Streamed music sounds awful in my system and I don't know why ....

“Poor PC gets blamed”

@milpai 

If I recall correctly, didn’t you recently upgraded from a laptop to custom build streamer and couldn’t believe the improvements over your laptop? 

It is possible to modify pc and get pretty nice sound, with some research and a modicum of skills possible to get there. Greatest problems with Windows platforms, Windows OS and power supplies. Even the Windows optimizing OS software doesn't turn off all possible processing for lowest noise, HDPlex solutions can help on power supply, still not optimum.

On Mac platform power supply issues easier to address, OS is greatest issue with this. Newest Mac OS loaded up with many unneeded embedded apps (for a dedicated music server), these apps cannot be erased and maintain a functioning OS. Result is mac os noisy.

One could go to third party or Linux OS for both platforms, this will help. One example of pretty nice Windows computer setup would be running something like Euphony OS with HDPLex power supply. One could also have pretty nice Mac setup with Uptone power supply running Euphony.

Above setups also dependent on quality of motherboard, RAM, SSD, processor, etc. To be really top flight all needs to be optimized. So bottom line, you can get pretty nice performance out of this type of diy pc. One should always keep in mind all music servers are computers, use computer motherboards, implementation means everything. Both off the shelf and bespoke music servers are essentially custom builds, and both beat the general service computer. I agree, general service computers have no business in high end system.

@lalitk ,

That is correct. But what I am saying is that Windows PC is not necessarily a cause for bad sound. Devices need to be dedicated and optimized. Granted that general public will not be able to do that and hence should probably go with ready made servers. My server build was an ear opener for me.

@sns,

Let’s  agree to disagree on Windows PC customized for audio. I don’t necessarily believe that one has to go to Linux or other OS to get great sound. At least with my dedicated audio server, I experienced an amazing upgrade that I never thought was possible. I would think that only DAC upgrade might make a difference. But I do get the point that companies like Aurender, Lumin, etc put heroic efforts in power supply and hardware design to minimize noise.

@milpai I'd suggest doing trial with Euphony Version 4 OS for Windows platform. Run Stylus music player and compare with present setup.

Also you can add all music folders (data folders + music application folders) to your antivirus exception list if you use real-time protection.  You can still run scans manually when you're not playing music.

@sns Thank You for the suggestion. I am sure it would sound very nice. But I am happy with my current setup. I use Foobar2000 that is highly configured to stream everything (including Radio Paradise and Folk Alley) in DSD. Will keep this info in my back pocket for future.

"Excellent sounding streaming can be achieved with your PC in the right circumstances. If using USB, make sure your DAC has a good USB implementation and has Galvanic isolation. I’m streaming through Roon and Tidal/Qobuz and upsampling PCM as High as 1024X DSD with my Audio Holo May KTE DAC and HQPlayer. Even without using upsampling, it sounds excellent. You don’t necessarily need a dedicated streamer to achieve excellent streaming results! People who are telling you the PC is bad just haven't hear a well setup PC that had good results."

I can vouch for this exact setup. There is a bit of a learning curve with HQPlayer but no DAC can match the quality of upsampling/filtering, there is simply not enough headroom for the processing.

Many if not most off the shelf streamers cannot run HQPlayer dsp, not enough processing power. Probably my single greatest issue with off the shelf is this lacking. Most have chosen low power processors, their means to achieving low noise platform. With the right diy setup you can have both high speed processing and low noise. Takes more engineering prowess, but greater speed and using less of a processor's capabilities may result in superior performance.

DIY may also result in a far more adaptable streamer, I can choose between optimal usb, aes/ebu, coax, I2S, direct ethernet out with my atx board streamer. With Euphony OS can choose between various music player software, all Roon, Roon core with embedded HQPLayer, Roon with Stylus EP (Eurphony's music player), all HQPlayer, all Stylus (core and endpoint). Many other proprietary optimizations available via Euphony OS, for instance direct play from RAM.

Too much bad information.  A specialty pc can become part of a hi end playback system.  WMP has no place...try JRiver MC or even WinAmp.  

Unfortunately, no truly fine internal pc DACs exist.  The last true audiophile PCI sound card was the M-Audio 2496. The downside was that no drivers were ever provided past W7.  I guess that hasn't stopped some of us from enjoying these amazing machines.

Despite some short comings, simple desktops or even NUC's can provide a foundation for streaming & NAS solutions of hi caliber and immense satisfaction.

Get rid of the PC. Decouple the Eth net from the system.

Small Green Computer

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