Akasa-based NUC for Roon and digital music playback

[Puma Cat]

What with the development and release of high-end audio music servers (not referring to streamers or network bridges here, but the actual computer system that serves up music files) e.g. Taiko Extreme, Pink Faun, and Grimm, etc.,
I just purchased an Intel NUC i7 in an Akasa case with Roon ROCK installed from a local seller for only $350.

This thread will start with a series of posts describing the set-up and with photos depicting the implementation so that it's easy to follow along.

Here are the specs:
NUC7i7DNB
Ballistix 16Gb RAM
NVMe M.2 256GB Sabrent
Akasa Plato X8 fanless case - dead quiet and does not get hot.
Has Roon ROCK OS installed.

It's in a fanless Akasa case which is dead quiet and keeps the computer cool.


The purpose of this project was to compare my current 2012 Mac Mini-based Roon Core, which my hypothesis was would be "noisier" as it's powered by a SMPS, has an internal fan, and quite bit of unnecessary "overhead" of componentry and functionality. Eventually, I'll likely be powering the Akasa NUC with a quiet linear power supply, but right now, just powering it with a laptop-style 19V/3.6A SMPS.

[Puma Cat]

Some pics of the set-up in the "remote server room"....



Top view showing EtherREGEN (under doorstop) at left rear, along with the AfterDark Master Clock and power supply, the Pace router at right, and the Akasa NUC Roon Core (which I've dubbed "Alita, Battle Angel", play on words there ) in front.

Everything powered by a Shunyata Gemini power distributor & Venom V14 NR PCs with Alpha and Venom ground cables going from EtherREGEN, Alita (via one of it's USB ports), and the Pace Router to Gemini's Altaira GP-NR subsystem, which makes everything really quiet.


Front view of Alita, Battle Angel servin' up tunes. 😺


Output from the Akasa NUC is via LC/LC optical fibre from EtherREGEN in the remote server room to the Lumin P1's SFP cage in the main audio rack in the listening area.

After just plugging it in and sitting down for a iisten, I was fairly blown away. It sounds....REALLY GOOD.

[Puma Cat]

Listening impressions:

Up and running, an even streaming files from Qobuz rather than with files ripped from digital disc, it already was immediately clear that it sounds WAY better than my Mac Mini Roon Core. It's quite a bit more "dimensional", "fleshed out"-sounding with more body as well as "spaciousness" between the "voices", both instrumental and vocal. I just connected an external USD drive with a bunch of content, it found all the files and now I can access files ripped from digital disks as well as streaming from Qobuz. So far, I am very impressed, and I'm not even powering it with a linear power supply, yet. First time I listened to it, I literally blurted out, "F*ck me!"

I've decided to dub the Akasa NUC, Alita, as in "Alita, Battle Angel", as this puppy kicks ass!

Something I noted immediately was that at the previous volume setting I had the P1's LEEDH volume setting at using the Mac Mini, the Akasa NUC playback was quite a bit louder in SPL than the Mac Mini; on average about 10 VUs with LEEDH. So, a playback at 40 with the Mac Mini only needed 30 with Alita.

[Formerly YB-2]

Interesting. I have a NUC sitting on the shelf that will eventually be the center of my digital efforts (likely this fall). Good to follow along.

[Puma Cat]

Yeah, I've been wanting to do this project for some time now. I had considered buying an SGC Sonicorbiter or a Roon NUCleus, but this one popped locally up for a very reasonable price.

A coupla guys that have done a number of builds of these have also mentioned that the aftermarket heat-sink type cases, like the Akasa Plato X8 case shown here, sound better than just using an Intel NUC in it's OEM Intel case/chassis.

[dkorbal]

Great thread Stephen. I use a SGC with an opticalrendu. Quite pleased with the setup.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by dkorbal

Great thread Stephen. I use a SGC with an opticalrendu. Quite pleased with the setup.

Thanks, Doug. I thought quite a bit about getting an SGC Sonicorbiter, but this came up locally for only $350, 1/3 the cost of a base-level Sonicorbiter. Too good to pass up.

[robfine]

Welcome to the NUC club. I have a NUC 10i7FNH in an Akasa case. That’s it on the left on top of the Shunyata. You can see the EtherRegen peeking out from behind the NUC. I have my NUC connected differently than yours. It is connected to the B-side of the the ER with a WW Starlight ethernet cable and directly to the May DAC with a Shunyata Sigma USB. For the time being, it is sitting on Herbies Tenderfeet. It sounds really good as you already know. It runs Roon controlled by an iPod Mini.

[robfine]

The green wire is part of my highly successful $5 ground wire experiment I discussed in another thread. A truly effective, super low cost, proof-of-concept experiment that will be leading to the acquisition of some Shunyata ground cables.

[Puma Cat]

Very cool, Rob! Thanks for posting. Cheers.