Article: Computer Audiophile Pocket Server C.A.P.S. v4 Pipeline

[The Computer Audiophile]

View full article

[DrP]

I have some confusion about how to use this in addition to the Cortes. I built the last iteration of this Caps sever and use it currently. Am very happy with it, thank your for the work you did to come up with the specs. You state you are running Windows with Jriver on the Cortes. You are running JRiver on this Pipleline Server as well. This has me confused. Which version of these multiple Jriver controls everything?

 

I understand your arguments of the benefit of the Cortes over traditional nas.

 

What is confusing me is your discussion of having Jriver on the Cortes machine with the music along with another instance running on the Pipeline which connects to the DAC. What I don't grasp is which instance of JRiver do I use? I don't want multiple instances of playlists etc... I do not understand how to integrate all of it.

 

Hope my question makes sense.

[Account Closed]

Hi Chris, This looks great. Would this design support a local touch screen monitor (like a Dell for example) for local, at the rack, control in addition to remote control? Also, will Small Green Computers be building this new series of CAPS v4 designs? Thanks for your efforts on this project. Best, Bob

[ecwl]

This is fantastic. Thank you.

 

Just ordered the HDPlex Linear Power Supply as an upgrade to my CAPSv3 Carbon. And if and when my CAPSv3 Carbon becomes obsolete or dies, I can just upgrade to the CAPSv4 Pipeline. Thanks for all the hard work.

[firedog]

Chris-

 

This looks like a great user friendly configuration for an audio PC. I think the "headless" feature will be very convenient for a lot of us.

 

Did you try using the server with both internal and external drives for the music library? Any difference in SQ under the 2 scenarios? If you didn't try an internal drive, have you made this comparison in the past?

 

Have you compared the sound using the linear supply to the Black Lightning you used on the V3 (even switching them out on the V3)? I know you were wowed by the difference the BL made on the V3, just wonder if this linear supply yields similar results.

 

Thanks again

[firedog]

I have some confusion about how to use this in addition to the Cortes. I built the last iteration of this Caps sever and use it currently. Am very happy with it, thank your for the work you did to come up with the specs. You state you are running Windows with Jriver on the Cortes. You are running JRiver on this Pipleline Server as well. This has me confused. Which version of these multiple Jriver controls everything?

 

I understand your arguments of the benefit of the Cortes over traditional nas.

 

What is confusing me is your discussion of having Jriver on the Cortes machine with the music along with another instance running on the Pipeline which connects to the DAC. What I don't grasp is which instance of JRiver do I use? I don't want multiple instances of playlists etc... I do not understand how to integrate all of it.

 

Hope my question makes sense.

 

+1 same question

[EuroChamp]

Dear Chris,

 

congrats to this 4th iteration of a top of the line CAPS. There is really some interesting input for me. For me, the highlight is the KVM port in combination with the CAPS!

 

Could you share a photo of the open case for a look inside?

 

Bernhard

[AudioPhil]

...and there is the front-end machine, very nice and well done as well! :-) And yet another mainboard with native Windows Server 2012/R2 support, fantastic!

 

Best,

Phil

[The Computer Audiophile]

Dear Chris,

 

congrats to this 4th iteration of a top of the line CAPS. There is really some interesting input for me. For me, the highlight is the KVM port in combination with the CAPS!

 

Could you share a photo of the open case for a look inside?

 

Bernhard

Here is a (bad) shot of it right now in my test lab.

 

[EuroChamp]

Thank you, shot is perfect - all I wanted to see

 

Do you think, there is enough space inside the Streacom, for housing all the HD Plex PSU electronic?

[joelha]

Great stuff, Chris.

Can't wait to tear into the details of your article.

In the meantime, is there a preference between going USB out of a USB card or if your DAC has an XLR input or would it make more sense to output from a quality card with an XLR output straight to the DAC?

If XLR is a better option for such DAC's, which card(s) would be recommended as the best?

Thanks,

Joel

[agillis]

Hi Chris, This looks great. Would this design support a local touch screen monitor (like a Dell for example) for local, at the rack, control in addition to remote control? Also, will Small Green Computers be building this new series of CAPS v4 designs? Thanks for your efforts on this project. Best, Bob

 

 

Looks great Chris!

 

Bob, Small Green Computer will be building the C.A.P.S v4 Pipeline for anybody who want's a prebuilt unit.

 

http://shop.smallgreencomputer.com/CAPS-v4-Pipeline-CAPS4-pipeline.htm

[christopher3393]

Hi Chris, This looks great. Would this design support a local touch screen monitor (like a Dell for example) for local, at the rack, control in addition to remote control? Also, will Small Green Computers be building this new series of CAPS v4 designs? Thanks for your efforts on this project. Best, Bob

 

Looks like a yes:

Chris Connaker CAPS Computer Audiophile

 

On the ssd, I hope Small Green intends to use the Samsung 850 Pro, not the 840 Pro.

 

A very rough estimate of what it would cost me to build this myself came to @ $2,200.00, but I need to check it more closely.

 

Thanks Chris and Small Green Computer. And JRiver for sponsorship

[givita_burl]

I appreciate the focus on achieving the best audiophile result, and great sound is also my main aim, however I would like the flexibility of running video as well. For me, this doesn't require a lot of processing power but must be able to pass thru HDMI or similar. It appears the Supermicro board has only VGA output and limited options to add a video card.

Is there an alternative board that someone could suggest?

Dave

[edorts]

Chris,

 

NAS would most likely still be required...right?

[evvivasms]

Hello Chris, congratulations for the new C.A.P.S. v4 Pipeline. I have a question on the case: I already have a case streacom model FC 5 WS. Can I use this to build the server?

thanks

Roberto

[Audio_ELF]

NAS would most likely still be required...right?

Yes for the file storage; unless you add internal drives as Chris suggested.

[Audio_ELF]

congratulations for the new C.A.P.S. v4 Pipeline. I have a question on the case: I already have a case streacom model FC 5 WS. Can I use this to build the server?

thanks

You should be able to use the FC5WS case - you'd need to check the heat pipes can be adapted. One limitation is that there is only a single slot accessible in the FC5WS.

 

Others can express an opinion but I'm unsure if there would be any advantage in "upgrading" to the CAPSv4 Pipeline if you currently have a Zuma.

[tranz]

Thanks for the next surfer server.

 

A quick note for those still wanting graphics, the Matrox graphics cards have some that are often used in recording rigs as they have some low power ones.

 

Cheers

[extracampine]

I would be very keen to avoid VGA as any monitor connected will be liable to video hum. Better stick with some form of digital video output. Looks very interesting otherwise though!

[EquaRack]

Hello Chris:

 

Congrats on the new Pipeline!

 

I own a C.A.P.S. Carbon music server with optional SOtm3 USB Card and Red Wine Audio Black Lightning battery power supply, running W8.1 32-bit and JRiver-19.

 

I care ONLY about SQ playing PCM & DSD files with no up-sampling or room correction.

 

Putting all features and capabilities of the new Pipeline aside, do you know for a fact or is it your opinion that Pipeline does or should SOUND BETTER than what I currently have?

 

In addition, why did you choose to use W8.1 Pro 64-bit instead of the (claimed superior) Windows 2012 Server OS?

 

And finally, have you evaluated "Audiophile Optimizer" with Windows 2012 Server or another Windows OS?

 

 

Many Thanks In Advance!

[wappinghigh]

This is great!

[firedog]

They are using the 840 Pro, but I'm sure they would build one with the 850 if you ask

 

Looks like a yes:

Chris Connaker CAPS Computer Audiophile

 

On the ssd, I hope Small Green intends to use the Samsung 850 Pro, not the 840 Pro.

 

A very rough estimate of what it would cost me to build this myself came to @ $2,200.00, but I need to check it more closely.

 

Thanks Chris and Small Green Computer. And JRiver for sponsorship

[firedog]

Chris-

Any SQ advantage one way or the other? I'm sure there are Zuma owners who'd like to know/

[One and a half]

I found USB 3.0 ports a nuisance and pain for DACs (and some portable drives).

 

If the new CAPS owner decides to do away with the SOTM board, there's enough room in the case to add a $120 four port USB 2.0 (even with FW combo) board to maintain compatibility with a lot of DACs out there. Quite a few have connectors for a separate PSU, which you you need to anyway if you hang a few loads off the board.