SFAS MEDIA SERVER SYSTEM EVENTSan Francisco Audiophile Society: April 30, 2016

AGENDA

Introduction

Media server elements

Mac Mini demo

PC demo

Mac vs. PC comparison

Final thoughts

MEDIA SERVER ELEMENTS

✦ Dedicated server can provide better performance

✦ NUC, CAPS, all-in one servers

• size, fans, SSD, IO, expandability

✦ no stutters due to other tasks & memory utilization

✦ processing power dedicated to music playback & DSP (on the fly transcoding, EQ & room correction)

✦ higher cost (assuming you own an existing computer)

SERVER PLATFORM OPERATING SYSTEM STORAGE PLAYBACK SW

✦ OS choice can affect SQ

• MAC OS X

• Windoze

• Linux

✦ stability

✦ driver support - HW & DACs

✦ bit exact modes

✦ process & memory handling

✦ available playback SW options

✦ HD are cheap and available in large capacity

✦ HDs are noisy and generate vibration

✦ SSDs are expensive - esp in large capacities

✦ SSD access times are much faster than HD

✦ SSDs are not electro-mechanical - more reliable and impact resistant

✦ OS Dependencies

✦ Mobile Clients - iOS/Android

✦ Configuration options

• bit exact

• on the fly transcode

• DSD transcode

✦ Library Management - UI

✦ DSP & room correction

✦ File Type Support - FLAC, DSD, etc.

Mac Mini System Diagram: TOSLink

Mac Mini Server

2.8GHz dual-core i5 16GB 1600MHz LPDDR3

1TB PCIe SSD OS X Yosemite 10.10.5

Mojo-Audio DC Triple-Filter

Mojo-Audio Joule v5.0 Power Supply Dual Output: 12V & 5V

Buffalo LinkStation Pro 1TB HD NAS DLNA/uPnP

Gb Ethernet SW

PS Audio DirectStream DAC w/Bridge2 Ethernet

Yale Final FW

+12V

HDMI

Ethernet

iPad Pro used for configuration & control

TOSLink - Lifatec cable

Mac Mini System Diagram: USB

Mac Mini Server

2.8GHz dual-core i5 16GB 1600MHz LPDDR3

1TB PCIe SSD OS X Yosemite 10.10.5

Mojo-Audio DC Triple-Filter

Mojo-Audio Joule v5.0 Power Supply Dual Output: 12V & 5V

Buffalo LinkStation Pro 1TB HD NAS DLNA/uPnP

Gb Ethernet SW

PS Audio DirectStream DAC w/Bridge2 Ethernet

Yale Final FW

+12V

HDMI

Ethernet

iPad Pro used for configuration & control

USB - WyWires Platinum 0.5m

Mac Mini System Diagram: S/PDIF

Mac Mini Server

2.8GHz dual-core i5 16GB 1600MHz LPDDR3

1TB PCIe SSD OS X Yosemite 10.10.5

Mojo-Audio DC Triple-Filter

Mojo-Audio Joule v5.0 Power Supply

Dual Output: 12V & 5V

Buffalo LinkStation Pro 1TB HD NAS DLNA/uPnP

Gb Ethernet SW

CI Audio Transient MKIIUSB Converter

PS Audio DirectStream DAC w/Bridge2 Ethernet

Yale Final FW

+12V

+5V

HDMI

Ethernet

75Ω S/PDIF - High Fidelity Cable

iPad Pro used for configuration & control

USB - WyWires Platinum 0.5m

Mac Mini System Diagram: Ethernet

Mac Mini Server

2.8GHz dual-core i5 16GB 1600MHz LPDDR3

1TB PCIe SSD OS X Yosemite 10.10.5

Mojo-Audio DC Triple-Filter

Mojo-Audio Joule v5.0 Power Supply

Dual Output: 12V & 5V

Buffalo LinkStation Pro 1TB HD NAS DLNA/uPnP

Gb Ethernet SW

PS Audio DirectStream DAC w/Bridge2 Ethernet

Yale Final FW

+12V

HDMI

Ethernet

iPad Pro used for configuration & control

Ethernet

PC System Diagram: CI Audio S/PDIF

Windows PC Server 3.4GHz Intel Core i7-2600

16GB RAM 85GB SSD + HDs Windows 10 Pro

Lynx E22 Sound Card

Mojo-Audio Joule v5.0 Power Supply Dual Output: 12V & 5V

Buffalo LinkStation Pro 1TB HD NAS DLNA/uPnP

Gb Ethernet SW

CI Audio Transient MKIIUSB Converter

+5V

HDMI

Ethernet

iPad Pro used for configuration & control

USB

PS Audio DirectStream DAC w/Bridge2 Ethernet

Yale Final FW

75Ω S/PDIF - High Fidelity Cable

PC System Diagram: AES

Windows PC Server 3.4GHz Intel Core i7-2600

16GB RAM 85GB SSD + HDs Windows 10 Pro

Lynx E22 Sound Card

Buffalo LinkStation Pro 1TB HD NAS DLNA/uPnP

Gb Ethernet SW

HDMI

Ethernet

iPad Pro used for configuration & control

PS Audio DirectStream DAC w/Bridge2 Ethernet

Yale Final FW

75Ω XLR - High Fidelity Cable

PC System Diagram: AMR DAC

Windows PC Server 3.4GHz Intel Core i7-2600

16GB RAM 85GB SSD + HDs Windows 10 Pro

Lynx E22 Sound Card

Buffalo LinkStation Pro 1TB HD NAS DLNA/uPnP

Gb Ethernet SW

AMR 777 SE DAC

HDMI

Ethernet

iPad Pro used for configuration & control

75Ω XLR - High Fidelity Cable

SERVER SW IO DAC

1 Mini Amarra TOSLink DirectStream

2 Mini Amarra USB DirectStream

3 Mini Amarra CI Audio S/PDIF DirectStream

4 Mini Audirvana CI Audio S/PDIF DirectStream

5 Mini Roon CI Audio S/PDIF DirectStream

6 Mini JRiver CI Audio S/PDIF DirectStream

7 Mini JRiver Ethernet DirectStream

8 Mini/NAS JRiver Ethernet DirectStream

MAC MINI SERVER SEQUENCE

SERVER SW IO DAC

1 PC JRiver CI Audio S/PDIF DirectStream

2 PC JRiver Lynx E22 S/PDIF DirectStream

3 PC JRiver Ethernet DirectStream

4 PC JRiver Lynx E22 S/PDIF AMR 777 SE

PC SERVER SEQUENCE

SONG ARTIST ALBUM FORMAT BIT RATE

1Baby Did a Bad

Bad Thing Chris Isaak Forever Blue CD RIP: AIF 44.1KHz/16bit

2 Trouble Man Marvin GayeThe Marvin Gaye

Collection DSD 1x

3 Can’t Find My Way Home Blind Faith Blind Faith PCM 192KHz/24bit

4 Ceremony Fiona Joy PS AUDIO - SONOMA MASTER SERIES - ONE PCM 176KHz/24bit

5 Fly Reed Foehl PS AUDIO - SONOMA MASTER SERIES - ONE PCM 176KHz/24bit

6Madman Across

The Water Elton John Madman Across The Water PCM 96KHz/24bit

7 Cool it Down The Velvet Underground

Loaded PCM 192KHz/24bit

8After the Rain

Has FallenSting Brand New Day CD RIP: AIF 44.1KHz/16bit

EVENT PLAYLIST