I’ve been using Minimserver for a few years now with a Linn-based system and a NAS. I’m now trying to help my son set up his system. He has his music library on his PC hard drive. He has a sound card (a SSL 2). That’s all he has at the moment. My problem is that I don’t really know that much (especially about what’s under the hood).
At present, he browses his file library manually using Windows Explorer and listens to the music through headphones plugged into the sound card. There has to be a better way to browse, find music, etcetera. But his budget is somewhat limited.
I did look at Foobar (which I remember working with Minimserver some years ago). But the UPNP plug in for Foobar doesn’t seem to work with the latest Foobar program.
So what is the most economic option for getting him set up using MinimServer? Does he need a streaming box (like the Wiim Pro)? Does he need a NAS? What’s the best way forward for him?
Thanks in anticipation of your assistance.
A simple way to achieve this is to install both MinimServer and XBMC/Kodi on the same PC.
Using XBMC as an renderer and selecting the library also present on the same PC you can play using the PC soundcard.
I installed XBMC years ago and this has been been working since.
Never updated so I don’t know if the latest versions will do the job.
See
this post for a solution to the foobar2000 issue.
If your son also has an Android device and a local wifi network, he can get BubbleUPnP from Google PlayStore. It will be the controller app, and Minimserver on the PC will be the server. I presume there is an easy way in Windows to set the PC sound card as the renderer.
Minimserver can duplicate the Windows Explorer browsing experience with its folder view. It offers other ways to browse the library, too. And Internet radio stations fit into the Minimserver library architecture nicely, using .m3u text files to hold their URLs.
When your son wants a better audio renderer, he will be halfway there with this setup.
(11-05-2025 04:02)Charles7 Wrote: [ -> ]I presume there is an easy way in Windows to set the PC sound card as the renderer.
This would need additional software such as the foobar2000 UPnP renderer or OpenHome Player.
Thanks everone for the helpful responses.
(10-05-2025 19:08)Peter StreamMagic Wrote: [ -> ]A simple way to achieve this is to install both MinimServer and XBMC/Kodi on the same PC....
Thanks, Peter. This worked. However, I'm not sure I was convinced by the Kodi interface. For me the program ran in a sort of 'fullscreen' mode which did not allow me to use the PC whilst Kodi was running. It's probably user-error!
(10-05-2025 20:26)simoncn Wrote: [ -> ]See this post for a solution to the foobar2000 issue.
Thanks again, Simon. The idea of using 32-Bit Foobar hadn't occurred to me. This did indeed allow me to install the UPNP plug in and see Minimserver on my NAS. So it should work for my son. This is probably the best (and certainly the cheapest) way forward for him right now.
(11-05-2025 04:02)Charles7 Wrote: [ -> ]If your son also has an Android device ...
When your son wants a better audio renderer, he will be halfway there with this setup.
Thanks, Charles. I don't think he's far away from wanting a better renderer. He first wants to work out how his set up can be made to work. Have you (or anyone else) any suggestions for an inexpensive renderer that works well with Minimserver? Is that WiiM Pro box any good (it's certainly cheap enough)?
Once again, thanks to evryone fo rgetting him up and running.
For me the program ran in a sort of 'fullscreen' mode which did not allow me to use the PC whilst Kodi was running. It's probably user-error!
Just minimize XBMC and you can use your PC while the music keeps playing.
Another possibility is to leave the PC based path and build a streamer based on a Raspberry Pi. lots of small DACs available that probable perform better than the WiiM Pro box. OpenHome configurable, high-res and controlled by for instance LUMIN,Linn, BubbleUpnp.....etc. app on your sons phone
I agree with this. I have a Wiim Pro Plus. The functionality is impressive but sound quality with the internal DAC is disappointing (to my ears). I haven't investigated RPi DACs but I would expect that a better RPi DAC should be available.
(11-05-2025 10:36)gnomus Wrote: [ -> ]Have you (or anyone else) any suggestions for an inexpensive renderer that works well with Minimserver?
I separate the UPnP renderer device from the DAC. My renderer box is a Denon LinkHS2. It receives and sends on PCM wifi up to 24-bit, 192 kHz, which is high quality. Any renderer that meets that specification should be good.
The digital signal then goes into a good quality DAC, of which there are many. I like my RME ADI FS-2.
I prefer this two-box setup to streamers that combine renderer and DAC. The streamers tend to be expensive and they often lock you into proprietary control software as well.