DIY Music servers...

steveinaz
steveinaz Posts: 19,538
edited January 2008 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
With all this talk about servers for music, I though it would be cool to have people come up with some bare-bones music server only computers. What components would you use? Choice of case? Cooling for minimal noise? Post a pic of your home-brew music server....

Good links for hardware....

Good links for software...

Motherboard:
CPU:
RAM:
HDD(s):
CD Burner:
Audio: (on-board or card)
Video: (on-board or card)
Wireless:
Other:

In the past I used zipzoomfly.com alot for parts/hardware--but it's been awhile.
Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
Post edited by steveinaz on
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Comments

  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited January 2008
    Funny thing, I've been looking for a linux dist'n that does this.... will let you know if I comeup w/ anything.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
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  • rskarvan
    rskarvan Posts: 2,374
    edited January 2008
    I like tigerdirect.com for components. Never had any problem with them and they are very competititve for PC Hardware.
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  • surfntomm
    surfntomm Posts: 185
    edited January 2008
    well for a music only computer with no noise that shouldnt be too hard to make.

    sorry im too lazy to get links but a great site for quite computing is www.silentpcreview.com

    antec cases are quite nice and are the standard on that website but if you are on budget get anything without a window on it.

    in terms or processors if you want ultra quite aka no fans at all you need to use an older processor like a slow P4 or P3 which is plenty to play just music.

    for a heatsink you will want something like the scythe ninja since its fin spacing is quite wide which allows it work well in low air flow.

    power supplies by seasonic are great and the smaller the better in this case. one fan in the powersupply will not be audible really.

    hard drives by samsung are known to be quiet as well or you can get any HD and just put it in a hard drive enclosure.

    quiet fans if you want to use a faster processor are made by yate loon, nexus, and scythe.

    use onboard video cards or a passive retail card with low clock speeds to keep the power dissipated down low.

    mobo, just about any will do in this case but if you want super low noise you will want to under volt your processor to make it go slower and in this case you will want one with a good bios and stable components. ASUS is a great brand traditionally.

    sound card, you can either use a digital output and use an outboard DAC or use something like the m-audio 2496 which is quite reasonable in price and is great quality. (i use it on my personal computer)

    pm if you have any questions, i have researched this domain for quite some time.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2008
    Great info! Thanks. I've always liked Vantec Stealth cooling fans for their quiet operation, and I will not use anything but ASUS when it comes to mainboards.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited January 2008
    Two months ago or so, Absolute Sound had an entire issue pretty much dedicated to Music Servers and DIY Servers. On the cover of the issue is a Luxman Integrated Amp. The DIY section was incredibly informative.
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  • Sami
    Sami Posts: 4,634
    edited January 2008
    Music Server, just any old computer would do. Just hide it in the closet.

    If you're looking into a client that sits in your audio rack, check if the VIA combos are still available. I have a few 1GHz micro integrated boards and they are great for these kinds of projects.

    unc, wouldn't MythTV be what you're looking for? Installs into just about any Linux distro.

    http://www.mythtv.org/
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythTV
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  • markmarc
    markmarc Posts: 2,309
    edited January 2008
    Can I enter my Poor Man's Sooloos DIY Music Server?:D
    www.affordableaudio.org/DIYMusicServer.pdf
    Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
    Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
    Former Staff Member TONEAudio
    2 Ch. System
    Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
    Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
    Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
    Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
    Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2008
    markmarc wrote: »
    Can I enter my Poor Man's Sooloos DIY Music Server?:D
    www.affordableaudio.org/DIYMusicServer.pdf
    Link is forbidden.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited January 2008
    http://affordableaudio.org/DIYMusicServer.pdf Its a PDF give it a little to download, or right click and save as.
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,645
    edited January 2008
    Wait for it.......///////\\\\\\\
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited January 2008
    F1nut wrote: »
    Wait for it.......///////\\\\\\\

    WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I mean HAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRR!!!
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