2. pc-audio
  3. 1120582298

Building a Music server

Hi All,

I am building a music server. My first one. So I need your experienced help in correcting my obvious and not so obvious mistakes.

I see a lot of advantages for using a computer as an input device to my receiver. Suddenly we are protected from format changes, Technology expiry etc.

My Design Objectives are:
=================

Store, CD Ripped and downloaded music with minimal losses.
Expandable Disk based storage with initial space of 120GB (I have a spare IDE)

Download and store music and video. So the machine should be connected.

A clean, small preferably touch pad screen for controlling the UI. Also a wireless control for the Keyboard and mouse.

CD Qualuity, Music output to my receiver.

Play CDs and DVDs (Music and Video to be channeled to my receiver.)

Fairly fast (Not for gaming). Tuned for good sound and video.

Sleek looking, so that it can fit into my music system.

Under $500

I am planning on an used P-IV machine with 512 MB RAM. Upgrade the sound and video cards. Add an USB card if required. Run a good flavor of Linux. An LCD screen (12").
An external sound processor of the likes of,

Stereo-Link 1200
Waveterminal U24
Edirol UA-1X
M-Audio Sonica
Yamaha DP-U50 CAVIT External Audio Soundboard

These are my initial thoughts. I am waiting for your comments. So please pen your thoughts.

Thanks
Boni
bonigv
bonigv OP
19 posts
 
Hi Edesilva,

THanks for clarifying that. I have bought that cable from J&R. They had free shipping. Miser as I am !!..Well I really don't know why I did not walk up to Radioshack next street :-)

By the way, do you think, I forgetting this DAC, and connecting directly to Receiver will work for a Waveterminal ?

Thanks
Boni
bonigv OP
19 posts
 
Hi Got my Waveterminal U24. I am currently using it with my PC Laptop. I am using the nalog out to feed the spekers through HK3480. It sounds very impressive. Thanks to Desilva for suggesting U24.

I could not find a great difference for FLAC output. But Bad quality MP3s do sound very good through U24. Is it a known observation or, Did I mess up anything with my Settings ?

Also, I bought the motherboard for my server. After all I decided to build it. Its a Micro ATX Form Factor P4, 478 Pin board.

My PC Case is going to be, Aspire X-QPack

http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144160&CMP=OTC-Froogle&ATT=ASPIRE+X-QPACK-NW-AL/420+Black/Silver+Aluminum+MicroATX+Desktop+Computer+Case+420W+Power+Supply

Will Keep you Posted.
Thanks
Boni
bonigv OP
19 posts
 
This is the latest update from me. Llooks like folks here has obviously lost interest in the cheapostuff I am building. Any way,

My Final build is complete now, Sparkling. The PC is cased inside a silver and black Aspire X-QPack, With an ASUS Micro ATX Motherboard. I used a P IV 2.8E Processor, and a good quality Heat Sink from Zalman (Copper). I chose to limit to 512MB of RAM, and a cheap $50 ASUS AGP Card, with composite video out. I opened my external HDD to take out the IDE to be used in my machine. My sound Card is USB connected Waveterminal U24. I installed a 802.11g PCI card, since I do not have plans for wiring my living room now. May be in a month's time I will run an ethernet cable. I bought a 15" LCD monitor for diaplay. But currently not using that since I can get away without it by running VNC server on the box. I control the computer from my Laptop. That works perfectly.

I just finished building it, and connected up to my receiver yesterday. I am very satisfied with the initial results. I went a little over budget with the monitor purchase. With the monitor System cost is $600. Without the system came for $499.

Thank you
Boni
edesilva
768 posts
 
Congrats!

How's the background noise from your machine? I take it with the heatsink there is no fan, or am I misinterpreting? Are you getting any audible drive noise?
bonigv OP
19 posts
 
Thank you Edesilva,

Well, System is not a quietest. It makes ome noice, which gets drowned in the music :-). Not disturbing to my ears. It makes noice from two fans. The System Fan and the CPU Fan. No Heat Sink, I don't have much experience with heat sinks, do they work well ?, Zalman is a Heat Sink + Fan. It is very quiet for the, Kind of colling it does. CPU runs at close to 36C.
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