Thanks






high-amp

Showing 4 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
7,832 posts
 

@high-amp 

 

You can see two of my systems if you click on my ID. If your budget I'd ~$5K then I recommend a Aurender N100 streamer and a Schiit Yggdrasil DAC. I use a Aurender W20SE streamer and Audio Research CD9se DAC. On my headphone system I use an Aurender N100 streamer and a Ayre QB-9 2020 DAC.

ghdprentice
7,832 posts
 

Yes, that's another good reason to buy a server. I was an IT executive... so I was good fiddling around with computers... or if I had a real technical issue, I would call one of my tech guys to fix it. It is pretty easy to set everything up, then find out a switch somewhere wasn't thrown and you were limiting you output resolution. 

ghdprentice
7,832 posts
 

Aurender for high quality streamers. They have them at all price points. The Auralic Aries G2 gets good reviews, I owned one, Aurender sound better to me. 

ghdprentice
7,832 posts
 

I have streamed from MacBooks, iPads, phones, and PCs as well as a number of dedicated streamers. If you need this as an intermediary step to get to a good streamer (while you save up)... than it makes sense. But if you want high quality sound, a PC or Mac is not the place to get it.

 

You need a streamer built from the ground as one. Most of use with great systems will invest as much in the streamer as in the DAC and preamp. If you are working towards a great system I would recommend starting this way. Even if you have to go budget, Bluesound seems to be popular on that end of the spectrum.

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