PCI Card with Dual XLR digital outputs for left and right stereo only

[jadis192]

This is my first step into high end servers and I am thinking of building my own server. I have no idea what I am doing but I am trying to learn. Will this work?

 

I want to get a Netgear ReadyNAS Server, add a PCI card like a Lynx AES, then run digital XLR outputs for left and right into my Esoteric D5 DAC that has dual left/right XLR inputs. Will this work? If so, how do I do it?

 

I will need to run the XLRs about 35 feet as I am placing the server in a different room. I will control it all with Squeezecenter running softsqueeze for my Esoteric DAC and running regular squeezecenter to get the music in different rooms via a duet.

 

Thank you for any replies. I am guessing here.....

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Jadis192 - I like your creative plan. The AES16 will work with the Esoteric D5. I believe this DAC requires dual wire for resolutions above 24/96. Someone please correct me if that's wrong. There are quite a few D5 users here on the site. You'll need a custom Lynx AES/EBU cable. You can get one from Redco.com.

 

Squeezecenter will work but in my opinion is one of the worst software interfaces around.

 

[jadis192]

Thank you Chris!

 

I was going to use Squeeze software b/c I like the remote.....and being able to use it in multiple rooms. Is there a better interface? I know iTunes can do it, but iTunes cannot play diff music in diff rooms simultaneously.

 

As for the cables, I am thinking I need to hook up the clock as well? Can all that be found on that site you referenced?

 

Thanks again

 

Erik

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Erik - Redco will be able to build you a AES/EBU cable with the BNC word clock cable we well.

 

Squeeze software will accomplish what you need fairly easily and pretty inexpensively. Have you considered Sonos for distribution?

 

[Suteetat]

I would definitely consider Sonos as a distribution system for multiroom. If you have iPhone, iTouch then all you need is one Sonos Bridge and as many Sonos ZP90/ZP120 as you needs for your room. Once everything is setup, you don't even need to have your computer turned on, just the NAS. I think you can use as many as 32 Sonos in a network, each playing different tracks simultaneously. I used to use Sonos before switching to computer based music server. The major weakness for Sonos is that it only supports 16/44.1kHz.

 

 

[jadis192]

I will look into the sonos stuff, but the squeeze stuff is really inexpensive and I like the remote. My main concern is I dont want to have to have a keyboard or monitor to play tunes, just want to pick up a remote and go! The Readynas servers apparently can do this!