What is the best way to bypass/decrapify computer audio?

[Whazzzup]

Most music servers are streamers, and are stream capable. Eg I store my high res on a hd on my music server, that also can stream qobuz, radio etc…. I personally don’t stream that much as I prefer the sq of stored flac and dsd Files. Either way these dedicated products all be it expensive because of dedicated mother boards, power supplies, and other tech, do sound awesome and can take the need away to de crapify anything else.

 

[chesebert]

network bridge is a music server with the server portion of the function offloaded to a separate computer or NAS. So no SSD or HDD or high powered processor inside the unit.

network audio adapter is a network bridge with almost all functions offloaded to a separate PC - I think only HQplayer supports NAA at this point.

 

[Roseval]

Music server the same thing as a network streamer or?

Confusing indeed.
In my book:
Download: you download a file. You can only access it when finished.
Streaming: like downloading but this time you don't wait until completion but if there is sufficient data in the buffer, playback starts.
Basically a streamer doesn't have local storage, it pulls the data from a server hence it needs a network.
https://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/DAP.htm

Music server: dedicated PC said to be optimized for audio. Has local storage.
https://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/HD_players.html

Of course you will find all kind of variations.
Streaming from your PC to your USB dac is a common one. IMHO this is not streaming (no network) but direct playback to a external soundcard.
Music servers are networked (like any PC) so they often can act as a UPnP server as well
etc.
etc.

 

[Whazzzup]

Lots of dedicated servers have storage and the ability to stream. Just don't use a PC. unless your in a pinch.

 

[Hitokiri]

Lots of dedicated servers have storage and the ability to stream.

There are also streamers where you can add external storage like a harddrive or/and Sm memory card

 

[chesebert]

Lots of dedicated servers have storage and the ability to stream. Just don't use a PC. unless your in a pinch.

How did we miss the obvious - the best way to decrapify computers is to not use a computer.

 

[Whazzzup]

everyone just about starts with a computer, then you add a AQ jitterbug and realize ya that smoothed it out at the expense of dynamics. then starts the rabbit hole of how to de crapify this, maybe its a smps, or lps, or maybe its .........

 

[Roseval]

the best way to decrapify computers is to not use a computer.

You can't do file based digital audio without one.
Feel free to fork out $3500 for a computer like https://www.whathifi.com/news/bryston-launches-bdp-3-digital-music-player

 

[chesebert]

You can't do file based digital audio without one.
Feel free to fork out $3500 for a computer like https://www.whathifi.com/news/bryston-launches-bdp-3-digital-music-player

How is that a computer? By that logic anything with a FPGA or an ASIC is a computer.

We are obviously talking about computer audio and not anything with an ALU in there. Is your router a computer? Don’t be ridiculous.

 

[Whazzzup]

I think we meant a pc of any kind as meaning "computer"

 

[Whazzzup]

Bryson, antipodes, etc make music servers/ streamers. They do have chips/ motherboards, etc... but they are dedicated, fanless, and sonic tuned devices. You want linux based solutions and Id avoid proprietary software.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

If you really find your PC USB interface too noisy for DAC receiver to clean up, the cheapest solution is Android Phone with UAPP app connected to USB DAC.
Good list of available on the market streamers for all budget types.
https://www.themasterswitch.com/best-music-streamers
This one is in particular interesting, https://us.auralic.com/products/aries-g2-1?variant=34539988517032
No DAC, no AMP, just streaming transport for a mere $5,699, and you can add 2TB SSD for $400. Speaking of overkill.

Purpose build PC or any high end PC not used for multitasking paired with DAC featuring proper USB receiver with isolation and reclocking can be just as good as best streamers, anyone saying otherwise just didn't have good enough experience, sorry, but it's just a fallacy that USB playback cannot be just as clean as streaming solution.

 

[Roseval]

Is your router a computer?

Yes
It is a Linux box
Use it both for file sharing my audio files and as a DLNA server.

 

[chesebert]

Yes
It is a Linux box
Use it both for file sharing my audio files and as a DLNA server.

Now you are just being pedantic. By that logic any dac with a FPGA is also a computer because it performs binary arithmetic functions.

 

[chesebert]

If you really find your PC USB interface too noisy for DAC receiver to clean up, the cheapest solution is Android Phone with UAPP app connected to USB DAC.
Good list of available on the market streamers for all budget types.
https://www.themasterswitch.com/best-music-streamers
This one is in particular interesting, https://us.auralic.com/products/aries-g2-1?variant=34539988517032
No DAC, no AMP, just streaming transport for a mere $5,699, and you can add 2TB SSD for $400. Speaking of overkill.

Purpose build PC or any high end PC not used for multitasking paired with DAC featuring proper USB receiver with isolation and reclocking can be just as good as best streamers, anyone saying otherwise just didn't have good enough experience, sorry, but it's just a fallacy that USB playback cannot be just as clean as streaming solution.

If it were only that simple. No commercially available motherboard is suitable for audio application where reduced noise is of paramount importance.