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Music Server VS Laptop

I'm asking this question because I have no idea. Is there a benefit to buying a music server over just using a laptop? Today is my second day of streaming from a Western Digital 2 TB network drive with my laptop using Foobar 2000. Laptop is connected to my Audiolab 8200CDQ with a USB type A - type B cable. I'm able to play 24bit/96khz and I think it sounds great, but I have no idea if I'm somehow comprimising my listening experience with this set up. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
donjr
11 responses Add your response
4est
507 posts
 
There are dedicated music servers that are better than off the shelf computers for audio. One would need to have a pretty hot DAC and a well tuned system to hear it. I'd stay put unless you've got money burning a hole in your pocket.
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highend64
245 posts
 
When I didn't have a preamp in my system, I went and use my laptop with Lexicon Omega interface as a pre with great results. I use wav format for my music. What format are you running?
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,835 posts
 
Laptop is perfectly fine as a music server. The connection to the DAC is what matters in terms of sound. I like to use a wireless connection to a network player like Squeezebox and then run to DAC from there if desired. This helps isolate the devices making the music from the computer which is a good insurance policy.

donjr OP
1,335 posts
 
Thanks for the great answers. I've been using flac format. Not sure if that's what I should be using but it seems to be working fine.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,835 posts
 
FLAC is a good choice.
donjr OP
1,335 posts
 
Thanks Mapman. That's good news. I'm using Exact Audio Copy to rip CD's to my network drive. It seems to work very well.
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highend64
245 posts
 
Donjr, where can I download Exact Audio Copy?
richard_stacy
686 posts
 
You may want to check out DBPoweramp for ripping. Accomplishes the same thing as EAC, much more user friendly and better tagging system.
donjr OP
1,335 posts
 
www.exactaudiocopy.de. I find it to me amazingly simple to use.
david12
1,454 posts
 
Can anyone advise on Backup. For me, the main consideration is not to lose my treasured music on CD. If I do go the Music server PC route, I will get rid of my CDs.

Is it possible to say there are differences in making Bit perfect backups with the server or PC/Mac
lewinskih01
906 posts
 
Check out the ripping guide over at computeraudiophile.com. They ahve put together this guide which allows you to just doing it right instead of doing a bunch of research to figure out the best way. I follow it to the t and works great.
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