HAL's battery powered PC Music Server

[HAL]

Introducing the HAL battery powered PC Music Server.

Here is the thread at AudioCircle with user reviews:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=98467.0

Specs:

Windows 7 x64
Intel Atom 330 CPU
NVidia ION GPU
2GB RAM
64GB SSD
802.11 B/G WiFi or no WiFi
Gigabit Ethernet port
eSATA port
HDMI and DVI video output
Will do 1080i Blu-Ray video and multichannel sound via the HDMI output
5 USB2 ports
12VDC power input with external AC power supply
Power consumption 24 watts

Cost $699 + shipping USA only

Pictures:

[HAL]

The PC Music Server is for use with an external USB DAC. It comes preconfigured with bit perfect music player software installed.

If you have a DAC with an S/PDIF interface, the M2Tech hiFace and hiFace Evo USB to S/PDIF converters sound excellent with the system.

The user can choose between the AC power adapter and 12VDC battery power as desired.

The unit is very quiet with a new style of fan to reduce background noise to less than 16dBA.

[Hugh]

R,

Are you bringing it to RMAF?

Would love to give it a listen. :)

Thanks,

[HAL]

Hugh,
Yes, I will have the one in the picture at RMAF.

Will be in Thursday, will check with you then. :)

[woofersus]

Wow, very cool. I'll look forward to hearing it on Thursday as well. :applause:

[PhenomeNhan]

Great work, Rich. I'm a little green on these new computer music servers, as I have experience with only the Squeezebox for my music listening.

How do you control this server (what GUI, etc.)? How do you hook up a battery (which battery, also)? Pics would be great.

Thanks!

[HAL]

Great work, Rich. I'm a little green on these new computer music servers, as I have experience with only the Squeezebox for my music listening.

How do you control this server (what GUI, etc.)? How do you hook up a battery (which battery, also)? Pics would be great.

Thanks!

Nhan,
For the PC Music Server, I use either my Droid X2 phone or my Nook Color eReader running Android 3.x. There is a web browser based GUI for the PC software that works well with the web browser. The phone has an Android app to control the system. I will have both at RMAF to show folks.

The back of the unit has a coaxial 5.5mm x 2.1mm DC power connector. I use a [email protected] AGM battery with mine. Will not be bringing the battery to the show! :eek: The AC adapter works well, so that will be coming instead.

I have a PI Audio BatteryBUSS for my setup to run the Music Server and external drive off the battery. It will also run my Dodd Audio Battery Buffer and DIY DAC at my place.

[HAL]

Here is what the GUI for remote control from a web browser looks like:

[HAL]

The first four installations have gone well. Building the last of the next four for installation over the next few weeks.

If anyone purchases a MS-1 and external 2.5" 1TB eSATA drive, will preload the external drive with sample HiRez files from four of the download websites.

[HAL]

The first seven installs are completed. :applause:

So far everyone seems very happy with their purchase. :)

[HAL]

It looks like the original thread on the MS-1 Music Server is locked out as is the entire Industry Ads area on AudioCircle. The thread is available to read.

Had a request today to ship an MS-1 to Gary Dodd of Dodd Audio for evaluation. It will ship on Monday and he should have it early next week for listening trials. Looking forward to his comments. :)

[tesseract]

That is BS, I wonder what happened at AC?

[HAL]

From the note, someone in the industry gave them a hard time about an add they placed and did not meet the requirements of the section.

They are installing new software to deal with this type of issue. They announced lately that they are working on the next version of the forum software for AC and when it goes live will probably have the new Industry Ads software.

[Sandbagger]

First it was AGON, now AC

"AC the NEW AVS"

or I should say sure is headed that way

Guys can post in some sub forums non stop selling stuff, and others trying to do it the right way get locked threads or even banned:doh! 1:

[tesseract]

It's too bad that money is more important than information at some forums. It is also unfortunate that there are different rules for some than others.

I certainly hope AC doesn't turn into AVS, but I have been seeing trends... :(