Recommend a server to couple with DSJ

And please let us know what you ultimately decide and how it works out.

+1 on the Melco / Minimserver combi :musical_score:

Wonderful little clef!

RE: MELCO and Roon - From the review @bootzilla cited

ā€œAt present the Melco servers are not Roon compatible but there is a big update coming that will not only let them operate as Roon endpoints but also incorporates SongKong software which is designed to sort out metadata issues (how this will affect the current ease of loading remains to be seen). SongKong is tremendously powerful and flexible software that currently exists for sorting out libraries with a PC and is particularly good for dealing with the extra complexities of classical releases. Its sheer flexibility makes it tricky to get started with however so it is genuinely exciting that Melco are incorporating it into their machines.ā€

Regards.

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I’ve used minimserver on a QNAP, the Auralic Aries and the Auralic Aries Mini. I used the first two with a PSA PWD Mk2 DAC via usb.

I currently use the Aries Mini with an external PSU into Devialet via usb, but I can also use it as a network server and send over wifi from my MacBook.

The full Aries can connect to the DSD via AES or coax, if you don’t want to use USB. It also has Femto clocks, but the DSD digital lens should clean up any noise issues if you are concerned about usb (I’m not).

A 2.5" drive can be fitted inside the Aries Mini, or any size drive plugged in externally to the Mini or the full Aries.

The Auralic Lightning and Lightning Server software is superb and is used throughout the range, including the G1 and G2. An internal or external usb becomes a network drive and Lightning is far better at finding stuff than minimserver, especially if using Tidal or Qobuz.

The Aries Mini, external PSU and a Samsung 1TB SSD drive will cost under $1,000.

Lightning only works on OSX. Get a refurbished iPad if you don’t have an iPhone.

There is a PS Audio dealer in NJ called GTT Audio who is also an Auralic dealer. Probably with a call.

Please share what the rest of your system consists of. I’ve been told that the main advantage of servers is to provide soundstage depth and that with monitor type speakers (very much like mine) it would be difficult/impossible to develop that depth.

A server is no more capable of providing soundstage depth than a transport.

The goal is to provide the cleanest possible datastream to the DAC, be it via a transport or server. Then speaker placement and room acoustics must be optimized.

Near-field monitors are very good at creating soundstge depth and easier to setup then larger speakers listened to in the mid-field or far-field.

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I’m using the Melco N1ZS10 with P10, DSsr/BridgeII, Audio Research Ref. 6/Ref. 75 SE and Martin Logan Spires (for a complete overview see my signature, clickin’ 2x on my avatar).

Melco does a very good job because of it’s dual high grade power supplies, audio grade ultra-low jitter internal data clock, high data integrity and precision low jitter clock buffer, audio grade SSD’s, bit perfect cd ripping features (connecting an optical drive), dedicated USB and purified ethernet player/LAN ports.

It’s not only the soundstage that profits, SQ-wise the Melco beats my PWT in all aspects and optimizes Tidal/Qobuz streams :grinning:

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