Silent and Fanless PCs as Music Servers
TL;DR: Fanless and silent PCs, especially purpose-built music servers like those from Aurender, are a top choice for audiophiles aiming to eliminate unwanted noise in their audio systems. By removing fans and mechanical hard drives, and using high-quality components like galvanically isolated USB ports and SSDs, these setups ensure clean, high-fidelity playback of both local and streamed music.
- Standard PCs introduce noise via fans, hard drives, and ground loops
- Fanless mini PCs reduce mechanical and electrical noise for cleaner audio
- Aurender servers (e.g., N200, N20, A1000) are engineered for audiophile-grade playback
- Aurender systems offer silent operation, SSD storage, and USB isolation for pure signal paths
- Purpose-built servers outperform general-use PCs in sound quality and reliability
Even though many topics can divide audiophiles, there’s one thing that every serious listener has in common. It would be hard to find an audiophile who won’t agree that unwanted noise in a home sound system or on-the-go listening setup is the enemy.
That unwanted noise can come from external sources as well as sound systems themselves. Because audiophiles have a high level of control over their gear and components, they can take action to eliminate unwanted noise. That means realizing a pristine sound environment, one free of distracting hums, crackles, and other sonic intrusions.
Fanless PCs have become an audiophile-approved source device because they can help to reliably deliver high-resolution, locally hosted sound that’s free from digital grit. By eliminating internal fans, along with other options like using solid-state storage, audiophiles can build a cleaner, more distraction-free signal chain.
Let’s take a closer look at the popularity of fanless PCs, along with how to minimize noise and maximize enjoyment in your home audio setup.
Why Fanless and Silent Music Servers Matter for Audiophiles
Source devices play a crucial role in every sound system. No matter if it’s a silent and fanless PC acting as your music server, a digital audio player (DAP), a turntable, a CD transport, or another source, high-quality audio starts with the source device.
There are many pros and cons to consider for each type of source device. It’s not fair to say that one is categorically better than the other in the big picture. The subjective side of audio performance, including the character of the audio (think of the warm and rich nature of analog sound vs the clarity and consistency of digital), is too important to make that judgment.
However, within these specific categories of source devices, there are objective differences in quality. Consider the many options for digital audio, which range from entry-level smartphones using standard streaming apps to a silent, fanless mini PC and similar options that host lossless audio files for listening.
An entry-level smartphone will play audio reliably, but it doesn’t have the technology onboard to play the high-quality music that audiophiles expect.
A fanless server, PC, or music server streamer, on the other hand, can be the first link in an audiophile-grade chain that delivers unparalleled sound from both streamed and locally hosted audio.
And, as Music Server Tips points out, a server can easily hold an incredible number of locally hosted files, even especially large music collections. And, a server provides the internal storage needed to archive large collections of physical media, like vinyl, in a digital form that won’t degrade over time.
Locally hosted, high-quality, lossless files are especially valuable to many audiophiles because they represent the pinnacle of digital source quality. Debates about analog vs digital sound aside, these files offer strong consistency, high fidelity, incredible depth of sound, and full ownership – something that even the best streaming services can’t provide.
Challenges With Listening on Standard Computers and Servers
Standard computers are designed to be a jack of all trades, so to speak – they perform capably at many tasks, but don’t tend to excel in specific contexts. That’s certainly true for standard PCs, which can create noise that’s passed along the audio chain through:
- Fan noise. The whirring of fans inside a standard PC tower can add acoustic interference that masks small yet important details in audio.
- Mechanical hard drives. Mechanical hard drives have many moving parts, which can create vibrations that lead to subtle distortions in downstream components, like digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and amplifiers. They can also create minor but noticeable acoustic interference from their basic sounds of operation.
- Ground loops. When electrical components are grounded to different points in a system, they create the potential for electrical noise to flow through an audio signal path and cause a buzz or hum that interferes with listening.
- USB and power supply noise. USB data ports and power supplies can both create interference that makes its way into the audio chain through the cables that connect components. This lowers the quality of the listening experience.
Benefits of Fanless PCs and Fanless Mini PCs
Fanless PCs and mini PCs are cooled through alternative means, removing the potential for fan noise. These devices also use solid-state drives (SSDs) instead of mechanical hard drives, which means no spinning or moving parts that vibrate or otherwise lead to electromagnetic or radio frequency interference.
Fanless PCs are ideal as music servers because of their extremely low noise profile. They’re commonly used as a silent PC for music production by professionals, as well as the foundation of a home audio system for listening to locally hosted files and audio streaming.
Why Aurender Is a Game-Changer for Digital Audio
Aurender has been a leader in the digital audio space since 2010. This brand’s commitment to digital listening quality and fidelity has been clear since audiophiles started using its products. Its closed system of products offers truly optimized connections between hardware and software to deliver incredible listening experiences.
While that closed system restricts compatibility with audio components from other brands, it also ensures an incredibly high level of quality with a full Aurender system in place.
Aurender is committed to a few high-level objectives that clearly support audiophiles, as the company explains:
- Pushing the boundaries of audiophile technology.
- Creating a simple and streamlined user experience.
- Delivering exceptional audio experiences without compromise.
These core principles drive Aurender’s purpose-built music servers, designed with the wants, needs, and expectations of audiophiles in mind. Far from a general-use PC repurposed into a music server, both the hardware and the software that constitute these specialist units are designed from the ground up to deliver incredible audio quality.
What specific qualities set these fanless PC music servers, like the Aurender N20 and Aurender N200, apart from a computer that’s just standing in as a server?
- A fanless chassis that supports ultra-quiet operation and avoids introducing additional noise – acoustic interference – into the audio chain.
- Solid-state drives that offer faster performance as compared to traditional mechanical hard drives. At the same time, these drives also mitigate the vibrations and acoustic interference that are common in mechanical hard drives, delivering a better audio experience.
- Galvanized USB isolation, which blocks the electrical noise that’s common with standard USB ports. This isolation prevents the transmission of electrical noise downstream to the DAC and other components.
- Proprietary caching and library management functions are designed with audiophiles in mind, leading to incredibly accurate, bit-perfect playback of high-quality audio files.
- Seamless integration with high-fidelity audio streaming services supports listening to both locally hosted files and external libraries of music.
- Certain Aurender products include a CD ripping feature, creating a system that gives you the best music server with a CD ripper as well. From existing files to adding new music to your library, Aurender gives listeners the options they need to curate their music collections.
Ideal Aurender Models for Serious Listeners
Here, we briefly highlight a few key Aurender music server models for audiophiles interested in building their home music server system. Looking for more details? Check out our in-depth guide to the different levels of Aurender products and find more product specs for the Aurender servers featured here in the last section of this blog.
Aurender A1000 Network DAC
The Aurender A1000 Network DAC is an excellent entry-level music server for this esteemed audiophile brand. A server, streamer, and DAC all in one, it’s the foundation of a high-quality listening experience for discerning ears.
Aurender N200 High-Performance Music Server
The Aurender N200 High-Performance Music Server delivers the source files needed for an all-digital listening experience. Connect it to your own carefully selected components, including a DAC, to deliver consistently high-fidelity playback precisely tuned to your preferences.
Aurender N20 Streaming Music Server
The Aurender N20 Streaming Music Server stands out as a high performer even among this brand’s exceptional offerings. Count on stability, speed, and the highest sound quality for both streaming and locally hosted files, supported by your own selection of audio components like a DAC and speakers.
Setting Up a Silent Music Server for Your Home System
Eliminating noise when possible and reducing it when it can’t be fully avoided is crucial for truly exceptional audio output. The major components of the digital chain for music servers include, from source to output:
- The music server itself, for hosting local files and enabling streaming from online sources.
- When the server doesn’t also include additional components, an amplifier to boost the signal strength and a DAC to convert the signal to a format compatible with headphones or speakers.
- The headphones or speakers, to actually deliver the audio.
Of course, your system might be more complex – having speakers in multiple rooms, just as one example – but these are the foundational components.
Wondering how to bring locally hosted files onto your Aurender server? Read our detailed guide to transferring music.
For eliminating and reducing noise whenever possible, keep these tips in mind:
- Use solid-state hard drives, and not mechanical hard drives, to eliminate the noise that mechanical drives create.
- Opt for isolated USB outputs, like the galvanically isolated USB outputs included in Aurender products. Avoid standard USB hubs.
- Use clean power sources or dedicated, audio-grade power conditioners. Avoid noisy, entry-level power supplies.
- Keep digital and analog gear physically isolated whenever possible to avoid noise contaminating either type of component.
- Use headphones to limit or eliminate external noise.
- As a more ambitious project, create a dedicated listening room with acoustic treatments, careful speaker placement, speaker stands that reduce noise and vibration, and other gear that helps you enjoy your music without unwanted noise.
Recommended Aurender Models for a Fanless Music Server Setup
Trying to choose the right Aurender music server model for your needs? Find more details about the Aurender models we’ve mentioned in this guide to fanless PCs as music servers here.
- Type: Combination music server and DAC
- Key Features: Roon ready, combination music server and DAC, versatile inputs and outputs for seamless integration.
- Best For: Entry-level audiophiles
- Price Range: $3,200
- Why We Recommend It: A music server, streamer, and DAC all in one unit, the Aurender A1000 can also act as a pre-amp. Whether streaming or using locally hosted files, using cabled connections to speakers or wireless casting, this Aurender server fits the bill.
- Type: Music Server
- Key Features: Roon ready, USB and coaxial digital outputs, low-noise linear power supply
- Best For: Audiophiles who want to bring their listening to the next level
- Price Range: $6,300
- Why We Recommend It: Need exceptional, and exceptionally consistent, performance from your music server? The Aurender N200 delivers with cache-based playback, increased system memory, and careful design and construction that minimizes noise for a better listening experience.
- Type: Music Server
- Key Features: Roon ready, ultra-high-performance digital output network transport, multiple output options.
- Best For: Advanced audiophiles
- Price Range: $12,500
- Why We Recommend It: Connected to your DAC, the Aurender N20 becomes a complete, high-performance digital audio front-end solution. Flexibility, speed, power, and performance combine in a single unit that delights experienced audiophiles every step of the way.
Exceptional Music Servers from Moon Audio
Finding the right music server, and not settling for a PC jury-rigged to stream and host your personal files, is a key step toward an exceptional digital audio experience. Quality always matters to audiophiles, and it’s a top priority when so many components can introduce unwanted noise and interference.
Don’t settle for “good enough.” Pick the best possible solution for your music with a purpose-built server and enjoy the results for years to come.
Shop high-quality audio gear at Moon Audio. Explore our full Aurender collection to find the best fanless PC solution for you.
