Music server idea?

[rcchap]

Looking for some input from the HTPC brain trust here at HTGuide.
I'm wanting to build a cheap music server to store my cd collection in some kind of lossless format.

As of now my list is:
-Antec Black ATX Mini Tower PC Case with 350W Power Supply, Model "SLK1650B" ($60)
-ABIT "KV7" KT600 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU ($52)
-AMD Athlon XP 2700+, 333MHz FSB, 256K Cache Processor ($100)
-Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 256MB DDR PC-3200 ($40)
-Seagate 200GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model ST3200822AS ($120)

Right now with the above list I am at ~$375
What do you think so far?

The area where I'm having a problem is the sound card. After reading many posts I still don't know. I'll admit I am a complete novice, just in case you couldn't tell. This will be the first machine that I've ever built. I know what I like - good quality music, I'm just not sure how to get it via a computer.

Should I get a sound card that is capable of 7.1 in case I later want to use the puter for DVD's (although my Dennon 2200 is fine) or would my money be better spent elswhere.

I assume that I will want to use a digital connection between the soundcard and my pre/pro. I just don't know how to tell if a given card has a decent one or anything decent for that matter.

I'm just looking to get the best quality sound (relative). I would rather deal with shuffling my cd's in and out than to hear sub par sound with this setup.
I am willing to spend a little extra on the sound card to get what I am looking for. If it is not possible to get decent sound out of this setup please let me know so I can forego this fantasy of not dealing with cd's.

I would also like to access my music via remote from my tv. Is there software/hardware for this?
Now I need a video card with TV out. Will a cheap one do.

Thank you in advance for all of your help and suggestions.

Chris

[VGuarino]

I have been looking into this also. For now, I'm going to use an old laptop with an M-Audio Transit USB sound card. My files are on a file server, which the laptop will be connected via 802.11g wireless.

The M-Audio does not upsample the digital out from 44k to 48k like most other sound cards. They are also quite innexpensive. I found this for $80. M-Audio has a 5.1 and 7.1 PCI bus options. $99 & $119 respectively.

Check out this site:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Revolution71-main.html

You can also find IR hardware to work with a PC. I haven't looked into it much, but I have run accross it here and there.

V

[rcchap]

Checked out the card. Sounds good. Found them on Newegg for $68 and $92.
What about their audiophile 2496 card $110 on Newegg or their Delta 410 $89? Would this be a better way to go.

Would there be any advantage to recording a cd onto your hdd via the s/pdif in on the sound card. I can't see how but just curious?

[VGuarino]

Checked out the card. Sounds good. Found them on Newegg for $68 and $92.
What about their audiophile 2496 card $110 on Newegg or their Delta 410 $89? Would this be a better way to go.

I'm still learning about this stuff, but I think the 2496 has more channels and flexibility. I found the following link which uses the 410. It allows you to utilize the second zone. If it were me, building a dedicated system, I'd do it this way. As I said, I'm using left over laptops right now. Eventually I will use a dedicated server through amps.

http://www.keyesfamily.org/ha/Other/index.htm

Would there be any advantage to recording a cd onto your hdd via the s/pdif in on the sound card. I can't see how but just curious?

Good question. I do not know the answer. I just downloaded JRiver's Media Center. I was reading how it rips files. Does multiple pass for better integrity.

Vin

[rcchap]

How do you like J Rivers Media Center. It looks pretty cool on their web site. I noticed that they have a remote that works with the software. Have you heard anything about it.

[rcchap]

This remote (Ahanix imon) seems decent. Has anyone tried it.

http://www.htpcnews.com/main.php?id=imon_1

[VGuarino]

I like it better than MusicMatch. It is structured similar to Windows Media Player 10. I like that format. But MC is much more flexible and allows you to create all kinds of tree sorting.

I'm not crazy about the online database it uses though (YADB). It is having a problem finding some of my files. I may not totally understand how this works though....

Vin

[rcchap]

With these added items I believe my machine will be finished. Any opinions, is any of this stuff crap? I think that going straight from the Delta 410 to amps in other zones will be nice.

ROSEWILL RADEON 9600 Video Card, 256MB DDR, 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "RW9600-256D"

Pioneer Black DVD+RW/-RW Drive, Model DVR-108

M-AUDIO PCI Sound Card w/ SPDIF, Model "Delta 410"

Ahanix iMon Universal IR Remote Control for Home Theater PC

[VGuarino]

I really can't comment too much, as I haven't researched video cards etc. What about fans etc (quiet ones)???

I've been thinking a lot about coming up with a media server without the drives. Something similar to the commercial systems like D-Link and Linksys. You can get MBs with SPDIF outs. I'm trying to find a MB with a high quality audio chip.

Or I could get a PCI riser card and an M-Audio.

I did order the USB M-Audio Transit. I should have it by the end of the week.

Vin

[ajpoe]

I have the Ahanix iMon remote and like it very much. I got it b/c I have a Harmony remote and I wanted to program it to control winamp just like any other component. The iMon has several nice features such as locking to one program which I use to control winamp at all times, even when its minimized. I just keep Winamp open all the time and set the power toggle to show/hide the program. Anyway, I looked at GIRD and some others, but I was able to get the iMon off pricewatch shipped for $37 which is a great deal.

Here are a couple other reviews, not sure if they are the same as the one posted previously, but might give some other details/opinions:

http://reviews.designtechnica.com/review1616_main8088.html

http://www.modthebox.com/review314_1.shtml

AJ

[VGuarino]

AJ,

When using your HTPC, are you using your TV monitor to view winamp selection, etc?

Vin

[ajpoe]

AJ,

When using your HTPC, are you using your TV monitor to view winamp selection, etc?

Vin

I have the radeon 9600 pro with the HD dongle. The 9600 was the only card at the time, other than the AIW 9800 Pro, that would output to both the DVI and a standard vga plug at the same time. I mainly use a 15" LCD monitor for the HTPC whether its winamp, chatting, browsing, etc. I have run extension wires around the room so it can be next to my couch and use a wireless keyboard/mouse too. But, I can play DVDs etc in high def on my HDTV via the dongle (component out) and can drag winamp to that screen if I choose as well.

AJ

[VGuarino]

Okay, I see what you are doing now.

I got my M-Audio USB Transit yesterday. I connected it to an older laptop and my son's audio system, which is upstairs. (Analog). It was an improvement over the on board sound card. I will test out the digital side next week.

V

[VGuarino]

M-Audio USB Transit

I received my M-Audio Transit last week. Got it connected to an old laptop and then sent the analog out to my son's receiver. Sounded much better than the on board sound card.

I finally had a chance to try out the TOSLINK digital connection last night on my Rotel RSX-1056. This little sound card is fantastic.

I have been ripping my CD's with J-River's Media Center into WAV files. I compared the wav's to the original's played through my DVD player. It was difficult to hear any differences. The biggest problem I had trying to compare was the volume level. I used my SPL to try and get the volume levels close. There may be a slight (very slight) difference. Leaning towards the original CD.

I also setup Media Center's server. This was interesting as the laptop used 25% more CPU to talk with the server, vs mapping a drive directly to the server. The little 400mhz PII was maxed out.

Vin

[ajpoe]

There should be no difference in sound quality between the orginal CD and a ripped wav file. i would look into getting Exact Audio Copy (EAC) to rip CDs to wav with highest quality, you can also use it to convert to a few lossless formats such as FLAC or Monkey's Audio.

Also, compare the optical out on the M-Audio which will use the 1056's internal DACs vs. the analog out to 1056 which will use the M-Audio DACs to see which you prefer for sound quality.

AJ

[VGuarino]

There should be no difference in sound quality between the orginal CD and a ripped wav file.
AJ

AJ,

I agree. If there is a difference, it could be that the audio from the CD is transmitted via coax digital vs the M-Audio and Toslink (some jitter?). Or as I said, the volume level.

Media Center claims to rip as well as EAC. I looked at EAC, and downloaded it. I will give it a try as well.

I've been using MC to convert to Monkey's Audio. I can't hear a difference on my head phones. That's my next test on the 1056 (comparing wav vs lossless).

Speaking of DACs. How do you know which component has the best DACs? Which spec would give the answer?

Vin

[ajpoe]

I'd say use your ears to be the judge of what you like best. If you can make runs of both analog and digital and switch back n forth between the inputs on ur 1056, you can do some A B testing.

I use an external DAC so I run the optical from my soundcard to that and then analogs from the DAC to my 1068 and use bypass mode. That sounds the best to me. Prior to having my DAC1 and 1068, I had an Onkyo receiver. I felt the analog outs from the soundcard were better than the DACs in the Onkyo when using the optical out. My buddy, on the other hand, like the Onkyo DACs better when I had him listen to both. The Onkyo seemed to be a bit too bright/harsh for me.

AJ

[VGuarino]

There should be no difference in sound quality between the orginal CD and a ripped wav file. i would look into getting Exact Audio Copy (EAC) to rip CDs to wav with highest quality, you can also use it to convert to a few lossless formats such as FLAC or Monkey's Audio.

=
AJ

AJ,

I am using EAC to rip now. I'm converting them to Monkey's format as well. When I get a chance I'll do some testing. wav vs ape. Then digital vs analong (M-audio). I'll probalby get to the testing tomorrow. I'm guessing their should be no difference between the wav and ape files. Both sound great through earphones...it will be interesting.

Ain't this fun?
V

[nadroj81]

just saw this thread, thought i could throw in some input.

I built a HTPC that is basically a jukebox. I have a shuttle sn41g2v2. I use a digital audio labs card deluxe for 2channel audio, Unbeleivable card. I decided against a 5.1 card bc of quality and no real need to play dvds from the computer. I use asio4all so that i get bitperfect sound (i beleive). also of note, i use j river media jukebox. pretty good interface, still waiting for the newest version though which could have some nice additions, such as in theater view. I do not have the remote, but probably will get one eventually. However, i do use an elo touchscreen lcd monitor for all the selections...so it really is like a jukebox! It's a nice little setup. Should be really nice when i move to seperates.

[nadroj81]

P.S. i have a radeon 9500 pro i believe, just need to get it installed and i *should be able to output to my RPHDTV as a second monitor. Too lazy to install it. Last time i attempted i didn't connect a HD cable completely and computer wouldn't boot. Got fed up and put it on the backburner for a while.