Best PC to use as a Server
look at small green computer, the inexpensive i5 linked should do what you need but they also have a more powerful i7 variant in a couple of configurations. Using these for Roon core and then using the ultraRendu, Metrum's Ambre, or something similar as the endpoint should be a very satisfying sonic solution. https://www.smallgreencomputer.com/products/sonictransporter-i5?variant=20893269700 for mac type solutions, you might also look at Mojo Audio https://www.mojo-audio.com/ |
I can appreciate you wanting a Windows-based system. I use Ubuntu Linux on a $14 computer I bought at Goodwill (I use a $39 SSD in that). I have 10 Tb of external drives and use that as my 'server'. I use Raspberry Pi ($35) computers as endpoints on an SSH-network. (One has Allo-DigiOne SPDIF card, and another has Allo Boss DAC.) The music player, Audacious is small, uses between 2-4% of the RasPi processor to play music. And it handles Classical music just fine. Most folks are afraid of Linux, but for my 'bang for the buck', free open-source is the way to go. |
It sounds like you’ve mastered some inexpensive workarounds and I salute you. Unfortunately my IT skills are very limited, and I don’t understand the bulk of your post. I know what Raspberry Pi is but you lost me after that. I do have a question about Audacious, however. When you say it handles Classical Music, do you mean that it does a better job organizing Metadata than iTunes, et al? And how do you rip CDs? Regarding Linux—my understanding is that most Server/renderers, such as Bluesound, are Linux Computers. Is that correct? i |
