Best Windows OS for music server?

Oh, and going to probably run Asset!

I am not sure bootcamp supports server.

Why spend all that money a mac mini, bizarre. There are lots of silent PCs out. 

I'd need to agree. Seems like a lot of contortions to go through.  In my day to day computer experience, both boot camp and parallels are very good but not perfect, especially when drivers and other similar issues are concerned. Not something I'd want to use for audio. Stick with one or the other.

MacMini because it is gorgeous - stay with Mac OSX (better by far)

Run Minimserver or Asset Mac

Tog

The new intel small form factor pc looks interesting, you need to slam some ram and ssd in it, but would make a great windows based music player, smaller than a mini and apparently V quiet.

I guess a mac mini is the best way. A mac mini is not more expensive then a intel nuc, gigabyte Brix or Lenovo q190. I run my mac mini with asset upnp for Mac OS X. If you need Windows-programms then use windows on the mac mini in Parallels or VMWARE. 

yea, but you guessed wrong.

If you want hardware to run windows, you really want something designed that way.

Bootcamp is great but its not 100%, and there are lots of options out there for windows users, as good if not better than mini and cheaper to boot.

This from myself, a 100% apple user since 1989. But if I wanted to run windows, I would get a windows machine and pocket 200 quid.

Win7 Home is just fine.  I cant comment on mini vs small pc.  But as far as laptops go, my MacBook Pro retina runs Windows better than any other lapper I have ever had.

If you want to work in the MacOS for other things the Mac is the way to go.

Otherwise, grab an ASRock mini PC.

-Patrick

Yep!

if you really want a pc, the ASRock is faultless. It has power, small form and is pretty silent. I use one to run 3D Cad software (but not heavy duty photo realistic rendering), the ASRock range are designed for media distribution and come with excellent sound cards, if required.

Jason.

Dave,

You asking because you want to run Asset? Looks from some of your other posts that you have a QNAP NAS (an Intel one at that!). You know that it's likely that Asset will be available to run on QNAP in the near future, in beta now but with some problems.

I am a windows server/AD tech, working with MS products for over 20 years - all Mac mostly at home though and have been for over ten year, so understand question!  I have several Macs and turned this into a music server a few weeks back as it wasn't doing anything else, and wanted Asset on a different device from the NAS, and because Asset was a little more stable than than Twonky!  however, my Asset beta version runs out in a few days, and can't extend the beta, I asked...  So, until the full version is out for Mac, I figured I would toy with Bootcamp, and put Asset on there for a while - then revert back - it's only going to take me an hour or so, so figured I would do that!

thanks for all replies guy!  Dave

Jack,

your right but didn't want to get another beta for the NAS, only to have it run out again

Dave

Well said +1

Tog

Dave - try Minimserver - it is excellent.

Tog

Hey Tog,

The only problem with Minim Server is it does not support AIFF, I would have to convert my library to FLAC or something similar!

Dave. 

Dave

but it does according to their guide : http://minimserver.com/ug-library.html

cheers

aleg

I'm using a mac mini as well and compared OSX with Windows and prefer windows in bootcamp. OSX for me has something a little dull in the sound that you start to hear after a while. I used initially Windows 7 but now use Windows Server 2012 R2 and it's by far the best OS i've used for computer audio. Windows server handles real time processes much better as it has much less processes running in the background. Bass sounds tighter and deeper and i find especially the music flows better, more detail etc. Going from Windows 7 to Windows Server i found to be a similar improvement like putting a power supply to your source. It's not complicated to install Windows Server if you are familiar with installing windows 7. After everything is installed it's possible to remove all the visual aspects of windows and run the OS in core mode which is a very minimalistic windows version that only runs your music player and this gives another nice improvement. My setup is JRiver with Jplay which runs perfect under Windows server and for me it's the best setup i've heard. If you want more info there are several post about Windows server on the computeraudiophile and jplay forums.

Arjan

Hi Arjen,

Interesting!

But I really struggle to get my head round how a Windows OS can be better than any other...surely the hardware must have some/all the bearing on SQ, for example the Sound Card etc.

But I don't doubt your ears and I am not versed in this area...and not likely to be for lack of enthusiasm

Jason.

Really interesting Arjan.   

Very tempting to try.   Couple questions, i have are :

a)  How do you run the mini headless and access it for maintenance (software updates, backups, etc) ?

b) Does JRiver have a remote app that works on iDevices?

Would be grateful if you could say..

cheers

Jude

Hi Jude,

a) Windows server like most other windows as well have build in Remote Desktop that works great. I use the Microsoft Remote Desktop app for OSX on my Macbook and log into the Macmini for administration.

b) There is an iOS app called JRemote that works with JRiver, i think it's one of the best remote apps available.

When you change your windows installation to "core" mode all you get as a desktop is a command prompt so you need to be familiar with command line instructions if you need to do maintenance. How ever it's possible to return the visual interface if real maintenance is needed. But to be honest my install is only windows server with Jriver and Jplay and hardly needs any maintenance or backup.

Arjan

Hi Jason,

I certainly don't have the technical expertise to explain how the OS can influence the sounds quality so my experience is only based on trial and listen. I've also tried different music players like JRiver, Audirvana and Amara and they all sound different to me even though they are all "bit perfect". On the computeraudiophile forums people throw around the term "jitter" all the time as a possible explanation. I use the Naim DAC which completely resamples/reclocks the incoming data stream and yet still different sources/ OS's/Software players all sound different. So i've stopped trying to get my head round why and just like to experiment and listen to what i like most But for me Windows server has been the biggest discovery to enjoy computer audio so if you can give it a try!

Arjan

Thanks Arjan , the licence costs seem a bit steep, although I am not very familiar the product itself

j

JRiver Media Center is worth every penny on the PC side.  Best video player out there to boot.

Hi Jude,

I agree it costs a bit more then Windows 7 but compared to my total Naim system's costs i guess it's not too bad. You can download a trial version from Microsoft which lasts 180 days so plenty of time to give it a try and see if it's worth it. If you're interested in trying it, there is an optimisation script available (have a look on computeraudiophile forum, i'm not sure i'm allowed on here to post the link) that fully explains the Windows Server install and also makes it very easy to switch between visual interface or core mode.

Arjan

I agree, i started just using it for music playback. But now my Macmini is also connected to my flatscreen and used for ripped Bluray playback. The picture quality with MadVR rendering is quite amazing with silky smooth frame rates and JRiver keeping audio in perfect Sync. I sold my OPPO Bluray player so that tells something. I think JRiver is quite a bargain for what it can do.

Arjan