2. pc-audio
  3. 1137602955

What do I need to use my PC as a music server

Should I buy an external hard drive at least 300 GB. Then what, Install a program like Itunes to organize. Does Itunes also convert your CD's as well as anything you might download from the internet to the hard drive? How do I get the music from the hard drive to the Pre amp? From what Ive been reading using a sound card isn't the best way. My pre amp is not digital, it is a MCintosh C39, analog connections only. I'm starting from scratch so maybe some suggestions on what I will need. I went to comp USA for some help and they told to use creative sound blaster to go from PC to pre amp. If someone can tell me what I'll need by product name (so I know what to look for) I can see what the cost will be and if it will be worth it. I read that the sound from the hard drive to the Pre amp rivals that of a CD player in the 5K to 10K range. I know that some manufacturers are starting to make music servers, is using your PC cheaper, better or both?
bodine
ckorody
643 posts
 
There are two kinds of software used for this. All you really need to do is "Synch" your primary and your backup folder based on date. What this means is that the application will compare the directories of the two hard drives and then copy only the files added since the last update. This is much easier to set up and the software is generally less expensive
edesilva
768 posts
 
Wagzel, the xitel looks interesting as an option, although I'm leery of anything that "bundles" 30 feet of three different kinds of interconnects. Do you know if it maintains the 44.1 kHz sampling rate like the M-Audio and Waveterminal, or converts to 48 kHz like the Edirols and some others?

Back when I used a M-Audio with a long stretch between the PC and the DAC, I found substantially better sound using a long USB run (using USB repeater cables, not standard USB cables) and a short coax run instead of a short USB run and long coax run. Don't know how yours is set up, but if its the latter, you may want to experiment.
joncourage
185 posts
 
I'm pretty happy with my setup. Have looked at a ton of options and this particular arrangement meets a variety of important needs for me - scalable, flexible, uncompromised music quality, value quotient, convenience.

- CDs ripped to FLAC (and MP3 VBR ~256) using EAC/AccurateRip/MAREO. FLAC for home audio, MP3 for portable. 600 CDs now put happily out of sight in a closet as archive.

- Linksys NSLU2 network storage link for USB2 hard drives. Two 300GB hard drives connected - one for primary use and second one for nightly backup. This device is extremely handy, very inexpensive, and does the job, although I have to admit that overall quality is less than I'd like; glitchy, counter-intuitive firmware, and low-spec'd hardware, but: once setup it's stable and does what it needs to do reliably.

- SlimDevices Squeezebox3 music player. High audio quality, great design, great concept, versatile, and growable to whole-house audio.

running into:

- Audio Note DAC, then into the receiver (HT 7.1; the system also serves as the family HT)

Since setting this up I've listened to more of my music collection than I've listened to in years. Quality-wise, even with a cheap-ola receiver and speakers, hands-down beats my old mid-grade (denon/nakamichi/linn/b&o) stereo system. A pleasure to listen to and even more of a pleasure, fun actually, to use.

Have a set of Amphion speakers on the way, and eventually I'll pull the trigger on something like the Outlaw or Rotel HT separates.

I am VERY happy with this whole setup. Only drawback might be, for some, that one computer in the house needs to act as the server to which the Squeezebox connects. I don't personally find this to be a problem. This system doesn't need to be particularly robust, an older unused computer or laptop would do fine.
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