Article: CAPS Twenty | Part One

[The Computer Audiophile]

View full article

[DuckToller]

Yikes, CAPS are back again !

Thanks a lot, Chris!!

[davide256]

Thanks for posting!

[firedog]

Chris-

It's a cool idea and exteme in a good way. Don't think it is something I'd do, I'd just stay with a DAC that will accept some more standard streamers that do what I want. But it's a great idea and those gauges look great. 

I am though looking to get a new server for high level upsampling such as HQP. I've already decided on what I want, but haven't bought anything yet. So I'm very interested to see what the CAPS Twenty is - maybe I'll by one to replace my CAPS IV instead of what I have planned. 

[Howenint]

Those gauges are cool! 

 

[Neccros]

Looking for software recommendations for my own small DIY music server/player. What would you recommend since Win 10 wasnt your choice??  Trying to figure out what to run for local files. I will not be using Roon or any streaming services

[davide256]

I like using NUC endpoint solution but have been cogitating on "what comes next?"  A JCAT or like USB board improvement with fanless mini computer does seem to

be a logical next step.

[MikeJazz]

Chris, thanks to you and the supporters.

This just might get me the extra encouragement I need to jump to a new music server.

[jbparrish]

Hi Chris thank you so very much! I’ve been waiting for this with bated breath.

[Summit]

I didn’t see this coming . It look very interesting! Will read it more carefully later.  

[bobfa]

I KNEW you were up to something.  !!!  Gages, soo cool.

 

 

[Account Closed]

This thing just looks cool with the meters and all. If you own this you can be an "Audiophile with Style".

[k-man]

Why not call this Audiophile Style Server? Has a bit of a kick to it 😉

 

[barrows]

Cool Chris, I am very much looking forward to the CAPS TWENTY article, as I need a powerful main server for HQPlayer use, and I am no computer building/sourcing expert!  I am assuming you will be running an I9-9900K in the Twenty...

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

2 minutes ago, barrows said:

I am assuming you will be running an I9-9900K in the Twenty...

One should never assume. 😁

[barrows]

Just now, The Computer Audiophile said:

One should never assume. 😁

Agreed, I should have said, "guessing"!

[The Computer Audiophile]

Just now, barrows said:

Agreed, I should have said, "guessing"!

Intel sent me two options :~)

 

[20hertz]

I hope Smallgreen computer can build some for us uneducated ones!

[The Computer Audiophile]

6 hours ago, 20hertz said:

I hope Smallgreen computer can build some for us uneducated ones!

Hi 20hertz, I agree with you and I'm reminded of something I discussed with another member of this community via email yesterday. 

 

CAPS designs have always been about a starting point and a guaranteed result. If people have a CAPS server identical to this one, I guarantee it will work as I say. However, I love when people use CAPS as a starting point and jump off on their own to make something better or cooler etc...

 

Yesterday I discussed the gauges with someone and he asked why I didn't make them visible through the front of the chassis. I would've loved to do that, or even made a wireless module to house the gauges that could sit next to the listening chair. I decided that perfection can be the enemy of progress, so I released CAPS Twenty.One as a first shot at something really cool and different. Bringing this back to a third party like SGC and the community making things better, I'm sure someone will come up with a better design and better way to make the gauges, or any other part, more user friendly. 

 

I have a notebook full of ideas to take things to unseen levels, but at some point I would compete with the great companies in this industry and that isn't my business. Perhaps I can spark some creativity in those companies and we'll see something even better that we can all purchase and get great support with warranty etc... 

[The Computer Audiophile]

P.S. I always encourage people to hire their local neighbor kid or PC company to build the CAPS servers. Those guys can do it with their eyes closed because they have the complete design and build of materials above. If there are eve any questions, just post them here and either me, or the community will help. 

[Account Closed]

12 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Intel sent me two options :~)

 

If the i5 is a 9400 I am betting it wins. I am running an 8400 on my HQP machine and it rocks. Hyperthreading  is not really necessary with HQP especially with offloading to a GPU. We shall see.

[Matias]

23 minutes ago, bobflood said:

If the i5 is a 9400 I am betting it wins. I am running an 8400 on my HQP machine and it rocks. Hyperthreading  is not really necessary with HQP especially with offloading to a GPU. We shall see.

They are 10th generation, so a 10400?

I have a 9400 for the server, sweet CPU, nice balance between performance and 65W TDP. My motherboard keeps the fan stopped until 60°C so it is basically fanless all the time, and it spins only when needed. Absolute silence.

[JR_Audio]

Hi Chris.

Wow, this is a great project. Congrats!

Juergen

[Account Closed]

41 minutes ago, Matias said:

They are 10th generation, so a 10400?

I have a 9400 for the server, sweet CPU, nice balance between performance and 65W TDP. My motherboard keeps the fan stopped until 60°C so it is basically fanless all the time, and it spins only when needed. Absolute silence.

Good catch. Yes, 10400 would be it.

[57gold]

OK, watched the cool video and read the text and wonder what does the HQ Player up conversion with the new filters/modulators at high rates like DSD256+?  The cute little computer that sounds like a new Starbucks drink doesn't have the horsepower to handle that task.  

 

Also, why does the JCAT USB unit have such a big heatsink?  What does it do?

 

Given the huge size of the cool looking case, thought it was going to have a high octane CPU and GPU like the stuff talked about on the HQPlayer thread when folks are looking to get to the highest performance levels.

 

As usual, I'm lost.