Computer Music Servers Sound Different Or Not?

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Fretless
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Re: Computer Music Servers Sound Different Or Not?

Unread post by Fretless »

Using Volumio and moving from Rpi 2B to Asus Tinkerboard S to full-size desktop PC (Intel i7), I have noticed with higher-grade processors that there is an increasingly better 'grip' on the music: detail, dynamics, definition, space, noise-floor. The bigger the processor and the more headroom there is for processing audio-data, then the better the resulting sound.

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Re: Computer Music Servers Sound Different Or Not?

Unread post by montechristo358 »

player or server?
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Re: Computer Music Servers Sound Different Or Not?

Unread post by slinger »

I've just switched back, today, from using Volumio on a mini-PC to my ATB after about 9 months, and my instant reaction is, I prefer the ATB. The problem is, I can't tell you why, it just sounds "better," somehow. More, tighter, bass? Possibly. More space between the instruments? Some such arcane muso-speak bollocks probably. I'll be sticking to the ATB for the foreseeable future, anyway.
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Re: Computer Music Servers Sound Different Or Not?

Unread post by Neonknight »

slinger wrote: Fri Apr 02, 2021 5:12 pm I've just switched back, today, from using Volumio on a mini-PC to my ATB after about 9 months, and my instant reaction is, I prefer the ATB. The problem is, I can't tell you why, it just sounds "better," somehow. More, tighter, bass? Possibly. More space between the instruments? Some such arcane muso-speak bollocks probably. I'll be sticking to the ATB for the foreseeable future, anyway.
I hate to ask...but what's an ATB? I did a search of the acronym, but could not find an appropriate one...

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Re: Computer Music Servers Sound Different Or Not?

Unread post by Fretless »

Asus TinkerBoard

Upstairs:
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Re: Computer Music Servers Sound Different Or Not?

Unread post by slinger »

Sorry, my bad. I'm so used to referring to it by the TLA (Three Letter Acronym) I forget that not everybody knows what it means.
Amps - NVA P50, AP30, A40, Stanislav Palo Tube Headphone Amp BB 85
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
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Re: Computer Music Servers Sound Different Or Not?

Unread post by Fretless »

All-Terrain Bicycle?

Anti-Terrorist Bodystocking?

About Time Bloody?

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: Computer Music Servers Sound Different Or Not?

Unread post by Bencat57 »

Difficult for me to offer too much of a comparison as i started out with LMS on a Laptop with Windows and that sounded fine but I really did not want my PC running 24/7 . At that time (probably 10 years ) the Raspberry Pi was the main option and I decided that I would use one of these as an LMS Server with a USB HD attached with all my music . It worked and sounded the same and could be left doing its thing . I think this was an A+ Pi one of the first . I have then upgraded with a new faster more powerful PI (yes I know still very puny really but all that is needed) and the speed and smoothness of the interface and faster response was all I really noticed.

This changed when I got a Pi 4 4GB unit as this was just not only faster and smoother to use it also seemed to add a very generous lift in sound quality . Mentioned this on a couple of forums at the time and was sort of told rubbish there is not difference . Then I got an 8 GB unit and as both the Pi4 should be identical except for the size of RAM they should be the same in paticular as i was told using the 8 GB was overkill as running as a stand alone streamer would never need that much memory . Well it works and it sounds better to me . It also jumps up a notch when you add an LPSU to power the Pi which again I am told should not make a difference it is all in your head. Fully prepared to accept that it is in my head but then again so is my music so as the song says "If it feels good do it , do it yeah"
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antonio66 (Tue Apr 06, 2021 5:29 am)

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Re: Computer Music Servers Sound Different Or Not?

Unread post by antonio66 »

My music only (from an external HD) mini pc was certainly a step up from my Lenovo laptop, BUT, would an Aries Mini be a step up on a mini pc?

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Re: Computer Music Servers Sound Different Or Not?

Unread post by Fretless »

For those not wanting the hassle of assembling and programming a Pi-based streamer, Allo have released an all-in-one Allo Boss DAC 2 player.

Image

Rapberry Pi4, DAC board with analogue RCA output and REMOTE CONTROL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A bargain for under 200 pounds.

Allo products are designed in France and manufactured in India, SQ is sublime for such small units.
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slinger (Tue Apr 06, 2021 1:40 pm)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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