State of the Source: Server, computer....or what?

I just heard a $600 Nordost USB cable with a Mac as source,
there ARE differences in USB cables, as in night and day.

One reason why I haven't received more responses to my recent music server threads may be that not too many here use purpose built music servers.

Out of over 5,000 virtual systems listed on this site, I found 136 systems (less than 3 percent) using a Mac mini as a music source/server, and only about 60 systems (just over 1 percent) using one of the more common purpose built music servers, from the manufacturers listed below;

- Musica Pristina
- Baetis
- Aurender
- SOtM
- Antipodes
- C.A.P.S. (Small Green Computer)
- Mojo Audio
- Core Audio
- Olive
- Bladelius
- Naim
- Lumin

FWIW, about half of the 60 servers were from Olive.

I obviously did not search for all brands of purpose built music servers, and I am sure many here are using either a variety of streamer choices, a VortexBox, Mac books, or PC computer sources to play music but, based on the brands I did search, the purpose built server just doesn't seem to be that popular yet, at least based on the posted systems.

Moving to a music based server system is very appealing, I have been interested in the Music Vault in particular, and find that this type of system is useful for management of large CD collections.

The issues seem to be a check list of core hardware/software components, since each MFG has there own variation and this can be confusing to a novice user. Also the thought of ripping all of your CD'S is endlessly time consuming . . Unless you have a nine year old nearby.

Maxboy00, I didn't include Music Vault with my initial searches and there were indeed 3 Music Vault servers that showed up in Virtual Systems here, which is still not statistically significant (e.g., results in 1.2 percent using purpose built servers).

All of these servers have their supporters but, without enough folks here using them, there is not enough general feedback to have a clue as to how they might sound relative to each other, or relative to a tricked out Mac mini or C.A.P.S. server.

Most of the reviewers who are comparing the purpose built music servers to computers are not comparing them to the C.A.P.S. servers or Mac minis that are optimized for music with SSDs, outboard HDDs and linear power supplies, plus measures to clean up the USB output such as filters, galvanic isolation, and elimination of the power side of the USB cable. As a result, "buy to try" seems to be the only way to hear how good those music servers sound.

I'm at a crossroad with computer audio
Starting off with a HP Media centre (purpose built HTPC) in 2006 - I've moved along to a set up that includes a Modwright Transporter - with a great tube selection - and a QNAP TS789 32 TB server - with roughly 15,000 Albums. I also have a Logitech Touch and SB radio in other rooms

I'm very happy with the performance & the sound quality of the modified transporter and I love the software interface.

The fact that the transporter is limited to 24/96 -- and I have a number of Hi Res albums that I currently play through my OPPO -- or through another home/purpose built HTPC ( I7 / SS drive / Fanless power supply - networked) -- has me looking for an option that might take it up a notch.

I am considering a Lampizator Big 7 DAC -- that I will use with the transporter (digital out) - bypassing the analog tube stage of the transporter -- and also feed the hi res files from the HTPC into the Lampizator -- giving me a tubed DAC for everything up to 24/96 played through the Transporter (to the outboard DAC) -- and all higher resolution files from the HTPC or OPPO source into the Lampizator.

I really like the Squeeze box software/interface -- & I wish there was a hi calibre player -- without a DAC that would play DSD and hi res files with the Logitech software.

It's a shame to use the transporter -- without using the Modwright analog output stage -- but if the Lampizator matches or betters the sound quality ---- and also allows me to play hi rez files -- I'll be a happy camper for now (but that never lasts long! )