Audio PC

OP,

I think we need some context to be helpful. For high quality audio you need a streamer… which is technically a PC, but designed around being nothing else… a great steamer will weigh 30 lbs or more, look like an audio component and do nothing else. The one I own is unbelievable sounding…. and cost $22K. On the other end of the spectrum is a very good sounding streamer like the BlueSound… for around what you would pay for a PC.

Unless you are an audio engineer I am not sure you are goinging to,be building a PC that sounds “good”. I have used many variants of PCs, laptops, amd Macbooks. They only get you to not sounding quit as good as a Bluesound streamer.
 

But all this is dependent on your amp, preamp, speakers… etc.  so, to be helpful. We really need to know what you have, your interest, and goals. My system has two direct lines (dedicated electrical lines from the breaker box to my audio system) and special duplex receptacles. The average cost of my electrical components is $20K… you can see my system under my user ID. Is your system worth $1K, $5K, $10K…etc. What level are you aspiring to?

I'll take that as a challenge.  A lot of streamers sold in the same range as the bluesound are not much more than a Raspberry PIs with some linear power supplies and an adapter hat. like PI2AES. (which is no longer being made.)

The reason expensive ones weigh so much are the power supplies are built into the box. 

This is WAY overkill to me but the components are available and can be purchased pretty inexpensively. 

I'm going to try to build one this winter but will probably just use Chinese linear power supplies.

I currently use a the USB out of an I5 fanless PC running Windows, Foobar and Fidelizer and it sounds better than my PI streamer running an Allo digione both are using switching power supplies. 

@danager ,

I have started looking for components to build a player/streamer myself. I will be using a Intel i7-12700 CPU in a Streamcom FC10 fanless case. I have already purchased the hard-to-find ST-ZF240 passive power supply to be used within this build. Now looking for an appropriate motherboard and RAM. Eventually will look for a audiophile USB card. I have never built a PC before. So will be interested in knowing what configuration you would be using.

@milpai 

Check out JCAT, you may find few parts worth the consideration. Good luck! 

https://jcat.eu/product-category/music-server-upgrades/

I'm currently listening to Qobuz on a Raspberry Pi 4 running PiCorePlayer.  Power supply is the switching wall wart that came with the Canakit RPi 4.  Total cost less than $100.  USB connection to a Schiit Modi 3 DAC, driving a STAX earspeaker system.

It sounds very nice, with no noise that I can detect.  I haven't tried it with a linear power supply, so can't say if that would be better, but it's perfectly fine as it is.