Building a PC for NOS1a

[michaeljeger]

Hello Peter

Thanks for pointing that out.
This is also the reason I chose the Bluetooth plug solution.
Can be always removed during playback.
I would never choose a Mainboard with onboard bluetooth.
The advantage with Bluetooth is that one plug can handle both KB and mouse.

Something else I was wondering though.
Having WIFI in the same room, wouldn't that have a similar effect?
I understand that remote controlling the PC e.g. with an IPAD needs WIFI.
Or is that not considered a problem?

Regards Michael

[PeterSt]

Hi Michael,

Yes, that sure WAS a problem and to my perception *that* is not a problem any more. I use a WiFi tablet for control now explusively.

Notice that this is not about having WiFi in the room as such but how OS processes WERE detrimental, just because of the "LAN" connection. So "we" used Bluetooth for that previously (remote) for the same reason - because Bluetooth is more lean.

LAN is OK now (NOS1a) but this doesn't tell a thing about Bluetooth interactions from a keyboard and such, which as far as I can recall did not really work because touching something could imply ticks. This is a different subject and not related to the audio stream being disturbed (like OS activiaty could do it) but how things *stall* because of such interactions (say wrong OS priorities).

All a bit difficult to explain in a small post to someone who just missed all this ... (while 1000s of posts *were* about it).

Regards,
Peter

[michaeljeger]

Just a quick update.

Finished the built for the XXHighend PC.

Works wonderful and completly silent. No fans in the case and external PSU.

One word of caution:
The case I proposed is not compatible with the socket I chose for my XEON. I had to do some manual adjustments in the passive cooling bracked. So maybe another XEON might be better for easy assembly.

This still to do:

I will soon receive the linear PSU and a new USB card I will compare.


SOtM tX-USBexp Audiophile PCIe to USB Audio Card
see: http://www.sotm.sonore.us/SOtM3.html#6

I can directily connect the Linear PSU to the USB card.

Anybody here tried a similar setup?

Regards, Michael

[PeterSt]

PC Tweak for NOS1 async USB.

Michael, I think that today you might be the only one using this. haha. That is, for NOS1(a) owners.

Regards,
Peter

[michaeljeger]

Hey Peter

Maybe this USB card will be the key to sound quality improvements we never imagined

You never know haha.....

Michael

[PeterSt]

So Michael, tell us ! More haha.
haha

Peter (only half-serious)

[michaeljeger]

Peter

I know it's kind of crazy to spend 350 USD for a USB card.
I am just curious thats all.

BTW here is another interesting read for a possible solution for a XXHighend PC.

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/612-computer-audiophile-pocket-server-c-p-s-v4-pipeline/

I will post some pictures here of my built as soons as it is complete.

Regards, Michael

[PeterSt]

But Michael, what I was trying to tell you that this kind of stuff has passed this forum. In this (SOtM) case it was 2011. Not that you can all know this ... but please be careful not to re-invent the wheel. And this is not about a crazy $350 - it is about that quite a few already tried it. So all what can coincidentally happen is that today suddenly such a card works out while it did not in the past. Unlikely though.

Otherwise there's total consensus about the Silverstone USB card, although I don't think the particular version can still be bought (with Molex connection, while its follow-up is SATA(Power) connected). Ehm, 20 euros.

So message : Before you come up with all sorts of Paul Pang tweaks and what not, search this forum. Most likely it has been tried, which usually is done by more than one person. Or just ask if you can't find it - also OK.

And hey, what's on this forum is supposed to be trusted (at least we all try hard, including you of course). I don't recall much of that (to my perception) from other forums. So you gave a link to one and well ... only after thorough interpretation. So small hint (and indirectly I gave it already) :

If you are stuffing in a 350$ card or whatever, it would be good to justify it for yourself. This means that at first you don't have it at all, judge sound, then spend the money and have a verdict. Only then it is valuable for everybody, ehm starting with yourself.
We are no Gods in here, but what I always like so much from this forum is that nobody is really doing wild things without justification. The problem is : within 5 days 50 people copy behaviour (buy that card for instance). So strangely enough there's some responsibility in order. Not so on other forums, but in here it works like that.

This wasn't preaching - just helping, hopefully !
Regards,
Peter

[michaeljeger]

Hi Peter

Point taken. However I see this particular thread as a brainstorming thread to come up with ideas to built the next generation HighEndPC. As you implied, most components of your original built are not available any more. So for people building something with actual components available, a lot of the PC build info cannot be directly applied.

I agree that once a successful built is tested, there should be a seperate thread with concrete solutions that are actually working.
But even if I test it, the only reference point I have is the other PC with normal components.
The most interesting comparision would be to compare my build e.g. with yours.

I have already written that my components did not work out as planned, I had to do some modifications to the case in order to fit everything in.

For this reason, I want to share my learings and also try new things like this USB card. I know it has been tried before.
But things _could_ be different for the NOS1a.

More to follow

Michael

[manisandher]

But Michael, what I was trying to tell you that this kind of stuff has passed this forum. In this (SOtM) case it was 2011.

Yep, I still have my SOtM USB card (PCI version, not PCIe) and SATA filter from back then. At the time, I felt both made the sound 'duller'. It's sort of what you would expect - all filters seem to do this, irrespective of where they are placed in the chain (from AC mains, to footers, to IC/speaker cables).

BUT... I haven't tried these SOtM pieces for a while now. I'm happy to do so once I have my PC resurrected, with its replacement mobo and memory DIMMs.

Mani.

[michaeljeger]

So as said in the previous post, here are some photos.

Regards, Michael

[PeterSt]

Thank you Michael.

I have resized your photos because we couldn't see much of it otherwise. If you wanted to show some hires details then cut that part of the original and repost that.

Peter

[michaeljeger]

Thanks Peter, looks better now

Kind regards, Michael

Update: The Sotm USB Card works without installing any additional drivers.

System very stable. Sound amazing.

[manisandher]

Hey Michael, nice build.

I still have my SOtM USB card (PCI version, not PCIe) and SATA filter from back then...

... BUT... I haven't tried these SOtM pieces for a while now. I'm happy to do so once I have my PC resurrected, with its replacement mobo and memory DIMMs.

Well my PC is now resurrected and I did indeed try my SOtM PCI (not PCIe) card. And oh boy was it a relief going back to the Silverstone PCIe card. The SOtm totally killed the sound. I mean totally. Dull, boring, dead. (But the PCIe version might well be a different animal.)

Mani.

[michaeljeger]

Hi Mani

The SOtm PCIe version is not killing the sound.
While I cannot say it is better, it is for sure not worse.
Well the Silverstone is for sure a good solution.

For the time being, I leave the the SOtm in. I will wait till I receive the linear PSU, which i will directly hook up to the SOtm card.

Maybe that will change things.

I will report once received.

Michael