Ready For Digital Source...Computer?


I have speakers and amplification all figured out, now I need a source. No vinyl and not concerned with CD's at this point.
Only steaming online. No Roon either, been there, done that. 

Honestly, (because I need a new computer anyway) I would really like to use a computer to play Spotify (hopefully CD-quality soon), Tidal, Qobuz, etc. but most say a computer is too "Noisy" to use for this purpose. Although, I have heard there are ways around this.

Rather than having to purchase a dedicated music server, does anyone know how to set up a computer as a high-quality music server? I can't really seem to find anything online.

Thanks






high-amp

@high-amp What is an electrically noisy computer doing that is bad? It is sending that noise into the DAC. Now what if you block that noise from getting into the DAC. Some magic shield. I use the following:

Amazon.com: Ubiquiti Networks Networks UniFi Switch 8-Port 150 Watts, White : Electronics (you can get this from Ubiquiti for $199)

Sonore - opticalRendu (I have 2 of these for 2 DACs)

Fibre Optical cable cannot carry the noise

 

BTW - my noisy computer is wired by Ethernet and hidden in the closet of a bedroom, no where near my office or living room systems.

 

 

Thanks for all these guys! A lot to digest. Have to start dinner and spend a little time with the wife. I'll Definitely get back to you guys tomorrow on some of the stuff. 

Thanks for all this guys! Great info & a lot to digest. Have to start dinner and spend a little time with the wife. I'll Definitely get back onboard tomorrow. 

I send a digital stream over wi-fi to a DAC. The quality of the DAC is what counts.
 
Some streams are directly off the Web, so their encoding can make a difference. Other streams are .flac or other files on the PC hard drive, sent out by wi-fi; Minimserver software does that.

The wi-fi receiving box, a Denon HEOS Link, has a digital signal path spec'ed at 2-channel Linear PCM:2-channel, 32 kHz – 192 kHz, 16/20/24 bit. That's good enough for my ears. Its optical output goes into the DAC. (The Denon has a DAC inside it, feeding line output, but my separate DAC sounds a little better.)

One can purpose-build a ’puter for audio, Yes. Follow the previous suggestions and dive into the project. It’s not that more complex than one can spend setting up their audio system, but care in selections is still the Prime Directive.

’Gaming’ MBs’ tend towards ’better audio’, for the audible ’ques’ one needs to not be vanquished from behind; dig deep enough, and you’ll find specs on the audio portions of the various boards.

A nimble CPU can be had with shopping skill....pcpartpicker dot com is a daily source for price points...AMD fan, myself...

Go for fast RAM...not necessarily the largest, but as quick as can be afforded.

Make you C: drive solid state; 500G is nice and affordable now.

A 1T hard drive ought to hold ’enough’, but 2T drives are dropping in prices of late. There is the siren call of large SS drives, and their pricing is beginning to drop as well....

One can opt for a ’high-end’ sound card, but there’s not many about. One can opt for a ’pro’ card, but one will definitely pay for the privilege... May be better off with an ’outboard’ DAC of your taste.

Cases are....mostly ghastly, lights, bells ’n whistles... Better off spending for water-cooling the CPU and upping the clock time....I’m lucky to have an older horizontal case that has rack ears and 2 horizontal covers on the faceplate to let it ’blend into’ the scenery....ends up looking like an amp armed with 2 DVD/RW drives above and the front IC pluggery below.

mATX board, btw...runs cool, but I’m not ’clocking’, either. It’s quick enough. ;)

Good luck, J