How would you build your music PC today?

[sima66]

Thanks guys, I hope that will sound the same way it looks!

Tony, I thinks that was more a strange month than a strange day! :)
In the end I still went with brass spacers......of course! :)
Aesthetically not so sweet, but they are "handcrafted"......more like with two lefts!

[sima66]

Here is the PPA TCXO clock ready for earthquake:



And here (can hardly be seen....same place).......in case of atomic radiation:

[sima66]

Today, I had to made a bracket for Nigel's USB Card to be able to fit in my PC box:

[nige2000]

Real impressive

What's the material cost of this case build?
How many hours labour ?

Think it would be an interesting idea to put mobo and DAC in same case and all associated batteries

[sima66]

Real impressive

What's the material cost of this case build?
How many hours labour ?

Think it would be an interesting idea to put mobo and DAC in same case and all associated batteries

Cost of material was free, from scrap what I pilled for months before. Only cost are the electronic parts.

Hours?! Probably hundreds. Piece by piece, assembly-reasembly for hundred times and always with the one fear "did I forget something"! :)

I completely agree with putting DAC in the same/similar case, but with my DAC that is impossible.
Your build, with some physical separations, will be perfect for that.

The difference between my "old" PC is adding the Nigel "Regen", USB flash drive, Nigel USB Card and powering all of them with the 3.3v batteries. Also PPA clock mode.
The box is more solid build, with 3/4" bottom plate and more attention paid to the vibrations. Its fully non-magnetic (except some original Mobo parts and power switches).
And let's not forget Haswell MQn which is the only thing in this chain what I was able to A/B test and it gives a nice improvement compared to my last non-Haswell version.

Thanks to everyone for the inputs in this build, specially thanks to Nigel for all his help and his impressive Kindergarten drawings of the battery PS! :)

I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE SOUND!!! :) :)

[nige2000]

just was thinkin
thered be a small market for audio pc cases of that sort of standard and understanding of things audio
the labour end of it would likely make it prohibitive?

[rickmcinnis]

DAC in the computer box?

That one took me by surprise.

Even with battery power there is still plenty of garbage sprayed about.

Along with the fact that many people whose ears I (also) trust think long USB cables (within reason of course) can be better than short ones.

sima66, that box is extraordinary. I love tight packaging and that looks like there isn't a mm to spare.

Now that I am settled on the computer side of things I would like to move from my ungainly wooden box to something much smaller. The big box came in handy when changes were made daily. Now it is just a big ugly box.

I know my limits (all too well) and know I could never do that.

A glimpse of perfection ...

[nige2000]

DAC in the computer box?

That one took me by surprise.

Even with battery power there is still plenty of garbage sprayed about.

Along with the fact that many people whose ears I (also) trust think long USB cables (within reason of course) can be better than short ones.

skeptical about that usb cable lenght statement
but as far as two in the same case it just depends how u do it

[tony]

That looks incredible Adam. Mad but incredible!
What machinery are you using for the shapes?
Will have to go over the build again but you seem to be earthing lots of sections? Is that to the mains earth?
It is probably obvious stupid question.

What is the logic with all this is it to ensure a really good earth? It is not grounding?

[nige2000]

That looks incredible Adam. Mad but incredible!
What machinery are you using for the shapes?
Will have to go over the build again but you seem to be earthing lots of sections? Is that to the mains earth?
It is probably obvious stupid question.

What is the logic with all this is it to ensure a really good earth? It is not grounding?

emi/rfi, anti vibration and resonance control :)
oh and looks at a guess