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Building a DIY Music Server


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12 minutes ago, seeteeyou said:

 

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/58164-building-a-diy-music-server/page/43/?tab=comments#comment-1088701

 

1.5 TB version of P4800X turned out to cost 22,988 RMB (about 3,500 bucks) on TaoBao or roughly $5,000 on Amazon

 

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=603137014053

https://www.amazon.com/SSDPED1K015TA01-P4800X-2Heigh-PCIex4-XPoint/dp/B077BMV9DD

 

Dual Xeon E5-2600 V2 (Ivy Bridge) motherboards with 24 DIMM slots are available for 500 RMB / $150 / £90 a pop

 

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=632593953534

https://unixsurplus.com/x9dri-ln4f-v1-20a-motherboard-only/

https://www.bargainhardware.co.uk/supermicro-cse-815-v2-configure-to-order

 

Those "ancient" Ivy Bridge-based Xeon processors are worth next to nothing these days

 

https://www.serversupply.com/PROCESSORS/Intel Xeon 6-Core/2.4GHz - 7.2GT QPI/INTEL/SR1AZ_198913.htm

https://www.serversupply.com/PROCESSORS/Intel Xeon 6-Core/2.4GHz - 7.2GT QPI/INTEL/CM8063501376200_198863.htm

 

Right now 64GB of DDR-3 LRDIMM costs only 480 RMB, two dozens of them would be more like 11,520 RMB / approximately $1,750 for 1.5 TB of RAM

 

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=623606011431

FqhoQDs.jpg

 

It's getting closer and closer to a dollar / GB of DDR-3 RAM now, though it's hard to tell if that were better sounding than Optane (PCIe) or otherwise

 

https://www.crucial.com/articles/about-memory/difference-between-speed-and-latency

https://pcper.com/2018/12/intels-optane-dc-persistent-memory-dimms-push-latency-closer-to-dram/

u0gpL2G.jpg

 

As usual it also depends on the software that determines the performance of RAMDISK

 

https://thessdguy.com/an-nvdimm-primer-part-2-of-2/

 

Thanks @seeteeyou, I looked into these and they are a bit power hungry when talking about a decent number of cores. Would be interesting to try nonetheless. Perhaps the benefits brought on by having separate CPUs supercedes the benefits of having a higher core count individual CPU...

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On 12/14/2020 at 9:30 AM, StreamFidelity said:

 

I also consider low latencies to be a key to increasing SQ. The setting in the ASIO USB driver depends on the sample rate. With DSD 256, 32 samples can be specified as the lowest buffer. Then it is 1.18 ms input latency and 1.50 ms output latency for USB.

 

With LatencyMon the process latency can be measured. I have measured the sensationally low value of 12.20 µs = 0.0122 ms since using the XILINX Solarflare Flareon Ultra SFN8522 PCIe card.

 

40082845xm.png

 

My tips:
- Check the process latency with every change. Disturbing drivers are displayed with LatencyMon. A driver update usually helps.
- Select and configure everything that transports data according to low latencies (CPU, USB, Ethernet, RAM, SSD, etc.)
- Disable unnecessary processes

I'm not sure if you've already covered this,but, have you had a chance to compare the Xilinx to an audiophile network card? What were the tonal differences if any? Cheers

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Just now, jean-michel6 said:

I am in bed :-) .... but my system is running because I am burning in some mundorf cabling ( by the way this is also a true sq lift ! ) .

 

If several of us are asking Kimmo , he may do it ! 

It truly is! Currently using it within my modded Buffalo, SJ DC3 DIY dual rail build, and connectivity between the DC3 and ER/Buffalo, and connecting the HDPLEX DC-ATX and motherboard "24" pin. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Excellent news Nenon. I am hoping the power supply I just received after months of waiting will be on the list of recommended power supplies!

 

I like the idea of this technology trickling down to the DIY community! It will be interesting to see how the DIY community will have a somewhat similar foundation for these builds, and how the discovery of new tweaks/adjustments will take the sound in different directions to synergize with different DACs, Speakers, cables etc.

 

A wonderful time to be a DIYer!

 

Will start saving my pennies now 🤑

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  • 2 weeks later...
4 hours ago, Nenon said:

There is of course plans to fill that space with a state of the art power supply. That's something that is still in the works and will be a part of the complete DIY recipe. It seems like there is a lot of excellent technology Taiko is willing to share with us. 

Excited to see the renderings! Already a fan of the look.

 

Regarding the recipe including an SOTA LPSU inside of the case, I did not expect you to be on board with that, given your previously mentioned preference for keeping the transformers in a separate enclosure. My guess is there will eventually be an internal "wall" option to install, for those interested in building the power supply within the chassis.

 

I will deviate from the recipe with my external PSU.So,the extra space will go unused until I budget for the SOTA internal unit. It would be nice to have one less box and shorter DC cables!

4 hours ago, dminches said:

I think having a bigger case is good.  As long as it can fit on a standard audio rack shelf I say do it.

 

Absolutely agree!

 

Exciting times ahead.

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1 hour ago, Dev said:

I am noticing that many are looking to build an Extreme as DIY with all sort of requirements - best parts, best chassis, best power supply, TAS, Taiko USB card, etc. If this is going to mimic the Taiko Extreme as close as possible, I wonder what's left of Extreme ? I am sure Taiko is not going to give away their IP but its good to understand how far apart or how close this build will be from it so that some can decide if it makes sense just to buy the Extreme instead ?

 

Some do DIY for the love of it, irrespective of the cost, some do it for the savings, while many are in both the categories. I belong to both and for me its critical to understand the price to performance ratio. If I need to spend $15k for this build, I would probably have double thoughts on spending couple of grand more and getting a commercial server instead. What do others think ?

 

@DevVery good question! A question many will find tough to answer. 

 

@NenonWhile I am aware we are in the early stages of development, I would greatly appreciate if you conducted the following comparison in the future:

 

1. External DC4 19v into HDPlex 800W ATX-DC for minor voltages + Dedicated 12V EPS rail.

2. SOTA LPSU with dedicated rails (I assume this is the direction things are headed, but you can correct me if I'm wrong here)

 

Yes, the first scenario is a compromise, but a compromise I am and many others may be willing to take if it means saving thousands and having a system within 10% of a system with dedicated rails. Some food for thought.

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12 minutes ago, ASRMichael said:

Sound great! Question from the non technical minded! 
 

How would one like myself be able to integrate this with my existing SJ LPS rails for ATX & EPS?

Good question.

 

This device should be a drop-in replacement for your HDPlex 400w/800w DC-ATX converter from the sound of it.

 

@Nenon ,Did you also power CPU EPS through your new DC-ATX converter?

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Very excited about the unregulated approach. When funds allow, I will likely end up building the unregulated supply to feed the Taiko DC-DC converter. It will be interesting to compare SQ with the PHSR7T vs the unregulated supply. The SR7T is no slouch, but, I would guess the unregulated supply would provide a "less restricted" means of keeping up with sudden power demands. Plus, we will get @Nenon's voicing if we follow the exact recipe. Very interested in how that would translate to my system...

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Very interesting @Nenon.

7 hours ago, Nenon said:

Yes, I did. My Sean Jacobs DC4 LPS had more depth and more air. The Taiko solution was faster and more transparent.

 

Was the SJ used through the Taiko DC-ATX or was it powering the CPU directly with separate 12v rail feeding the DC-ATX unit? And/or did you compare both scenarios above with the same results?

 

Up until now, it was understand by many that using a single rail "could" result in more audible noise, as more components share the same rail and could contaminate each other, hence the recent uptick in ATX LPSs with multiple dedicated and isolated rails.

 

Very excited for the SR7T / Unregulated supply testing I will conduct in the next few months. I am wondering if the results will be similar to what you've described 😎.

 

With only 10a on the 19v rail, I would be more comfortable powering the CPU directly and the other components through the 19v rail + Adapter.

 

Does the Asus C621 Sage motherboard utilize a separate 12v for the CPU?

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
1 hour ago, genvirt said:

I’ve a question regarding AC power cords that better to use with PC and external supply like SJ.

I understand a huge importance and influence of power and cabling on SQ and using in my setup a really good and not a cheap cables with all audio component, but here I’m actually not sure what cable to use - some “good” brand or DIY one?

Some suggestion what cable work better with Yours setups will help:)

Thanks!

I'm no power cable aficionado but I have tried the following cables with my PH SR7T:

 

1. Audience Forte F3

2. VH Audio Flavor 4 ( with cheap Viborg Rhodium plated/copper base AC Connectors)

3. Audio Art Power 1SE with Furutech Fi-28 Rhodium connectors.

 

I preferred the 2nd option. Option 1 was a bit laid back in comparison to the other two, Option 3 performed equally well but performed extremely well with my AMP, so I used it there until I replaced it with an NRG Custom Cables "The .1 CS".

 

These types of recommendations are very system dependent. 

 

 

 

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22 minutes ago, ASRMichael said:

I’ve tried various exotic cables!!! nothing I’ve tried so beats Furutech DPS-4.1. My whole system runs on these! 
 

£400 pm

£600 NCF connectors & SR fuse

 

£1000 total. Sold my TQ statement cable, costing far more than £1000! 
 

Like my Sablon & Ethernet cables, I won’t be upgrading any cable again. Diminishing returns! 

I will be building one of these to compare with my NRG Custom Cables "The 5". Will report back in due time!

 

The DPS-4.1 gets rave reviews across the board. Another good bulk Furutech cable is the FP-S55N. Cheaper but not necessarily a major performance compromise (From what ive read). @ASRMichael have you built anything with FP-S55N?

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22 minutes ago, Nenon said:

Just FYI - I prefer this over the Furutech nano liquid:

https://walkeraudio.com/product/quantum-silver-treatment-for-contacts/

 

In fact, I don't use the Furutech stuff anymore. 

 

Have done the Furutech FP-S55N and DPS-4.1. I prefered the DPS-4.1 but don't use it anymore. Both of these take a very long burn-in time. I have tried many other DIY cables, including the VHaudio (all flavors) and a bunch others. 

 

None of those DIY cable can compare to some of the commercial cables I am using like Sablon King/Prince, Audioquest Hurricane HC (1.5m specifically), High Fidelity Cables Professional Series (only for very low current devices), some of the higher end SR cables, etc. We do need to find a good DIY recipe for power cables. I have been looking for a while but haven't invested too much time/money/energy into that yet. 

@Nenon Thanks for sharing.

 

Of the cables you've listed, which do you prefer for DC4 use?

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

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