Audiophile on a budget series: 1. Good music server results on a tiny budget

[Legolas]

Hi Guys. Some who have followed me know I have recently upgraded my Pure Audio Project speakers. And as most have found out, as we climb the upgrade path, improving a component in the system is great, but leads us to notice a weakness somewhere else.

SO, I don't suspect my Passlab 60.8 monos as have tried many amp before I got those, and my Chord DAVE is also really good for DAC duties. Which left me to focus on my music server.

I have had some music servers in the past including the 432 EVO, which was very good, but blew up, proved unreliable. So I went back to a Mac mini which I am comfortable tweaking and running software on.

You can run the Mac mini headless, mouseless and no keyboard, as I screen share it, so no SMPS involved on the screen side. And I use ethernet and a Paul Pang Quad switch for streaming connection. My router for the house is on an sBooster linear power supply.

The Mac Mini M1 has an internal SMPS, which I disconnected. Then I hooked up the wiring harness (14 tiny wires) to a 12v DC socket at the back, by drilling a hole above the USB ports. It is really right, so you need to get the position spot on. Then I use another sBooster 12V DC to power the Mac mini.

The MacMini already sounded really good, but using 12V DC on it has taken it much higher, the sound is more liquid, particularly the treble ranges, and is more relaxed and natural.

For software I use the FREE Lyrion Music Software, which is open source and based on the now defunct Logitec Media Server software. It sounds really good, better than Audirvana Studio and miles ahead of Roon. Roon sounds slow and closed in, smaller soundstage, as I have found for years, since it's inception, which is a pity.

The Mac mini is coasting using 3% of its chip power. All actions and software are removed from it, it is very stripped back for only music playing.



With the base plate and fan housing removed, you can see the wiring harness and the 2 new wires running along the right side. There is space inside the Mac mini M1, and the main board is very compact. You need a specialist work screwdriver set, as the screws are tiny.




Here is the new DC input socket. I used one with a screw down ring that holds the cable from the LPS tight, most important, or it can cause sparks and blow the board.

The cost of my server:
1. Mac mini M1 (used) 350 euros
2. sBooster 12V 300 euros
3. Lyrion music software - FREE
4. Solder, wiring - almost FREE

I admit I was nervous booting it up for the first time, but no worries, it is flawless. I work on another Mac mini and can easily control the other one with screen share, no latency either, it is as though it has it's own screen.

So for anyone wanting top performance on a tiny budget, without going the PC and extra boards route, this is a very clean solution. I boots up in 15 seconds, the M1 chip is super fast. It has easily enough power to upsample and convert DSD with HQ Media Player if you wanted to do that bolted onto Roon.

This route also fits my ideal, of having less components and cables in my system. I remember the days of USB convertors, OffRamp 4, Uptone Audio filters etc etc. Spaghetti, I don't want to go back that!

Feel free to PM me if you want to build one.

 

[morricab]

Hi Guys. Some who have followed me know I have recently upgraded my Pure Audio Project speakers. And as most have found out, as we climb the upgrade path, improving a component in the system is great, but leads us to notice a weakness somewhere else.

SO, I don't suspect my Passlab 60.8 monos as have tried many amp before I got those, and my Chord DAVE is also really good for DAC duties. Which left me to focus on my music server.

I have had some music servers in the past including the 432 EVO, which was very good, but blew up, proved unreliable. So I went back to a Mac mini which I am comfortable tweaking and running software on.

You can run the Mac mini headless, mouseless and no keyboard, as I screen share it, so no SMPS involved on the screen side. And I use ethernet and a Paul Pang Quad switch for streaming connection. My router for the house is on an sBooster linear power supply.

The Mac Mini M1 has an internal SMPS, which I disconnected. Then I hooked up the wiring harness (14 tiny wires) to a 12v DC socket at the back, by drilling a hole above the USB ports. It is really right, so you need to get the position spot on. Then I use another sBooster 12V DC to power the Mac mini.

The MacMini already sounded really good, but using 12V DC on it has taken it much higher, the sound is more liquid, particularly the treble ranges, and is more relaxed and natural.

For software I use the FREE Lyrion Music Software, which is open source and based on the now defunct Logitec Media Server software. It sounds really good, better than Audirvana Studio and miles ahead of Roon. Roon sounds slow and closed in, smaller soundstage, as I have found for years, since it's inception, which is a pity.

The Mac mini is coasting using 3% of its chip power. All actions and software are removed from it, it is very stripped back for only music playing.

View attachment 159847

With the base plate and fan housing removed, you can see the wiring harness and the 2 new wires running along the right side. There is space inside the Mac mini M1, and the main board is very compact. You need a specialist work screwdriver set, as the screws are tiny.


View attachment 159848

Here is the new DC input socket. I used one with a screw down ring that holds the cable from the LPS tight, most important, or it can cause sparks and blow the board.

The cost of my server:
1. Mac mini M1 (used) 350 euros
2. sBooster 12V 300 euros
3. Lyrion music software - FREE
4. Solder, wiring - almost FREE

I admit I was nervous booting it up for the first time, but no worries, it is flawless. I work on another Mac mini and can easily control the other one with screen share, no latency either, it is as though it has it's own screen.

So for anyone wanting top performance on a tiny budget, without going the PC and extra boards route, this is a very clean solution. I boots up in 15 seconds, the M1 chip is super fast. It has easily enough power to upsample and convert DSD with HQ Media Player if you wanted to do that bolted onto Roon.

This route also fits my ideal, of having less components and cables in my system. I remember the days of USB convertors, OffRamp 4, Uptone Audio filters etc etc. Spaghetti, I don't want to go back that!

Feel free to PM me if you want to build one.

Get a reclocker like the Mutec MC3+ USB. I run an old BlueSound Vault MKI (I prefer the MKI because I can run it off battery power...the later ones not) with optical out into my Mutec and it sounds excellent. It is competitive with quite expensive servers because of the reclocker. Plus the BlueSound on battery is actually pretty good on its own as it is dedicated to audio, unlike a mac mini.

 

[Legolas]

I use the Paul Pang Quad switch on ethernet to feed the Mac mini. It has a cock in it, and improves streaming quality v close to native.
I do like the Mutec products, but the MC3+USB would output S/PDIF or AES, and my DAVE sounds best on USB. Almost I am unsure of the Mutec is auto switching. Does it change to suit 44.1/88/96 or more on the fly?

 

[morricab]

I use the Paul Pang Quad switch on ethernet to feed the Mac mini. It has a cock in it, and improves streaming quality v close to native.
I do like the Mutec products, but the MC3+USB would output S/PDIF or AES, and my DAVE sounds best on USB. Almost I am unsure of the Mutec is auto switching. Does it change to suit 44.1/88/96 or more on the fly?

yes it changes sampling on the fly . Is the USB version only USB in and not also out? Do you know from your own tests that the USB sounds better on Dave? I can imagine after reclocking the AES (which sounds better than S/PDIF) will sound better…I don’t think USB is the best audio interface.

 

[morricab]

I use the Paul Pang Quad switch on ethernet to feed the Mac mini. It has a cock in it, and improves streaming quality v close to native.
I do like the Mutec products, but the MC3+USB would output S/PDIF or AES, and my DAVE sounds best on USB. Almost I am unsure of the Mutec is auto switching. Does it change to suit 44.1/88/96 or more on the fly?

I can recommend a VERY good LAN cable made locally here in Switzerland and not commercially available. I was literally shocked by what it did between my router (I don't have a switch) and my streamer. I would not have believed it to be possible. 1 problem is that it costs quite a bit...more than my streamer and reclocker (both bought used) together!

 

[MarkusBarkus]

FWIW just sharing info...I use a Denefrips D2D converter (USB from Aurender) to input S/PDIF to DAVE, bypassing the Amanero USB board altogether in a second system here.

I use DAVE as a pre, on the balanced outputs. But then, that DAVE is deconstructed with external power and an internal cap board where the ps used to be. Of course, limited to S/PDIF rate protocols, which are not an issue here.

I know it's counter-culture, but I thought one could better the SQ not using USB in DAVE.

BTW very cool project @Legolas

 

[microstrip]

I have no experience with the Dave DAC, but in my experience when assembling a server/streamer system in a tiny budget we get better results using an AES/EBU or SPDIF DAC - the USB input always sounded less musical, irrespective of the quality of the USB cable.

For some time I used a PC server connected to the Kondo KSL tube DAC using a Berkeley Audio Alpha USB/AES-SPDIF converter. It sounded very "analog-like", particularly in the voices.

 

[Legolas]

yes it changes sampling on the fly . Is the USB version only USB in and not also out? Do you know from your own tests that the USB sounds better on Dave? I can imagine after reclocking the AES (which sounds better than S/PDIF) will sound better…I don’t think USB is the best audio interface.

well Aries Cerat use USB still. IMO it comes down a lot to the DAC and server. Many server and DACs use a cheap board to offer multiple inputs, so it depends on which one they designed / threw funds at the most. As opposed to the protocol. The issue with AES and SPDIF is they are sample rate limited.

 

[Legolas]

I have no experience with the Dave DAC, but in my experience when assembling a server/streamer system in a tiny budget we get better results using an AES/EBU or SPDIF DAC - the USB input always sounded less musical, irrespective of the quality of the USB cable.

For some time I used a PC server connected to the Kondo KSL tube DAC using a Berkeley Audio Alpha USB/AES-SPDIF converter. It sounded very "analog-like", particularly in the voices.

Yes, it depends how Kondo designed the input board / what they used for it IMO. The DAVE has a better USB input than the other options, they recommend using USB.

 

[Legolas]

Listening more to the modded Mac mini, it has settled more and I am super happy with the upgrade. I was chasing a more liquid treble range, but I also got better mids and more detailed bass as well, which surprised me. It proves to me any noise injected into a digital system, either from the electric grid supply, or in the Router (SMPS brick) , switch (SMPS brick), server or DAC really degrades the sound. It injects a hash or subtle noise to the music, an artificial edge pretending to be extra detail. I think the ear can hear it, and the brain can perceive it, but maybe not sure it is there or where it is coming from. The best way I can describe it is achieving a more relaxed sound, yet keep all the details as well, if that makes sense.

 

[morricab]

Listening more to the modded Mac mini, it has settled more and I am super happy with the upgrade. I was chasing a more liquid treble range, but I also got better mids and more detailed bass as well, which surprised me. It proves to me any noise injected into a digital system, either from the electric grid supply, or in the Router (SMPS brick) , switch (SMPS brick), server or DAC really degrades the sound. It injects a hash or subtle noise to the music, an artificial edge pretending to be extra detail. I think the ear can hear it, and the brain can perceive it, but maybe not sure it is there or where it is coming from. The best way I can describe it is achieving a more relaxed sound, yet keep all the details as well, if that makes sense.

I was shocked by what a LAN cable can do…

 

[Legolas]

I was shocked by what a LAN cable can do…

Indeed. And a LPS on the optical / router entry point to your house. I found without the LPS on that box, wifi connectivity sounded better. It's all in the noise.

My next idea is run the DAVE DAC on 3 LPS, 6v, 12v+ and 12v minus. I am researching how much it upgrades the sound. I already run the DAVE out the P10 which have a dramatic effect on noise, so wondering if there is little left to improve there?

 

[morricab]

Indeed. And a LPS on the optical / router entry point to your house. I found without the LPS on that box, wifi connectivity sounded better. It's all in the noise.

My next idea is run the DAVE DAC on 3 LPS, 6v, 12v+ and 12v minus. I am researching how much it upgrades the sound. I already run the DAVE out the P10 which have a dramatic effect on noise, so wondering if there is little left to improve there?

Try a battery. I heard that effect at Boenicke Audio and it was stunning.

 

[Legolas]

It is too risky. The board has 3 voltages, and if they dip below spec can cause issues. I am checking what happens if the power gets cut on the 3 LPS I would need. I think that is what blew up my 432 EVO, as that came with 2 LPS, one for the Sotem USB card and the other the motherboard.

We seem to get a power outage every 2 months on average.

 

[matthias]

@Legolas
Great thread, thank you!
Do you have experiences with the new Mac Mini M4, can it be modified for use with an external LPS as well?

 

[Legolas]

I am sure it can be done, but the video I used for the process on the M1, they don't seem to have covered the M4 yet. The below video is a different topic. You basically need to know the polarity of the 20 wire connector. If the same as the M1 you can flow the M1 video.

 

[matthias]

Try a battery. I heard that effect at Boenicke Audio and it was stunning.

The new AIO on their website doesn't seem to use batteries, do you know why?

 

[morricab]

The new AIO on their website doesn't seem to use batteries, do you know why?

No, sorry don’t know why.

 

[DasguteOhr]

well Aries Cerat use USB still. IMO it comes down a lot to the DAC and server. Many server and DACs use a cheap board to offer multiple inputs, so it depends on which one they designed / threw funds at the most. As opposed to the protocol. The issue with AES and SPDIF is they are sample rate limited.

Today no problem anymore dsd on spdif/aes ebu

DSC mini MÉTRONOME : D/A CONVERTER MADE IN FRANCE

DSC MINI, designed and manufactured in France by Métronome, is a PCM DSD DAC digital-to-analog converter.

www.metronome.audio

 

[matthias]

Today no problem anymore dsd on spdif/aes ebu

Limited to DSD64, isn't it?