I compared a number of variables between two music server configurations:
- started with a good aluminium casing with mini ITX motherboard - with external Farad3 PSU and standard power connector
- delta 1: Added Audioquest Hurricane power cable
- delta 2: Replaced the cheapy music server with an AudioPhool music server 2.1 without JCAT XE network card
- delta 3: added the JCAT XE network card
- delta 4: placed the AudioPhool server and my SOtM switch on top of a Creaktiv rack
My conclusions based on this incremental approached:
- impact of better power cable is not crucial for the sound quality
- JCAT XE did not increase SQ much
- the Creaktiv rack seemed to make to sound a little more at ease – however difficult to know for sure
So, the casing, clocks, power supplies, casing and EMI shielding are other candidates. Based on my experience applying modifications to my previous DAC I believe the quality of the power tree is essential:
- very good copper power transformer
- dedicated power supplies
- CLC filter of very high-quality conductors and low resistance
- very good global capacitor bank with high capacitance
I also did some tests with isolation feet – did not do much.
Also, the casing (mechanical resonance control) and EMI shielding of the music server should be important – but this is a very specialized area of knowledge….
my audio stack: AudioPhool music server 2.1 >> SOtM sNH-10G switch >> Weiss 501 MKII DAC >> ASR Emitter II excl. amp. >> Harbeth 40.2