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Hello--I've just assembled my first music server. It's a dual PC setup and I want to begin upgrading it and need some advice about the best ways to invest. This is the current config: Asus H87 Plus MoBos in both machines Fanless aluminum low profile PC chassis for both machines Control PC: Windows 10 Pro, Intel i3 4130T 2.9 GHz, 8GB RAM Audio PC: Windows Server 2012 R2, Intel Pentium G3220 3 GHz, 8GB RAM, 3 SSDs M2 Tech HiFace USB adapter Jplay, Audiophile Optimizer, Roon Both machines use standard, mid quality PC power supplies I'm mostly a vinyl listener and have a pretty high qulaity analog rig: Jeff Rowland Coherence 2 Preamp Jeff Rowland Model 301 mono blocks Innersound Kaya electrostatic hybrid speakers Pass Labs XP25 2-chassis phono Esoteric D-03 DAC High quality XLR and speaker cables I think the best place to begin is upgraded power supplies and a new USB-DAC interface but I'd appreciate your advice. Please be as specific as possible with brands, models, etc. Thank you, Paul

Observations In his article “Computer Audiophile Turns 10 Today” Chris Connaker, the founder of Computer Audiophile, noted of Apple USB ports: "April 11, 2008 - A USB Port is Not a USB Port - So, what is the deal? Apple's design of the USB architecture in MacBook/Pro models is flawed in my opinion." We have recently witnessed the rise of an understanding of the need to clean up the signal when feeding DACs via USB from computers: this forum is filled with solutions. From my experience, using an Audioquest Jitterbug into various DACS (when fed from my MacBookPro via USB) has, on all occasions, noticeably improved the sound. Questions So I am wondering: - In relation to USB output, are some Apple machines “cleaner” than other Apple Machines? (So, for example, does a MacMini provide a cleaner USB output than a MacBook Pro?) - For machines that have more than one USB output: I know I am able to access information on the USB ports from About This Mac/ System Report. But once accessed how would I determine which port is "cleaner"? - Have any of you hardcore Mac Heads done any comparisons on the USB outputs of your Macs? Or compared Macs?

Hi all, I realize that this is not in relation to CD's or strictly audio but I think this may be the best place to find help. My husband owns 800 DVDs. For a long time he's wanted to find a way to rip them into some sort of hard drive to have easy accessibility to it from his devices. I am sure this question must have been posted previously in regards to DVDs. What I am looking for is the following: - Fastest external hardware to rip DVDs and Blu Ray. If it can handle multiple disks, even better. - Fastest way to convert these files to playback for media manager. - Recommended media manager (external hard drive + system) We currently have an iTV, would we be able to use that connected to a hard drive? Total novice and I would love to figure this out for my husband so I can give it to him as a Christmas gift. Thank you in advance.

#1 HIGH-END AUDIOPHILE MUSIC (🔉) SERVER "Concept" BUILD. I present you with three concepts for an awesome music server /player/windows core environment. *Boot drive for either windows 10 Pro 64 bit or Windows Sever. *I have this concept build in mind mostly for a RoonLabs core player and storage. Hardware - Case: Silverstone Premium Aluminum CS01 SFX Mini-ITX chassis Motherboard + CPU - Gigabyte J4105N H RAM - G. SKILL RipJaws DDR4 F4-2400C16S-8GRS 8GB low voltage Storage - Boot drive - Samsung 970 EVO Plus NVMe M.2 SSD 250GB - https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/solid-state-drives/ssd-970-evo-plus-nvme-m-2-250gb-mz-v7s250b-am/ Storage drives - Storage drives - 2x Seagate IronWolf Pro 16TB - https://www.seagate.com/gb/en/internal-hard-drives/hdd/ironwolf/ or, 2x Samsung 860 QVO SATA 2.5" SSD 4TB USB card - Sotm TX - USBexp https://www.quietpc.com/sotm-tx-usbexp PSU - SilverStoneTechnology SST-NJ450-SXL (add Pachanko ATX cables) or go DC with Nikola https://fidelizer-audio.com/nikola-linear-power-supply/, build your own or, get Paul Hynes. External CD / DVD - Asus BW-16D1X-U Pro Software - #windows10pro or #windowsserver 2016 Audiophile Optimizer - https://www.highend-audiopc.com/ Fidelizer Pro - https://fidelizer-audio.com/ Music player - #roonlabs =recommended or #audirvana + your #highresolutionaudio #dbpoweramp ripped music. (24/32 bit - 192000khz - to max - wave, aiff, alac or flac - dsf, dsd256! ) DAC streamer - RECOMMENDED (I was actually inspired to built these concepts with this DAC streamer in mind) - Auralic VEGA G2 https://us.auralic.com/products/vega-g2 Cables Digital cables - Synergistic Research USB and ethernet (or, Pachanko Studio or, Shunyata Sigma or, Audioquest etc. ) - https://www.synergisticresearch.com/cables/galileo-sx/galileo-sx-digital/Galileo-sx-usb/Power conditioner - Plixir Power Elite - https://www.plixirpower.com/products/elite-bac-3000vAcousti AcoustiFeet Soft Anti-Vibration Feet ACF3007-20B Power conditioner - Panamax M5400-PM 11-Outlet Home Theater Power Conditioner Or something pro Furman? ... #musicserver #audiophile #highend #hifi #audio #sound #pc #hardware #pcbuilds #dacstreamer #concept #auralicvegag2 #gigabyte #gskill #silverstone #samsung #audiophileoptimizer #fidelizerpro

I'm a new beginner at this, but usually a quick lerner. I'm thinking about trying to build a music server. At the moment I'm just looking for possible (high resolution compatible) hardware. If I start a build, it is important that the music server will have either 'S/PIDF coaxial out' or 'AES/EBU (AES3?) XLR out'. Is there anyone who can point me in the right direction for hardware with 'S/PDIF coaxial out' or 'AES/EBU XLR out'? Or is there a really good reason why most people build music server with USB out? If software is the problem, I think I might have that covered. I just got a friend who is a programing wizard interested in high resolution digital audio. So if there is hardware with 'digital coaxial out' or 'digital XLR out' that could be usable with some coding, that might be even better. Thanks /Filip