It has been a long time since I should have introduced the server that is the conductor of dematerialization in my system. It has been in place now for 1.5 years and has ultimately undergone few modifications during this period.
This is not my first server, but this one started from the fact that SoTM had just proposed an “optimized” motherboard in the sense that it offers, depending on the options, an external 10MHz reference clock input. Having owned a Cybershaft OP21A-D external clock for years now, which reclocks my DAC as well as a SoTM switch, the addition of a server in the dematerialized system seemed like a good idea.
First of all, let’s clarify that it is a server and not a player, so it only serves as a control tower to send music stored locally on an 8TB SSD to a dCS Upsampler or to a Diretta “target” connected via USB to the same Upsampler. Some will indeed say “all this for a server” and they will be right. Why spend so much money on a device that is not a player, for dematerialization made of “0” and “1”? The answer: certainly because I also enjoy building and dismantling servers and trying Linux distributions with real-time kernels. In short, this article will certainly spark discussions in many aspects, especially at a time when fiber is becoming widespread and streaming via platforms such as Qobuz or Tidal no longer requires local storage. In short, certainly the article of an “old” person who still enjoys buying albums and having fun building servers.
Let’s start with a brief description of the dematerialized system, which is architected around the 10 MHz reference clock.Cybershaft OP21A-D and its linear power supply.
Regarding the server, let’s start with a tour of the owner with the installed components :
- Carte Mère : SoTM sMB-Q370
- CPU : Intel i9-9900K
- RAM : 32Go : 2x16Go G.SKILL Ripjaws V DDR4-2666MHz (F4-2666C15D) and EMI Filters on RAM DDR4 (x2)
- DC/ATX Taiko DC/ATX
- Super clock SoTM sCLK-EX (Motherboard clocking and input Clock 10MHz 75 Ohms)
- 1 x SSD Samsung 870 EVO 8To for data on SATA port. SATA cables Pachanko Pure Référence
- Filter SoTM SATA
- Power Supply JCAT Optimo Nano for the SSD hard drive. Powered by the DC/ATC Taiko
- Network card SoTM sNI-1G on clock sCLK-EX
- 1 x M2 Revelation XXYZX for the OS.
- ATX Cables Fis Audio
- Power Supply Pachanko Linéaire non régulée (36V)
- HDPlex H5 3rd Gen
- OS: Linux Audio-Linux or GentooPlayer
Everything starts with the unregulated Pachanko power supply (click on the previous hyperlink for more information), which supplies 36 volts to the Taiko DC/ATX converter. This converter supplies ATX power to the motherboard via the 24-pin ATX connector and also to the CPU via the 8-pin connector. All the cabling is from Fis Audio. The motherboard is reclocked (Ethernet and USB) by the SoTM sCLK-EX superclock, which is itself reclocked at 10MHz by the Cybershaft OP21A-D.
This superclock is externally powered by a linear power supply from Reddo. It also reclocks the SoTM sNI-1G Ethernet card, which is powered by a Reddo linear power supply. Note that this network card is connected via a specific connector to an M2 port on the motherboard.
The 8TB Samsung hard drive that hosts the library is powered by an Optimo Nano power supply from JCAT, which is also connected to the Taiko DC/ATX converter. Finally, a SoTM filter has also been added to the SATA part of the hard drive.
To finish, the OS (mostly Audio-Linux) is hosted on an M2 XXYZX hard drive (presentation here) which is powered by a 5V Reddo linear power supply.
In fact, it is difficult for me to say if this server makes a difference compared to others because I have never compared it to competitors and I don’t really have the ambition to transport it given the power supplies and clocks needed to make it work. There are still limitations, particularly in terms of CPU capabilities.
- Indeed, I installed the largest possible CPU (an Intel i9 9900K) which is powerful but heats up a lot and would require further optimization of passive cooling. In the context of optimization with HQPlayer and fairly demanding filters/modulators, the temperature can quickly rise between 60 and 80°C. Nevertheless, I do not use HQPlayer in this configuration and ultimately it is not a big problem for me on a daily basis.
- The motherboard supports older generation CPUs and certainly newer generations, especially from AMD, could bring interesting results from a sound quality perspective.
SoTM has also released a server/player based on the same foundation called the sMS-2000. It is quite comparable to the product I built except that it additionally has the tX-USBx10G USB card. There is little information on the power supply part except for references that are not found on the SoTM website (sPM-ACDC100 for AC-DC conversion and sPM-ATX100 for DC-DC ATX conversion) and some information below. No information is available regarding the cooling, which I assume is passive. The configurations revolve around the i7-9700 CPU (512GB SSD & 16GB of RAM), i7-9700K CPU (1TB SSD & 16GB of RAM), and finally, like mine, an i9-9900K (4TB SSD & 32GB of RAM). It is mentioned that an additional M2 SSD can be added as well as 6 SATA SSDs (not sure if they would fit in the case). Prices range from €10,300 for the basic configuration to €11,300 for the high-end configuration.
High-end audio Power Supply
- Convertisseur AC-DC (sPM-ACDC100)
- Topologie en pont complet à déphasage
- Circuit PFC actif
- Seconde supérieure filtre anti-bruit d’ondulation de scène
- OVP, UVP, protection contre les courts-circuits
- Circuit de pré-charge pour éliminer le courant d’appel
- Grand condensateur de 16 000 uF pour une stabilité et un faible bruit
- Plage de tension d’entrée CA : 100 V CA ~ 240 V CA
- Fréquence : 50 Hz / 60 Hz
- Courant : convertisseur DC-DC maximum 8 A
- (sPM -ATX100)
- Topologie Buck synchrone
- Filtre de bruit d’ondulation de deuxième étage supérieur sur chaque sortie
- Alimentation ATX compatible
- OVP, UVP, OTP, protection contre les courts-circuits
- Toutes les alimentations synchronisées par une source d’horloge
To conclude, I had a lot of fun thinking about my needs, assembling, and now listening to this server and this “digital chain” entirely clocked at 10MHz via the Cybershaft reference clock. Now it’s time for discussions, and certainly also for sharp feedback from frustrated social media users about the impact of a server: it doesn’t matter, I’m having fun.
Join the discussions on the forum at this link.
