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What makes One Music Server Sound Better than Another?

So this week my Mojo Audio DejaVu music server that I have used for the past 2-3 years crapped out. Benjamin at Mojo was more than helpful and the DejaVu is on its way to Mojo Audio where it will make a full recovery.

Thankfully, I still have my Antipodes DX2 Gen 3 (their former flagship) music server so I hooked it up. After wrestling with Roon protocols, transfers, and set-up menus, I was able to get it going so I have music. The DX and my Sonore Sig Rendu SE opt. are both connected to my network so the DX (like the DejaVu), is only being used as a Roon core and the Sig Rendu SE serves as the Roon endpoint for streaming Tidal and Qobuz, with a direct USB connection to my DAC.

The point of this thread is to ask, how come I perceive the the DejaVu server as sounding better than the Antipdes DX? In fairness, the differences I perceive are not great but it seems the DejaVu is fuller sounding, more tonally rich, and bolder. Is this why some here spend $10K+ on a Grimm, Taiko or something else?

If a server is basically a computer, sending digital information to a streamer/endpoint and, assuming that digital information is transmitted asynchronously and reclocked by the DAC’s master clock, and assuming noise is not the issue (i.e., both units are quiet and there is an optical break between the network and both the server and endpoint) then what are the technical reasons one should sound better than the other? It is not that I want to spend $10K+ on a music server with a lifespan of maybe 5 years before becoming obsolete, but I would like to understand what more you are getting for your money. So far, the best I can come up with is lower internal noise as the major factor.

As a side note to the above, when I thought things looked hopeless for getting set up, I scheduled a support session with Antipodes and, although I lucked into the solution before the meeting time, Mark Cole responded ready to help. Setting up the session was super easy and reminded me of the superior level of support I had come to enjoy from Antipodes during the time that the DX was my primary server, including multiple updates and 2 or 3 hardware upgrades, which prolonged the service life of the DX. Good products and good company.

 

mitch2
tonywinga's avatar
tonywinga
844 posts
 

The answer is that of course it can, but the DAC is also a significant part of that result.  Bad DAC= bad sound.  Average DAC + Avg server= avg sound.  Good DAC + avg server= good sound.  Good DAC+Good Server= great sound.

tonywinga's avatar
tonywinga
844 posts
 

Dear mdalton, I looked at your big rig.  Very nice indeed.  Let me ask you- which do you prefer most when listening, your vinyl source or your digital source?  

I going to guess your vinyl source.  I bet you hear a difference in not just the sound but in the rhythm and pace of the music.  That's where that Garrard TT excels.  You might stream or play digital in the background but I bet when you sit down to listen you favor records.  No?

mdalton's avatar
mdalton
502 posts
 

@tonywinga 

Thx, I totally get your point.  Here’s mine:

Avg DAC + Avg. Server = Average Sound

Good DAC + Avg. Server = Good Sound 

Great DAC + Avg. Server = Great Sound.

The main difference is I can explain why, and I saved alot of $ on a server.  Having said that, I still love your system - if I had to do solid state, I’d be tempted by Pass Labs - and I’m quite sure your system sounds great.

tonywinga's avatar
tonywinga
844 posts
 

I had the good server and got a great DAC.  Tried the great server with the 30 day trial safety net.  Great server is not going back.  

Previous server was a NUC based RS9 (an improved version of the Nucleus+) with a Keces P8 LPS.  I thought it sounded great.  Refer to the first rule of audio.

As with any expensive purchase I had to make the decision what am I willing to give up?  Audio came first but I had to agree to new floors for my wife.  So even more so what am I willing to give up...

tonywinga's avatar
tonywinga
844 posts
 

I plan to write a review of my new music server after I've had it a month or so.  But I will list a few things that persuaded me to keep it.

1)  The music sounds better.  All digital grain, glare- that cringing that happens with peaks in the music is gone.  The thing that I have noticed is that with my new DAC, I could play the music louder.  Now with this new music server I can play the music even more louder.  I'm not talking about run everyone out of the room loud.  I mean just good levels for jamming to the music without cringing now and then.

2)  Rhythm and Pace are excellent now and as good as my vinyl.  If I played records for a while and then switched to digital, that's when I could really tell the difference.  The new DAC was a great improvement when playing CDs with my transport but not so with my old server.  That's one of the things that prompted me to try a better music server.  The new server delivers on rhythm and Pace.

3)  Noise.  No noise.  The background is black like I have not experienced before.  When I hit play the music explodes out of nothing.  I jumped every time I hit play for the first few days.  With my old server I could hear the noise floor raise up when I hit play.  Not a lot but audible like a prelude to the music.

4)  More detail and resolution.  This is not necessarily always a good thing but it is addictive to the point that I find it hard to give up once I have it.  The added detail can be distracting and take away from the music at first.  It takes some getting used to.  While it brings out more of the "being there" it also reveals flaws and errors in recordings.  

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