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In Reply to: RE: $13,000 stack should sound pretty good... posted by Mercman on June 16, 2016 at 07:38:50
So the Syrah is the music server with a USB output, yes?
And the Merlot is a DAC and you used your ASUS computer with it and the Syrah sounded much better than your ASUS running unmodified Windows 10 Pro hooked up via USB to that same DAC?
But the Syrah music server will not output to just any old DAC even though it has a USB output so we are indeed looking at a $13,000 solution?
Follow Ups:
"So the Syrah is the music server with a USB output, yes?"Yes
"And the Merlot is a DAC and you used your ASUS computer with it and the Syrah sounded much better than your ASUS running unmodified Windows 10 Pro hooked up via USB to that same DAC?"
Yes
"But the Syrah music server will not output to just any old DAC even though it has a USB output so we are indeed looking at a $13,000 solution?"
The Syrah works out-of-the-box with Playback Designs DACs. Remember, the OS is Windows 10 Pro and needs to have the USB driver installed to support High Speed USB Audio. The Syrah cannot be a universal player without all drivers being installed for every DAC.
Edits: 06/16/16
Is the Windows OS on the Syrah Server stripped down to the point that the average user cannot install the necessary driver for his own brand of DAC w/o first consulting with Playback Designs?
"Is the Windows OS on the Syrah Server stripped down to the point that the average user cannot install the necessary driver for his own brand of DAC w/o first consulting with Playback Designs?"
That is correct Abe.
OK, unfair question for a $13,000 solution perhaps, but some of us HAVE to ask! =:-0
It's not an unfair question at all.This all goes back to the fundamental debate of running a general purpose DIY platform, tweaked if you like, vs a turnkey branded product by a high-end audio manufacturer. There are valid pluses and minuses to each.
For the turnkey solution the big minus that I have mentioned before has always been the dependency on the manufacturer for any new features and updates as the industry moves rapidly forward.
In the case of the Playback Designs Syrah Server one cannot even attach his own USB DAC without first consulting with the manufacturer as the OS is stripped down to the point that the typical buyer of this product cannot install their own DAC driver.
You are apparently faced with a similar situation if you want your TIDAL, QOBUZ or ClassicsOnlineHD. You're at the mercy of the manufacturer to implement it for you.
I'm not making this stuff up.
So one has to seriously weigh the benefits of an optimized turnkey solution like the Syrah Server and others, vs 'rolling your own' along with some DIY tweaks.
Of course the benefit of the turnkey solution is that you take it out of the box, plug it in, and it works nicely immediately upon bootup. No brainer and perfect for some buyers. The downside is you have an expensive solution that often requires support from the manufacturer if you want new features and enhancements. You're on their schedule, not your own.
Edits: 06/16/16 06/16/16
"Of course the benefit of the turnkey solution is that you take it out of the box, plug it in, and it works nicely immediately upon bootup. No brainer and perfect for some buyers. The downside is you have an expensive solution that often requires support from the manufacturer if you want new features and enhancements. You're on their schedule, not your own."
You're kind of on a lot of people's schedules concerning the music software you use. The one thing you forgot Abe is that the system sounds great. Let's just see if I can do as well with my future evaluations.
but they're a proprietary tube made only by the component manufacturer and you can only buy them in lots of two, every few years.
Good luck!
Chris
Yup, it would be a real sacrifice to own the Sonoma Series. I'd be willing to be the poor bastard if I had the scratch :)
And didn't support the end user any longer?
If you can live with with no future support in that scenario, than go for it.
I guess I lean towards the 'future proofing' side of the fence.
Chris
If they went broke, the system would still work unless it totally failed. But I learned the hard way with Mark Levinson products that nothing is truly guaranteed.
But as you suggested, one has to do what you are comfortable with.
"You are apparently faced with a similar situation if you want your TIDAL, QOBUZ or ClassicsOnlineHD. You're at the mercy of the manufacturer to implement it for you."
As I am with my current Mac Mini, as it is configured in a way such that it plays from custom configured memory partitions of some sort that must be preloaded for each type of player be it JRiver, Amarra or Bit Perfect as well as QOBUZ, TIDAL, AMARRA For TIDAL and ClassicsOnlineHD.
Not that I mind because it sounds better that way rather than just loading and running the players as per normal, not inside the partition, which I can still do.
It appears that you have different boot partitions, or partitions from which you run your different applications, which are also easily accomplished in a DIY setup.
I haven't 'easily set up' anything computer-wise since the Apple IIe. ;-)
No Ivan. Perhaps with future software upgrades for the Syrah.
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