Build a dedicated Audio PC

Anything to do with computer audio, hardware, software etc.
jkeny
Posts: 2387
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 9:37 pm

Re: Build a dedicated Audio PC

Post by jkeny »

nige2000 wrote: i got my renesas usb3 pcie card yesterday not your high end audio prices but its well enough made
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/170759643814?ssP ... 1439.l2649

i have everything in usb3 ports now and achieved another improvement with that
so thats the dac,WTG and usb3 music storage in renesas usb3 ports
Excellent, Nige - you're forging the way ahead! How did you know that this card uses Renesas chips before you bought it or did you just take pot luck?
im also playing around with a homemade usb a to b cable for the dac made out of heavy copper. when i was scavenging for parts i was horrified at the thickness and the quality of these cables, so i thought i could do no worse.

first thing i noticed about my cable was extra bass which initially i wasn't sure whether i liked that or not, guess i wasn't used to so much bass, but not so noticeable, there seemed to be more music or what i believe to be less loss (just hearing aspects of the music i havent heard before or made more clear)
well the jurys still out on the cable but its definitely got aspects i like, id like to try make one in silver.

nige
Yea USB cables make a difference. Leave out the 5V VBUS wire & try to make the cable as short as possible.
www.Ciunas.biz
For Digital Audio playback that delivers WHERE the performers are on stage but more importantly WHY they are there.
nige2000
Posts: 4253
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:47 am
Location: meath

Re: Build a dedicated Audio PC

Post by nige2000 »

Blue skies, I really could do with some of that and 20 degrees of heat please, I'm not greedy
the weather here last 48 hours is a little less than inspiring!!!
sd card player, modded soekris dac, class a lifepo4 amp or gb class a/b amp, diy open baffle speakers based on project audio mundorf trio 10's
nige2000
Posts: 4253
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:47 am
Location: meath

Re: Build a dedicated Audio PC

Post by nige2000 »

jkeny wrote:
nige2000 wrote: i got my renesas usb3 pcie card yesterday not your high end audio prices but its well enough made
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/170759643814?ssP ... 1439.l2649

i have everything in usb3 ports now and achieved another improvement with that
so thats the dac,WTG and usb3 music storage in renesas usb3 ports
Excellent, Nige - you're forging the way ahead! How did you know that this card uses Renesas chips before you bought it or did you just take pot luck?
im also playing around with a homemade usb a to b cable for the dac made out of heavy copper. when i was scavenging for parts i was horrified at the thickness and the quality of these cables, so i thought i could do no worse.

first thing i noticed about my cable was extra bass which initially i wasn't sure whether i liked that or not, guess i wasn't used to so much bass, but not so noticeable, there seemed to be more music or what i believe to be less loss (just hearing aspects of the music i havent heard before or made more clear)
well the jurys still out on the cable but its definitely got aspects i like, id like to try make one in silver.

nige
Yea USB cables make a difference. Leave out the 5V VBUS wire & try to make the cable as short as possible.
bit of luck on the Renesas usb chipset, only reason i went with it at the time was the built in renesas usb3 ports on my motherboard where working good and the drivers weren't giving any guff.
i didn't realise at the time they were favoured by the jplay crew!!
the pcie card was so cheap i half expected it not to work, so its nice to get a bit of luck!!!

I didn't bother with the 5v + on the usb, that would mean two more bits of soldering to do and at my soldering speed it would take me about ten minutes.

i took apart an usb a-b adapter and i wasn't impressed, and i thought it sounded better than my mediocre usb a-b cable. there's something to be gained in improving this connection
sd card player, modded soekris dac, class a lifepo4 amp or gb class a/b amp, diy open baffle speakers based on project audio mundorf trio 10's
Claus
Posts: 773
Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2010 8:48 pm

Re: Build a dedicated Audio PC

Post by Claus »

Looking at the core audio psu for my nuc. It ends up a bit expensive if caught
http://www.coreaudiotechnology.com/
nige2000
Posts: 4253
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:47 am
Location: meath

Re: Build a dedicated Audio PC

Post by nige2000 »

Claus wrote:Looking at the core audio psu for my nuc. It ends up a bit expensive if caught
http://www.coreaudiotechnology.com/
id be expecting magic at those prices, id like to hear some of these for comparison. if anyone buys anything of that webpage, ill be first in cue to hear the difference that justifies such cost
sd card player, modded soekris dac, class a lifepo4 amp or gb class a/b amp, diy open baffle speakers based on project audio mundorf trio 10's
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Ken Moreland
Posts: 814
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 7:47 pm

Re: Build a dedicated Audio PC

Post by Ken Moreland »

Very elegant build, Fran , and the little blue power switch looks familiar too.
KM
i5 QuietPC , JplayFemto , Singxer SU-6 , Holo Audio Spring DAC ,LAB12 Preamp, Roundtree Mono Amps, Rosso Fiorentino Elba 2 Speakers
.
jkeny
Posts: 2387
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 9:37 pm

Re: Build a dedicated Audio PC

Post by jkeny »

Claus,
I would suggest a different route - Paul Hynes supplies - ships from Scotland so no customs http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=107687.0
www.Ciunas.biz
For Digital Audio playback that delivers WHERE the performers are on stage but more importantly WHY they are there.
tony
Posts: 3144
Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 2:36 pm

Re: Build a dedicated Audio PC

Post by tony »

On looking at Paul Hynes siteu will the SR1-12 supply replace or work as per the linear supply? Price wise it is expensive compared to the maplin but assume it is better. My basic reading is it is not putting out enough?


What about this one from itemaudio?
[url]http://www.itemaudio.com/index.php/powe ... ?sef=hcfpm[/url

Just as one is about to make the decision more options appear out of the woodwork at the last moment to confuse the issue. I would pay a bit extra for a better supply as the testing the other night demonstrated the improvements this part makes. Wont or cant go to Teddy pardo land but if these do the job I will investigate a bit more.
Last edited by tony on Sat May 04, 2013 2:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
GroupBuySD DAC/First Watt AlephJ/NigeAmp/Audio PC's/Lampi L4.5 Dac/ Groupbuy AD1862 DHT Dac /Quad ESL63's.Tannoy Legacy Cheviots.
jkeny
Posts: 2387
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 9:37 pm

Re: Build a dedicated Audio PC

Post by jkeny »

tony wrote:On looking at Paul Hynes siteu will the SR1-12 supply replace or work as per the linear supply? Price wise it is expensive compared to the maplin but assume it is better. My basic reading is it is not putting out enough?
Tony, I don't know about your config but Pearse is using a Teddy Pardo 4A supply & this works with his Zuma, AFAIK. The one I linked Claus to is a 4A supply also & should well deal with the NUC's PS requirements but this should be looked at as I haven't studied these PSes carefully. All I know is that PH supplies have a good rep.
www.Ciunas.biz
For Digital Audio playback that delivers WHERE the performers are on stage but more importantly WHY they are there.
tony
Posts: 3144
Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 2:36 pm

Re: Build a dedicated Audio PC

Post by tony »

jkeny wrote:
tony wrote:On looking at Paul Hynes siteu will the SR1-12 supply replace or work as per the linear supply? Price wise it is expensive compared to the maplin but assume it is better. My basic reading is it is not putting out enough?
Tony, I don't know about your config but Pearse is using a Teddy Pardo 4A supply & this works with his Zuma, AFAIK. The one I linked Claus to is a 4A supply also & should well deal with the NUC's PS requirements but this should be looked at as I haven't studied these PSes carefully. All I know is that PH supplies have a good rep.
Thanks John you would be more comfortable around what is required than I would be. My build is the same as Pearse's minus SOTM sata/usb cards and sata drive. I have decided to go wtg and dac only on the zuma no hard drive.

What I find hard on this stuff is wondering if I get it will it all plug together or will I be left floundering looking for more parts to try and make it work. It is not that hard but when you dont see it in front of you fog arises
GroupBuySD DAC/First Watt AlephJ/NigeAmp/Audio PC's/Lampi L4.5 Dac/ Groupbuy AD1862 DHT Dac /Quad ESL63's.Tannoy Legacy Cheviots.
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