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music server setup questions

I am going to get a computer and rip all my CDs lossless and use the computer as the transport. I've no idea how to approach this. My dac is old - Theta ProBasic IIIA. I can get a computer with a digital output that plugs into that, or I could get a USB dac and replace my old Theta. Any thoughts on that? Also, any reason to go PC vs mac, and what software will I need/use (this computer will mainly be for music but I will also do basic web browsing and word processing, nothing fancy)? Haven't been on forums in many years. Rest of system is Simaudio P5 pre, dreadnaught II amp, snell xa90ps speakers. Thanks in advance. -Dave
dbw1
dbw1 OP
173 posts
 
Thanks for the responses so far. I actually have a logitech squeezebox I got a couple years ago with the intent to set up a system but never did. I got it because the computer with the music stored was going to be far away from the rest of the system. That is no longer the case as I can put the computer in the rack. Should I still be using an intermediary device like the squeezebox and pull the content off the network, or is it better to plug the computer right into the system?
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,888 posts
 
Connect Squeezebox to Wifi Network. Rip to computer using program of choice.. Run Logitech MEdia server on the computer and point it to your music files.

Connect SB to DAC using spdif coax or toslink. Make sure network connection is fairly strong, 80% or better if possible, to avoid delays/rebuffering.

That should be a fairly optimal setup right from the start. Sound quality should be similar to or better than with a CD transport similar digital connection to DAC.
dbw1 OP
173 posts
 
I'm sure I'm being thick here, but Mapman why have the squeezebox and the network in between the computer and the dac when I can just connect the computer directly to the dac? Is there some advantage to doing that? Thanks. -Dave
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,888 posts
 
DB,

You can do it either way and compare.

A wireless network cnnoection helps isolate music making streamer and DAC elctronically and physically from often noisy general purpose computer. Its an insurance policy against noise or other computer artifacts degrading the sound. Squeezebox is essentially a computer designed for high quality music streaming. General purpose computers often are not.

Plus I can vouch for the sound quality of the Squeezebox architecture. Cannot do the same for most commercia l computers out there or how well the USB connection to external DAC will perform case by case.
gz3827
232 posts
 
When it comes to music servers and the like there is no such thing as being "thick" ... computer audio is just another mystery of the cosmos that everyone is trying to figure out :-)
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