09-Mar-2017, 16:44
Hi SwissBear,
Doing fine (though much too busy) thank you!
I always use a Dutch computer and computer related news website for enthousiasts (tweakers.net) which allows its members to make lists of components. These can then be saved/shared whatever but can also be used to automate the price comparison process, calculate shipping costs etc. In the end I ordered all stuff from the Dutch webshop www.afuture.nl except the CPU which I bought used from EBay.
This the BoM (bill of materials)
AFuture.nl:
Streacom FC8 Alpha Optical Fanless Chassis - Silver € 131,90
Gigabyte GA-H110TN-E € 127,80
Crucial DDR4 2133Mhz CL15 - 8GB (kit 2 x 4GB) € 65,40
Arctic Silver AS5 - 12grams € 18,20
EBay:
Intel Core i7-6700T € 230,25
Total including shipping, vat, etc,: € 573,55
It's all been delivered today BTW, so I can start the building and optimization process!
---
Regarding your second question; I don't think the situation with a Mutec in the chain (which also uses the USB input) is very different than Romaz's Dave DAC. I even suspect the USB implementation of the Dave to be better on many points than the one in the Mutec. I've seen Romaz mention many times that Chord and its designer Rob Watts states that the USB input is the best input on the Dave.
Also re-clocking as we do with the Mutec is not the silver bullet, yes it improves a signal but doesn't make it perfect the first go. There's people who employ multiple Mutecs in series for example and still report further improvements beyond the first. I think it's still best to prevent the "issue" than repair it at the end. Whether there even is an "issue" or better said whether I can hear improvements in my situation using a better upstream computer source is something I do not know at this moment. I need to try and thus build the thing first!
However the fact that this direct connection made a significant improvement suggests the upstream stuff does matter. Same goes for the network cable I used between FMC and SMS-200 (or actually I compared it only with my previous microRendu) and even the SATA cable and software configuration of my current machine. I really wish it didn't but it does, or so my brain tells me!
In any case I'm going to find out now that the stuff has been delivered. It will be a continuing/interative process though. I'll start with building the PC but later I may for example add a separate PSU for the SSD. I've been looking at 10gbs network cards (won't use it at those speeds but these have better clocks/more strict tolerances). Perhaps I'll change/upgrade the/some clocks in the machine using a SOTM or Pink Faun clock board, etc. etc. I may even decide it doesn't work out or improves too little too warrant the hassle of adding an extra machine downstairs.
So as you can many things are still wide open and I don't have many answers yet, let alone explantions why some things even seem to matter. Anyway it's all part of the discovery and this computer audio thing nowadays is simply part of this hobby for me so I enjoy it as well, most of the time that is!
Doing fine (though much too busy) thank you!
I always use a Dutch computer and computer related news website for enthousiasts (tweakers.net) which allows its members to make lists of components. These can then be saved/shared whatever but can also be used to automate the price comparison process, calculate shipping costs etc. In the end I ordered all stuff from the Dutch webshop www.afuture.nl except the CPU which I bought used from EBay.
This the BoM (bill of materials)
AFuture.nl:
Streacom FC8 Alpha Optical Fanless Chassis - Silver € 131,90
Gigabyte GA-H110TN-E € 127,80
Crucial DDR4 2133Mhz CL15 - 8GB (kit 2 x 4GB) € 65,40
Arctic Silver AS5 - 12grams € 18,20
EBay:
Intel Core i7-6700T € 230,25
Total including shipping, vat, etc,: € 573,55
It's all been delivered today BTW, so I can start the building and optimization process!
---
Regarding your second question; I don't think the situation with a Mutec in the chain (which also uses the USB input) is very different than Romaz's Dave DAC. I even suspect the USB implementation of the Dave to be better on many points than the one in the Mutec. I've seen Romaz mention many times that Chord and its designer Rob Watts states that the USB input is the best input on the Dave.
Also re-clocking as we do with the Mutec is not the silver bullet, yes it improves a signal but doesn't make it perfect the first go. There's people who employ multiple Mutecs in series for example and still report further improvements beyond the first. I think it's still best to prevent the "issue" than repair it at the end. Whether there even is an "issue" or better said whether I can hear improvements in my situation using a better upstream computer source is something I do not know at this moment. I need to try and thus build the thing first!
However the fact that this direct connection made a significant improvement suggests the upstream stuff does matter. Same goes for the network cable I used between FMC and SMS-200 (or actually I compared it only with my previous microRendu) and even the SATA cable and software configuration of my current machine. I really wish it didn't but it does, or so my brain tells me!
In any case I'm going to find out now that the stuff has been delivered. It will be a continuing/interative process though. I'll start with building the PC but later I may for example add a separate PSU for the SSD. I've been looking at 10gbs network cards (won't use it at those speeds but these have better clocks/more strict tolerances). Perhaps I'll change/upgrade the/some clocks in the machine using a SOTM or Pink Faun clock board, etc. etc. I may even decide it doesn't work out or improves too little too warrant the hassle of adding an extra machine downstairs.
So as you can many things are still wide open and I don't have many answers yet, let alone explantions why some things even seem to matter. Anyway it's all part of the discovery and this computer audio thing nowadays is simply part of this hobby for me so I enjoy it as well, most of the time that is!
PS Audio P3, Shunyata ΞTRON Alpha Digital and HC/Furutech power cables, Paul Hynes SR7EHD-MR4, DIY Roon Server & Roon Endpoint running AudioLinux Headless, Phasure Lush^2 USB cable, Audioquest Diamond RJ/E ethernet, Uptone Audio etherREGEN, Mutec MC-3+ USB, Shunyata ΞTRON Anaconda Digital XLR AES/EBU, Devialet Expert 250 Pro CI, Nordost Tyr Reference LS cables, Von Schweikert VR-5 SE Anniversary Edition, Anti-Mode Dual Core 2.0, JL Audio Fathom F112. More detail here.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands