Lampizator Komputer vs. Aurender N10

[microstrip]

I'm with you as that makes the most sense to me. Once you go ethernet you never go back.

We could think that when using ethernet the quality of the router would be a valid subject for debate. I would expect people even to develop custom routers for audio or tweak routers, however I do not see products in this zone.

 

[dminches]

We could think that when using ethernet the quality of the router would be a valid subject for debate. I would expect people even to develop custom routers for audio or tweak routers, however I do not see products in this zone.

The guys over at computer audiophile are advocating fiber optic instead of copper for the network.

 

[Believe High Fidelity]

For what it is worth, I was streaming from a windows 10 PC with a regular power supply and normal fans. I replaced that with a fan-less PC with an upgraded power supply running Windows Server 2012R2. The resulting sound was significantly better - quieter, more detail, etc etc. The streamer matters.

I wasn't suggesting the streamer didn't matter. On the contrary the focal point was degraded sound quality using a Roon endpoint.

My observation about the options is all based on the location of the core server. If the endpoint works out well and there is little to no effect on the sound then you can add Roon to anything/anywhere without limitations. With a server in the audio room, noise generated from the components are costly to avoid so the aforementioned components become mandatory..

Naturally a dedicated purpose built unit will sound better, but what if you could move it the office and it still sound them same? Would you build it differently?

 

[dminches]

Gotcha.

Anything I have built for audio purposes has been fanless and passively cool for reasons you are stating - flexibility in where I put the unit. It does become a little more of a challenge when you are trying to upconvert to DSD256 or DSD 512.

 

[wisnon]

uRendu is linux based and limited to dsd128 for upsampling purposes. Blizzard gave an even cheaper alternative to uRendo with a Nuc and audiolinux and fiber media converters. $400 in total but still limited by linux.

A windows type aydio pc can pass dsd512.

Do people want native playback or upsampling. That is the divider...

 

[dminches]

Yes and no. I upsample PCM to 384 but not to DSD. I upsample DSD to DSD128. My Big7 is only DSD256 so DSD512 is out or reach right now.

 

[wisnon]

Of course it goes without saying that the Dac must be compatible.

Not sure linux can do pcm 384 either.

 

[Comedus76]

That is not correct.

uRendu (and other Linux based renderers like SoTM) are not 'limited' and can do PCM384 and DSD512 and DoP128. It all depends on what USB card your DAC has. If it is an Amanero card (like Lampizator and T&A Dac 8 DSD), it won't play Native DSD but will be limited to DoP128 because Amanero has not updated it's firmware. XMOS based USB DACs will happily play DSD natively upto DSD512 using the uRendu. In short, the limitation is not Linux/uRendu but the firmware on the Amanero USB cards.

Hope that helps.

uRendu is linux based and limited to dsd128 for upsampling purposes. Blizzard gave an even cheaper alternative to uRendo with a Nuc and audiolinux and fiber media converters. $400 in total but still limited by linux.

A windows type aydio pc can pass dsd512.

Do people want native playback or upsampling. That is the divider...

 

[wisnon]

Wow...this must be new. Only in Jan I recall people at CompAudiophile saying that uRendu would need to the latest Linux kernel of Dec 2016 and it was not going to happen anytime soon. URendu was the limitation as they would take time to integrate the new Linux. U stand corrected if this has recently changed.

 

[dminches]

I think Comedus76 has it right since a lot of people on Computer audiophile are upsampling to DD512 and they are using microRendus. I know Amanero's slowness in updating their firmware has been an issue discussed over there.

 

[wisnon]

Typo...I stand corrected. Darn smartphone keyboard.

 

[Comedus76]

The Linux kernel gets updated regularly for DACs that develop/update their firmware to enable native DSD playback via USB using "Altset 2" and uRendu incorporates the kernel updates when they do their update releases also. The issue is that Amanero hasn't updated their firmware free of glitches (apparently its stable upto DSD256 but not DSD512) for it to be safely added to the Linuz kernel update yet. When they get their firmware glitch free, the kernel update will be a test & release cycle away and then a uRendu update after that in short order but first Amanero has to get it right which they haven't done in more than a year now - it's discouraging that Lampi and T&A aren't pushing Amanero to fix this quickly. In the meantime, like you said, one could use a Windows renderer to send DSD512 to the Lampi and T&A DACs.

Wow...this must be new. Only in Jan I recall people at CompAudiophile saying that uRendu would need to the latest Linux kernel of Dec 2016 and it was not going to happen anytime soon. URendu was the limitation as they would take time to integrate the new Linux. U stand corrected if this has recently changed.