Streamer to kill the big boys for under $250

[Blizzard]

No that is a huge bargain at $155. I have no alternative to offer. My case was twice that price and that was for starters .

And it's not just the price that's attractive. The SBC in that box is built to industrial computer standards. It was made for digital signage to run around the clock in temperature extremes for years. You also get the slick Visual Bios, and UEFI boot capabilities, 64 bit architecture etc. 3 year Warranty, etc. No brainer.


Product brief here:

http://www.mouser.com/pdfdocs/nucde3815tykhede3815tybebrief.PDF

See datasheet here:

http://downloadmirror.intel.com/23745/eng/DE3815TYBE_TechProdSpec09.pdf

 

[nc42acc]

Hardware ordered. So you are saying now I need to be a MIT graduate to configure it?

 

[Blizzard]

Hardware ordered. So you are saying now I need to be a MIT graduate to configure it?

If you get the image or stick from me, all you will need to do is pop the stick in, and turn on the power button. If you order the Audiolinux image for 29 Euros, or the USB stick for 49 Euro's (plus shipping from Italy) direct from Audiolinux, you will need to configure yourself. How long it takes to configure, will be based on your skill level. As I mentioned earlier, it took me 44 emails and many hours. But I'm no Linux guru by any stretch. If you are, it would probably be much easier for you.

I can post a guide with screenshots for the initial BIOS setup to disable all unneeded peripherals. It's about a 2 minute procedure. All they do is add to the power consumption and noise footprint of the unit.


Here's the power consumption specs of everything on the board:

 

[nc42acc]

Order canceled. Mike how is this any use to the masses? Unless you plan to buy and package all items to be plug and play nobody but the geek audiophiles could pull this off.

 

[Blizzard]

Order canceled. Mike how is this any use to the masses? Unless you plan to buy and package all items to be plug and play nobody but the geek audiophiles could pull this off.

It is plug and play with the $90 stick I'm offering or the $75 download. I was just talking about if you wanted to save money and configure everything yourself. Please read over my previous post carefully.


"If you get the image or stick from me, all you will need to do is pop the stick in, and turn on the power button"


I guess I left out you will need to plug the power supply into the unit, one end of the USB cable into your DAC, other into the computer, and Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port as well. I've found the USB 2 bus sounds better than the USB3 bus. So I recommend using the USB 3 port for the OS stick, and USB 2 port for the DAC. The USB 3 port is the blue one. You also get faster bootup time as the stick is a USB 3 stick.

The Bios configuration is only to disable features not needed on the computer motherboard. You don't need to do it, but's it just a 1 time 2 minute procedure to reduce the power consumption and noise foot print of the unit.

 

[Blizzard]

Hi Guys,

There's a new streamer that has recently hit the market that uses a similar SBC and Linux installation. It's the only one I know of that has HQplayer NAA support. There's a fancy screen on the front, but isn't required for anything if used as an NAA. Likely only adds to the noise footprint. But it is another option that should offer the same functionality and sound. Price is only $1999:

http://www.exasound.com/PP/Overview.aspx

 

[Blizzard]

Okay, Piero has approved everything. So it's a go. Anyone who want's either a USB stick sent to them, or the image download to burn to stick let me know. Also let me know the DAC you are using so I can confirm Linux plug and play compatibility.

Thanks,
Blizzard

 

[nc42acc]

Don't patronize me Mike, you have no clue who I am or what background I may have in regards to computers. This is one sure way of running potential customers away from you.

It is plug and play with the $90 stick I'm offering or the $75 download. I was just talking about if you wanted to save money and configure everything yourself. Please read over my previous post carefully.


"If you get the image or stick from me, all you will need to do is pop the stick in, and turn on the power button"


I guess I left out you will need to plug the power supply into the unit, one end of the USB cable into your DAC, other into the computer, and Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port as well. I've found the USB 2 bus sounds better than the USB3 bus. So I recommend using the USB 3 port for the OS stick, and USB 2 port for the DAC. The USB 3 port is the blue one. You also get faster bootup time as the stick is a USB 3 stick.

The Bios configuration is only to disable features not needed on the computer motherboard. You don't need to do it, but's it just a 1 time 2 minute procedure to reduce the power consumption and noise foot print of the unit.

 

[Blizzard]

Don't patronize me Mike, you have no clue who I am or what background I may have in regards to computers. This is one sure way of running potential customers away from you.

I wasn't patronizing you. I was just explaining all the steps over clearly without leaving anything out. And only because I thought the way I explained it in the previous posts may not have been clear enough. Explaining that configuring Linux from scratch was also an option just made things more confusing I guess.

 

[nc42acc]

deleted

 

[nc42acc]

Okay, Piero has approved everything. So it's a go. Anyone who want's either a USB stick sent to them, or the image download to burn to stick let me know. Also let me know the DAC you are using so I can confirm Linux plug and play compatibility.

Thanks,
Blizzard

Vega

 

[Blizzard]

And what program / application should I use to access the thin client running audiolinux? Any special formatting of my NAS with music files?

This is configured specifically for use with HQplayer running on a server somewhere on the network. It can be configured for Jriver, Airplay etc, but that's not how I have mine configured. The reason it sounds so good is because of the NAA system HQplayer uses. As well as the resampling algorithms and modulators HQplayer uses. I've gone over all of these details already with Amir earlier in the thread.

 

[nc42acc]

I will stick to my Aurender, the convenience is worth the price of admission.

 

[Blizzard]

I will stick to my Aurender, the convenience is worth the price of admission.

This is for people who want better sound than the Aurender can provide for under $250. Actually $230 with the download. But no, HQplayer can't run on a NAS. you must have a server computer for HQ player as described earlier in the thread.

 

[nc42acc]

This is misleading as you would need a dedicated pc running HQplayer to even use the $250 streamer. You should include a minimum server spec sheet to enable the streamer. Then links to purchase the server and instructions to configure both. Plus the cost of any associated software.

 

[Blizzard]

This is misleading as you would need a dedicated pc running HQplayer to even use the $250 streamer. You should include a minimum server spec sheet to enable the streamer. Then links to purchase the server and instructions to configure both. Plus the cost of any associated software.

It's not misleading. I have explained everything clearly. You can't just skip to the end of a 5 page thread, not reading any of the content on the first 5 pages, then tell me I'm trying to mislead.

also, I'm not selling this hardware. Amazon is. I'm offering this advice to allow people to "build a streamer to kill the big boys for under $250"

 

[nc42acc]

Again Mike you are patronizing me. I read the entire thread and others. There are many "streamers" on the market that DO NOT require a dedicated server, Auralic Aries comes to mind. Yours REQUIRES a dedicated server. Your $250 streamer CANNOT beat or compete with the Aries.

It's not misleading. I have explained everything clearly. You can't just skip to the end of a 5 page thread, not reading any of the content on the first 5 pages, then tell me I'm trying to mislead.

also, I'm not selling this hardware. Amazon is. I'm offering this advice to allow people to "build a streamer to kill the big boys for under $250"

 

[Blizzard]

Again Mike you are patronizing me. I read the entire thread and others. There are many "streamers" on the market that DO NOT require a dedicated server, Auralic Aries comes to mind. Yours REQUIRES a dedicated server. Your $250 streamer CANNOT beat or compete with the Aries.

Ok explain to me how the Aries works without a server?

 

[nc42acc]

Can access files direct from a NAS, plug it into your network. NO server required, also has software for direct access too.

 

[amirm]

Folks, this is Blizzard's forum. Respect needs to exist in all communications with him.

And I don't see any patronizing. If such comes across it is accidental.