App + MPD + DAC

[Neil Scudder]

Hi,

 

I'm not sure that my efforts qualify for you folks here, but I have created a proof of concept product as part of a business plan, and I've been using it at home for months with great satisfaction.

 

The music is on a NAS (samba), and the music server is connected over gigabit Ethernet. It's a headless Ubuntu Linux server running mpd, and the Paradigm Control (my addition). Connected via TOSLINK to my RDL HR-DAC1, Cambridge Audio Azur 540R vII receiver and B&W 685 speakers.

 

Nothing fancy, but it sounds awesome. I love this DAC.

 

What is special about all this is that the Paradigm Control reaches out to my server on its own with zero configuration. The mobile app only has to reach the publicly available server to control the one behind the firewall. The music server can now be moved to any DHCP Ethernet connection and be controlled by the app with no re-configuration.

 

This is handy because it means when your phone slips between the 4g and WiFi networks, you still have control over the music. Or, when a change is made in the network, the music server continues to work without interruption.

 

The server is physically made of a VIA EPIA EX15000G motherboard, from which I have removed the CPU fan. Still runs cool. Love these motherboards - I have a pile of them.