All components were delivered this week so I built my new HTPC/Devialet music server machine (specs below). It's up&running now and I'll run it using Windows 8.1 Pro for a while to establish some baseline before trying Windows Server 2012 R2. Let the tweaking/experimenting begin!!
The PC is connected to the Devialet using both ethernet and USB. Ethernet (AIR) for music streaming and USB for 'non-critical' applications like Youtube, XBMC (TV series). I already found out that the Devialet needs the ground active in USB to function while I was hoping it didn't so that I wouldn't have to feed the Devialet the "dirty" PC USB power. I guess I could try and use a iFi USB power supply combined with a USB splitter cable to isolate the Devialet more from the PC.
For movies and other surround media the Dolby AC3/DTS decoding is done by the old Tag McLaren surround processor which is fed by an optical cable from this PC. The Devialet amplifies the front channels in pass-through mode and the rears are amplified by a Lyngdorf SDA2175 power amplifier.
Later I will use the second Intel ethernet NIC to feed the Devialet directly using only one ethernet cable and thus circumventing the use of the switches and additional cabling in my network. Some have said this makes a difference, I guess I'll find out if it really does myself soon.
Case: Streacom FC5 WS EVO
PSU: Streacom NanoPsu 150W Adapter Kit
Mainboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5
CPU: Intel Core i3-4350T 35W dual core 3.1gHz hd4600
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LP CML8GX3M2A1600C9B 2x4GB
SSD: Samsung 840 EVO 500GB
2nd NIC: Intel Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter
OS: Windows 8.1 Professional
Music server software: JRiver Media Center 19
Other media: XBMC 13.1 for now
Remote Control: iPad 3 with JRemote for remote control
PS: I'm also looking at a Keces/Teddy Pardo/Teradak/... linear PSU for the PC.
PS2: Also looking at additional ethernet isolation like Acousence Giso (
http://www.acousence.de/index.php?option...90&lang=en)