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Help on Optimizing Dedicated PC as Music Server



Just finished assembling a PC to be used as a dedicated music server with a minimalist approach. Parts include:

intel i7 4470k 3.5Ghz, MSI Z87-G45 motherboard with(build-in S/pdif output), 2 x 4GB DDR Corsair RAM, Antec Mid tower, 120GB SSD HD for OS, 3TB HD for music storage, Corsair CX500 PS.

Window 7 Pro service pack 1, 64 bit. Have not updated after fresh OS installation. Do I need to?
JRiver ver.19. Gizmo & JRiver for Android Tablet

Here are my concerns:

- should i do/or need to do a Windows update
- should I use JPlay with JRiver
- are there settings that I need to change/perform on the PC to make the most for audio
- any "tweaks" that can be done to lower noise, vibration,...etc to improve performance/SQ
- do I need a sound card

My DAC is a the vulnerable Mark Levinson 360, capable to (24/96kHz). For now I plan to connect directly to motherboard output S/pdif. Will entertain USB/S/pdif converter at a later time.

Thank you.
128x128norm
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,408 posts
 
You might want to take a look at PLEX for server and playback as well. Server and access via web browser is free. Android and Apple player apps are $5 each. Sound quality is top notch, lots of useful features and the "10 foot" user interface design is very appealing and functional. Its a media server capable of delivering hi res files and streaming, so it does video and image libraries as well as audio quite well!
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
Very cool, Norm. Sounds like a fun project. I actually spoke with the engineer at acpian as I was concerned with voltage drops if I took the PS outside of the puter and introduced an umbilical. Power supply is definitely one of the keys. I also found that keeping away from external hard drives is a big plus. Thanks,
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,432 posts
 
All things mentioned so far improve sound by reduction of
the jitter. you could get reclocker instead and forget
about special computers, playback programs, footers,
platforms etc.

[url]https://wyred4sound.com/products/digital-
converters/remedy-reclocker[/url]
tboooe's avatar
tboooe
1,009 posts
 
Interesting product Kijanki. I may have to give it try right after my USB converter. Have you used this before?
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,432 posts
 
Tboooe, No, my Benchmark DAC1 has built in reclocker (asynchronous rate converter). External reclocker, on the other hand, allows to use any DAC.

Jitter shows as noise proportional to level of the sound and undetectable without music. There is nothing else that affect DAC's sound, assuming that playback program doesn't modify original file (like upsampling).
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