Minim server + Synology NAS kills custom dedicated pc on music sound quality

[DavidHB]

I share Simon's interest.

In general, noise is that component of a received transmission which is not part of the original signal and is typically unwanted. What this means in the present context rather tests my understanding of semiconductor devices, but I believe that Samsung are claiming that their SSD has improved data accuracy. This could have an impact both on timing within the stream and the need to use error correction systems, both of which (in my understanding at least) can affect perceived sound quality.

I also think that Simon has an interesting point. As I mentioned in my last post, the way that Linn decouple the DAC element of their renderers from the networking side is to lock the stream to what Linn claim is a particularly accurate clock within the DAC. They also make it clear that this approach is not feasible when external devices (e.g. CD players) are digitally connected to a Linn DSM; in such cases the DAC has to use the timing provided by the source. If the PS Audio Bridge is a separate device from their DAC (I know that it is packaged as an add-in board, but the fact that it has its own firmware rather suggests that it is, in effect, a separate device), you can see how the issues that Linn has been addressing might come into play.

The logic of this, as Simon says, is that renderers which insulate the analogue audio from timing and other issues in the digital stream will not produce an audibly different output when the storage medium for the digital source changes. Simon has an Akurate DS; the fact that he has experienced no change in sound quality when steaming media from different storage locations is consistent with Linn's stated design approach.

I look forward to the results of further tests.

David