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

I generally agree about dumping the PC, but you could try to add a program such as Audirvana that maximizes a computer to be a server by turning off non audio parts of the computer 

@dr-john Give ROON a try and put the ROON Core computer in another room. I have my ROON Core server (a $500 PC) behind my office door next to the router. I have set up the computer to automatically boot up at 8AM and shut down at 2:30AM each day. I can stream only during those hours (need some sleep too).

If you do not have Ethernet near your stereo, then you can use a $75-$150 PowerLine adapter to stream the music bits on the copper electrical wiring of your home. This will get your music to your SimAudio Mind2 DAC on a wired connection. Which I prefer over WiFi.

I use the PowerLine method to connect my Livingroom and bedroom gear (ROON READY Endpoints) to my ROON Core. The office system is a direct Ethernet connection. Both methods of connection, PowerLine and direct, sound great.

The only caveat being that the ROON Core should be on the non-PowerLine side of the home network. This was an issue for me when playing hi-res streams from ROON. When I moved my $500 Core server to the faster side of the network all hi-res content was streamed perfectly to the ROON endpoints.

If you do decide to try what I am recommending, then the very best sound for your DAC will likely be on USB. I am assuming the Mind2 streams on Ethernet. If I am correct, then I would recommend a Sonore OpticalRendu. There are a few cheap ways to convert the Ethernet to Fibre Optical. You then take the fibre into the OpticalRendu and from the OpticalRendu you go by USB into your DAC. The glass of the Fibre cable will kill most of the analog noise that can get into your DAC. So, who cares how internally noisy the Core server is or where it is located.

BTW - your DAC is ROON READY. the highest level of compatibility.  Mind2 via Ethernet streaming and the OpticalRendu is also ROON READY via USB streaming.

Yep.  PC is a no go. 

Think aobut roon.  I love it.  You'll need a dedicated computer for the core (use ROCK) but you can try it temp installed on any computer.   Then use your phone to control.

If you go roon you can use a simple streamer such as IFI zen or Allo USBridge signature.

Jerry

thanks, all.   MIND2 is built in to the Moon 780 DAC.

For the moment, basically everyone agrees...that never happens around here. 

Yes, get a good streamer...stream Qobuz or both Qobuz & Tidal. Don't bother with Spotify, Apple. If user experience is important to you seriously consider Roon before choosing a streamer. Watch this for a good explanation. 

Hans Beekhuyzen Roon Review

Cheers,

Spencer

Go buy a Simaudio Mind2 and be done.

You need a real high end streamer. Your other equipment is excellent. I used to run a Moon 650 DAC / CD player. I streamed from PCs and MACs for years to get nowhere near CD quality until I bought a high quality streamer.

My first was a Auralic Aries G2. But I recommend an Aurender. I would recommend an Aurender streamer of comparable or greater value to your DAC. So my first choice would be a Aurender W20SE or if you want to conserve money an N20 (a compromise). But the Moon 780 is very revealing… which is why your streaming does not sound great. You have a $500 player attached to a $17K DAC. Your DAC deserves a W20SE.

Great system but it appears the weakest link is Windows Media Player. Have you tried a dedicated streamer designed and optimized for digital streaming? Couple of questions,

Are you a Roon subscriber and what streaming service you’re using? 

Get the PC out of the playback chain.