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PC Based Music Server

post #1 of 3
2/7/12 at 8:56am
Thread Starter 

Hi guys,

 

I am about to start building a dedicated PC Music Server.....similar to the CAPS2 but using different components. However this will have low power consumption (including an offboard Linear Power Supply), be completely silent (Passive cooling on the CPU and no case fans) and have no moving parts (SSD rather than Magnetic HDD).

 

What I have decided however is that I want to go for an internal Audiophile PCI Soundcard rather than an external DAC and I am looking for advice on possibilities from anybody that has gone down this route. Essential criteria is it need to output at at least a maximum 96Khz (most I have seen go to 192kHz anyway) and will require RCA out. These are what I have come up with so far:

 

Audiotrak Prodigy Burson Edition - Appx £250.00 in the UK

 

Onkyo Wavio SE-200Ltd - Appx £200 in the UK

 

M-Audio Audiophile 192 - Not sure on Price

 

Cantatis Overture 192 - Appx £189.00 ( this is a UK designed and Manufactured Card)

 

Has anybody got any experience of these or can throw in any other options?

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post #2 of 3
2/8/12 at 11:44pm

M-Audio Audiophile 192 has balanced outputs on TRS 1/4" phone jacks. Maybe consider M-Audio Audiophile 2496 which has RCA jacks, about $100.

 

Audiotrak Prodigy Burson Edition is rather extreme, maybe consider an external DAC instead. Standard Audiotrak Prodigy HD2 is quite good with the right op-amps, about $100.

 

Many with your project in mind use the ESI Juli@, similar to M-Audio 192 but with balanced and unbalanced (RCA) outputs, about $150.

 

<edit> The Audiotrak Prodigy HD2 comes with a low-profile bracket for compact cases.


Edited by joe_cool - 2/8/12 at 11:48pm
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post #3 of 3
2/9/12 at 8:21am

Do you want both stereo and surround?

 

What are you planning on doing with this server, are you connect it to a receiver, an amp?

This will help in what people suggest.


Edited by ROBSCIX - 2/9/12 at 8:24am
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