Audiophile PC vs Streamer

[Tom288]

Hi, I am wondering if having a streamer in addition to my current streamer/server PC would result in improved SQ. My current front end:
PC with Teradak ATX LPS, running Roon
512GB/8TB HDD
ethernet card fed with 5v battery
JCAT USB XE with 5v LPS; USB out
to Ferrum Wandla/Hypsos

Will there be improvements if I move the PC out of the room and use a streamer (wifi or RJ45?) feeding I2S to the Wandla?

Early on I researched this to no end until I realized I was just overcomplicating things and looking for solutions to problems that didn't exist. You'll be fine with your PC

 

[theveterans]

Early on I researched this to no end until I realized I was just overcomplicating things and looking for solutions to problems that didn't exist. You'll be fine with your PC

The problems you’re looking for has nothing to do with what the OP was wondering. You buy those Jcat stuff in order to improve the sound, not to fix something like GPU noise (since most DACs today have galvanic isolation so this isn’t an issue these days) or humming

 

[MisterDoItNice]

I use my PC as well as a WiiM Ultra as a streamer. I don’t notice much of a difference in sound quality between the two.

 

[Whazzzup]

Dedicated music server hands down better, but a lot of cash to find out. So there’s a raspberry pi market, iPhone, to dedicated server markets, for every pp.

 

[Middle Earth]

Is there another thread dedicated to PC use in streaming/playback ?
I have a streamer that is fine for me but I find my PC to be the best solution overall
I like Blu-Ray audio format if available and the added AV ability is nice if I feel like it
I also, like many, have thousands of physical/digital albums and like to stream as well and I like using a PC
So I am not so much interested in a thread that is congested/bottlenecked on the issue of to PC or not to PC or to Mac or not to Mac
There is good information in this thread so thank you all for that

 

[theveterans]

Is there another thread dedicated to PC use in streaming/playback ?
I have a streamer that is fine for me but I find my PC to be the best solution overall
I like Blu-Ray audio format if available and the added AV ability is nice if I feel like it
I also, like many, have thousands of physical/digital albums and like to stream as well and I like using a PC
So I am not so much interested in a thread that is congested/bottlenecked on the issue of to PC or not to PC or to Mac or not to Mac
There is good information in this thread so thank you all for that

Why not stream it your Blu-Ray audio to a streamer through Diretta?

That’s how I stream Netflix without directly having the PC into the path of a DAC and still get all the benefits of a dedicated streamer

 

[Middle Earth]

Why not stream it your Blu-Ray audio to a streamer through Diretta?

That’s how I stream Netflix without directly having the PC into the path of a DAC and still get all the benefits of a dedicated streamer

I appreciate your thoughtful comments in this thread and in other threads
I don’t watch TV except with the Ol’Lady at night with a sound-bar as she likes it
I enjoy that time but she likes that way of watching and I enjoy it but not my deal
I have zero interest in getting the PC out of the chain
Diretta is not for me but I am glad it exists and people like it
I have a streamer that I like but I have a large collection of music that I like that is run through the PC
I suppose I could start a thread but I was hoping there is a dedicated PC audio thread was already going
Again, the issue is not whether to use a PC or a Mac but actually using and embracing the PC or Mac in the audio chain as this thread has comments like just get a streamer and I have a streamer
I use a PC and will continue to do so

 

[Jake2]

I suppose I could start a thread but I was hoping there is a dedicated PC audio thread was already going

Not sure there’s an active thread on PC as Server / Optimisation on Headfi at present, or in recent times but I’d suggest a title keyword search to be sure.

Many such threads on Audiophilestyle (formerly Computer Audiophile) I’m sure, some super niche, a lot of knowledge from experienced users there. The opposite challenge there is you’d be spoilt for choice, and some are super long, might have to wade through a few posts to find what you’re seeking.

 

[theveterans]

I appreciate your thoughtful comments in this thread and in other threads
I don’t watch TV except with the Ol’Lady at night with a sound-bar as she likes it
I enjoy that time but she likes that way of watching and I enjoy it but not my deal
I have zero interest in getting the PC out of the chain
Diretta is not for me but I am glad it exists and people like it
I have a streamer that I like but I have a large collection of music that I like that is run through the PC
I suppose I could start a thread but I was hoping there is a dedicated PC audio thread was already going
Again, the issue is not whether to use a PC or a Mac but actually using and embracing the PC or Mac in the audio chain as this thread has comments like just get a streamer and I have a streamer
I use a PC and will continue to do so

In that case an iFi Omni USB would be your ticket. Has all the isolation benefits + reclocks USB for better sound. Your DAC won’t see the PC noise whatsoever at all due to optical isolation

 

[Diet Kokaine]

Hi, I am wondering if having a streamer in addition to my current streamer/server PC would result in improved SQ. My current front end:
PC with Teradak ATX LPS, running Roon
512GB/8TB HDD
ethernet card fed with 5v battery
JCAT USB XE with 5v LPS; USB out
to Ferrum Wandla/Hypsos

Will there be improvements if I move the PC out of the room and use a streamer (wifi or RJ45?) feeding I2S to the Wandla?

You have a pretty dialed in system, a streamer is probably going to be a downgrade. Instead of spending money on additional components, make the ones you have better.
**Bypass all your electrolytic capacitors** with film and foil (Good quality ones).
That's going to a be better sounding system than anything that you can buy on the market.
"Every" electrolytic capacitor in your audio chain . Even on the PC motherboard and teradak power supply.

Add: wire all cooling fans on a separate 12V power supply.

Here is my JCAT USB card modified and triple bypassed with Duelund Tinned coppers .1uf, Kemet Polymer tantalums and AudioNote Kaisei caps. .

 

[frizzup]

Is there another thread dedicated to PC use in streaming/playback ?
I have a streamer that is fine for me but I find my PC to be the best solution overall
I like Blu-Ray audio format if available and the added AV ability is nice if I feel like it
I also, like many, have thousands of physical/digital albums and like to stream as well and I like using a PC
So I am not so much interested in a thread that is congested/bottlenecked on the issue of to PC or not to PC or to Mac or not to Mac
There is good information in this thread so thank you all for that

Hi Middle Earth,

Highly recommend this forum.....
http://jplay.eu/forum/index.php?/forum/6-computer-audio/

and you may also want to try the JPLAY software on your PC setup....they do have a trial available. Been an avid JPLAY user since 2011:

http://jplay.eu/ml_post_slider/getting-started-with-jplay-femto/

this is my PC setup for Local and Streamed music:

INTEL Control PC & Audio PC in 2 x Streacom cases with external HDPLEX LPS's / Windows Server 2019 Core / Audiophile Optimizer 3.00 / JPLAY IOS (IPAD 12) and BubbleUPNP (Android) to JPlay Femto, JPLAY Femto Streamer / JPLAY USB Card to Audio-GD DI20 I2S Converter / I2S HDMI into Audio-GD Master 7 DAC,/ Balanced ACSS to Audio-GD Master 9 Preamplier & Headphone Amplifier / Balanced ACSS to Audio-GD Master 10 Amplifier / Magnepan 3.7R Speakers / Sennhieser 800S Headphones / Jplay user since 2011.

Regard
Frizzup

 

[fliz]

Dedicated music server hands down better, but a lot of cash to find out. So there’s a raspberry pi market, iPhone, to dedicated server markets, for every pp.

This is abjectly false.

I've done a head to head and my lowly RPi5 mopped the floor w/ audiophile music servers in the 5 figure price category.

The secret sauce is simple: the PSU I'm using for the RPi5 is better than whats in even the highest end music servers, and the DAC I'm using is blind to any potential noise on the 5v line of the RPi5's usb jack because it's not connected.

USB (for audio) is 4 wires

Data +/-, Gnd, and 5v

My USB cable connecting to the DAC is only 3 wires, Data +/-, and Gnd. The DAC's USB to I2S board (an amanero) is internally powered by its own regulated 5v (linear) supply.

 

[Diet Kokaine]

This is abjectly false.

I've done a head to head and my lowly RPi5 mopped the floor w/ a audiophile music servers in the 5 figure price category.

The secret sauce is simple: the PSU I'm using for the RPi5 is better than whats in even the highest end music servers, and the DAC I'm using is blind to any potential noise on the 5v line of the RPi5's usb jack because it's not connected.

USB (for audio) is 4 wires

Data +/-, Gnd, and 5v

My USB cable connecting to the DAC is only 3 wires, Data +/-, and Gnd. The DAC's USB to I2S board (an amanero) is internally powered by its own regulated 5v (linear) supply.

Even if you're not using the 5V line to power your DAC, the distortion of a noisy PC environment still makes it's way to the DAC. This is going to be hard for many people to believe, but bypassing Electrolytics in a power supply, say with a Duelund tinned copper, changes the timbre of music.
The tonality changes very audibly.
This change is as pronounced as you would hear in a speaker crossover, but more coherent.
High end Audio is weird.

Most dedicated music servers can't compete with a dialed in Audiophile PC.

 

[theveterans]

Perfectly fine with my lowly SOtM RPi streamer too with Ultracaps LPS-1. Beats the pants off any non-modified audiophile PC

Even if you're not using the 5V line to power your DAC, the distortion of a noisy PC environment still makes it's way to the DAC. This is going to be hard for many people to believe, but bypassing Electrolytics in a power supply, say with a Duelund tinned copper, changes the timbre of music.
The tonality changes very audibly.
This change is as pronounced as you would hear in a speaker crossover, but more coherent.
High end Audio is weird.

Most dedicated music servers can't compete with a dialed in Audiophile PC.

While hardware can definitely improve it, careful attention to software is also needed. Standard Windows OS sucks for audio. You need to have the Windows Server version or the IoT enterprise LTSC edition to truly unlock the potential of the hardware mods you have

 

[fliz]

Even if you're not using the 5V line to power your DAC, the distortion of a noisy PC environment still makes it's way to the DAC. This is going to be hard for many people to believe, but bypassing Electrolytics in a power supply, say with a Duelund tinned copper, changes the timbre of music.
The tonality changes very audibly.
This change is as pronounced as you would hear in a speaker crossover, but more coherent.
High end Audio is weird.

Most dedicated music servers can't compete with a dialed in Audiophile PC.

The only caveat I'll add is that a dialed in ATX/ITX is a LOT trickier and costlier to implement because of the PSU requirements. The RPi5 just needs a single 5v line that's capable of 5 amps. 2 "pins" (5v and Gnd"). The End.

ATX is like 20 to 24 pins.

If each DC pin is it's own supply, that's 12 different power supplies instead of 1

If they're not, then (best case scenario) there are still 4 different supplies

My PSU is $500. If every DC pin is it's own supply, you're looking at $6k

The other extreme end is $2k. The actual answer is likely somewhere in the middle because you usually want separate supplies for separate things, but not always (I don't know the details of ATX motherboard design)