Thoughts for next upgrade: CAPS music server or power treatment?

Computer Audio Asylum

Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

Posted by LewinskiH01 (A) on September 15, 2013 at 06:01:22

Hello.

I have been improving my system over the years and I'm now thinking where should I spend next. Nothing in particular I want to fix, but rather a desire to continue to improve sound - something that has given me results and pleasure over the last 7 years.

My thinking is I should either improve on the server, so to avoid using the USB board both for streaming and HDD access, to use a SotM-like card, etc, or else tackle power regeneration/filtration for the whole setup. Would appreciate your opinions as to bang for buck and improvements to expect from doing either.

Current setup:
- 2 dedicated power lines. One ends on a Oyaide R1, the other one on a hospital grade Leviton outlet.
- My only source is a computer, an ancient HP Pavilion laptop with 1.73 GHz Pentium processor, 2 GB RAM, small HDD. Music is stored (FLAC/WAV) on an external HD with its own power supply, connected thru USB to the laptop. I run JRiver MC and JRemote, and the laptop is for music only.
- Then an Audiophilleo 2 with PurePower into a Metrum Octave mk I, into a Lamm LL2, into a McIntosh MC275. Both the Lamm and Mc have rolled tubes, and both have DIY power cables per the Chris venHaus recipe, with Oyaide connectors.
- Interconnects and speaker cables are Purist Audio Museaus.
- Speakers are B&W 804S. I also have two 12" Rythmik subs.
- The room is fairly treated ( I made several treatments) and I use a measurement mic and software to help in setting up, especially the subs' location and settings.
- Vibrations have not been tackled yet, but I'm onto making a new rack and have some footers to experiment with.

Sorry for the amount of info above, but thought it was relevant to help focus the replies.
I realize this is a computer audio forum and there might be some bias towards improving the server, but I trust fellow inmates' judgement and hence the thread is posted here.

So what do you think?

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Topic - Thoughts for next upgrade: CAPS music server or power treatment? - LewinskiH01 06:01:22 09/15/13 (14)

RE: Thoughts for next upgrade: CAPS music server or power treatment? - Bob_C 11:21:03 09/20/13 (3)

RE: Thoughts for next upgrade: CAPS music server or power treatment? - LewinskiH01 06:12:23 09/21/13 (2)

RE: Thoughts for next upgrade: CAPS music server or power treatment? - Bob_C 11:25:33 09/21/13 (1)

RE: Thoughts for next upgrade: CAPS music server or power treatment? - LewinskiH01 05:11:58 01/26/14 (0)

RE: Thoughts for next upgrade: CAPS music server or power treatment? - fmak 07:27:04 09/16/13 (9)

RE: Thoughts for next upgrade: CAPS music server or power treatment? - LewinskiH01 14:26:28 09/19/13 (2)

RE: Thoughts for next upgrade: CAPS music server or power treatment? - fmak 21:32:19 09/19/13 (1)

RE: Thoughts for next upgrade: CAPS music server or power treatment? - LewinskiH01 05:57:18 09/21/13 (0)

RE: Thoughts for next upgrade: CAPS music server or power treatment? - LewinskiH01 20:34:10 09/17/13 (5)

Power Treatment - fmak 02:22:36 09/18/13 (4)

RE: Power Treatment - Jaundiced Ear 06:11:57 09/18/13 (3)

Digititis - Tony Lauck 08:52:14 09/18/13 (1)

LOL! - Jaundiced Ear 18:34:23 09/18/13 (0)

RE: Power Treatment - Bob_C 08:41:20 09/18/13 (0)

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