The GulfStream-2
The GulfStream-2 is a successor of the GulfStream-1
The music streamer for the most demanding audiophile
After producing the GS-1 for over 10 years we gathered enough data and experience and confidence to build from scratch a real no-compromise monster. Many people don't believe in servers, claiming that properly delivered data is just data, zeroes and ones, and the quality of build is unimportant. This server is NOT FOR THEM.
We listened to enough proof that the last inch of sound quality can not be obtained in any other way than building an expensive, heavy, no compromise machine. From mains transformer, to linear power supplies, to special motherboards, special modules, special clocks, special RAM, special cooling system, totally specialized operating system, - EVERYTHING is done with fanatical attention to sound quality. Every smallest element of build went through rigorous blind tests and comparative evaluations.
GulfStream-2 is our own take on the best server money can buy. We know of 4 or 5 more expensive products out there and ours is ready to challenge each and every one of them, wether they are from Spain, Greece, Portugal, Korea or Netherlands.
When giving our Gulfstream the final musical acceptance, we used all our DACs, from the cheapest to the insanely refined Aphrodite and the sound quality in every test was superior to anything we heard before from any source we could buy, borrow or steal. That is a ray of hope - that chances are - YOU WILL LIKE IT TOO. After all - this equipment is a pleasure making tool.
There is no mysterious rocket science in our GulfStream2. Some people ask, if they can assemble a similar machine themselves. Not really, because most of it is custom built by us or for us, but you may build something similar only in "tech" parameters, but nowhere near - in sound.
We spent 16 years refining this machine, doing everyday tests and prototyping new solutions. We destroyed over tens of different motherboards, tried and tested (musically) every RAM brand available, same for processors, USB cards, SSD drives etc. We created our own version of Linux, that is as lean as possible, while optimizing the collaboration between Roon, Linux kernel, motherboard bios, processor core assignments, temperature control, fanless cooling, etc.
Our Linux which is stripped down and optimized to the bone, doesnt have any GUI functions but it allows us to do remote servicing by RemoteViewer app, and helping clients without physical shipping. We optimized Linux for sound - comparing it to well known Linux builds as well as Windows server with Optimizer and Fidelizer.
Our motherboard is selected from the best professional server types, not for gaming and not for graphics. The motherboard and it's bios is also remotely serviceable from our office. Just connect the LAN cable and provide internet connectivity.
The biggest issue is: DSD support up to 512x, ability to cool the processor in real time PCM to DSD upsampling (almost nobody on the market can do this), long term stability of the system.
Our GulfStream-2 can read say 6 databases simultaneously, and play to 6 different users at the same time (like to all family members). It is a multi user, multi login, multi client server.
We took the hard route of designing and building our own fully linear power supply for this streamer. Compared to GS-1 it is twice as complex and separated. It is not HDplex, it is not impulse, it is the big and heavy PSU that delivers the power in the most music-friendly way. The PSU is the key factor in making the streamer that is more analog sounding than vinyl.
It takes time and money to buy EVERY part from a different vendor from a different country. First we have to import and stock this stuff in bulk. Pay shipping, customs and duties. Make sure everything matches. Have a skilled IT man put everything carefully together which takes 3 full days and 2 days testing and troubleshooting. Everything is in house designed and specified: the 500 Watt EI transformers, with 8 secondary windings, each for different task. Then our PSU is fully linear, CLC filtered, regulated, with 12 outputs, each custom built for each task. The whole PSU is fanless.
The mother-board is the best we could find with really “open budget”. It is dedicated to Intel processors . It fully supports our custom BIOS and remote management in case of need to do Remote Viewer.
Other specs are:
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16 GB DDR4 -PRO type RAM (Linux will not read more ram anyway, so we decided not to use more) , the heart of the system - embedded drive carrying our own, home made audiophile Linux version, dedicated to Roon software and our hardware. It is so lean that there is not a single line of code we can remove further
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Tablet acts as a remote control
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This machine plays both PCM and DSD and as far as we are concerned it is the best that PC technology has to offer
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Power consumption 120W.
Playing in our special dedicated listening room that no other "normal" computer company can even comprehend.
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For quick playback you can instantly play from a memory stick, from USB external 3_1/2 inch drive or from the internet. A 5 inch drive requires a docking station with separate PSU to work.
- Our software of choice is only ROON which can play from internet radio, Tidal or QOBUZ. Your own NAS, your HDD stack and Tidal + QOBUZ will appear seamlessly in the ROON.
- All machines come with English version.
- All machines will play DSDx64, DSDx128 DSD256x and 512 in native form. Conversion on the fly is possible with right settings. It concerns both DSD to PCM and vice versa. It allows you to play internet streams like QOBUZ and Tidal MQA converted to DSD on the fly.
Specification is subject to change.
WHAT YOU WILL HEAR
The GulfStream-2 will be undeniably sound superior to any digital source you ever heard at similar price. In our tests it beats any CD transport - Esoteric VRDS Neo, Theta, Teac VRDS series, Philips PRO series, CEC TL-0 3.0, Levinson 31.5, Sonic Fronteers CDT-3, simply - anything out there. The sound is very dynamic, spacious, large, full of un-forced details and very musical at the same time. There is more meat on the bones of music, these are not cardboard cut-out skeletons. You get the sensation of immersion in a huge musical cloud of sounds, three dimensional and omnidirectional. That's what high end is all about.
What's new compared to GS-1?
The differences are too many to list , but the main ones are:
The digital signals are tube buffered and by the same means - optoisolated
The transformer is changed from toroidal to EI custom
The Power supply has twoce the number of secondaries and full ground isolation and twice the number of choke filters
The LAN input is fiber optic
There is new, tube driven i2S HDMI output
There is new, tube driven AESEBU output
There is new, tube driven i2S 3xBNC output
There is new, tube driven S/PDIF output
The Linux is completely re-done for this purpose
Passive cooling is by means of CNC chassis being a monolithic heatsink with heatpipes
Remote desktop help EVEN when the system is down (data-center motherboard)
What can we expect to hear?
Our internal tests with the Atlantic, Horizon and Aphrodite DACS reveal a very exciting presentation. The baloon with music got even bigger, engulfing all our room, letting us appreciate the whole threedimensionality of the music without sounding "fake". There is more body to the sound, more drive, cleaner notes, palpability is to die for. We vever thought that digital can sound THIS ANALOG but it can. The match with tube dacs is just unbelievable. The whole system comes to life like a Gennie from the bottle.
Key Parameters:
Music streaming server
LINUX based operating system (proprietory)
16 GB of RAM
i5 Pentium Intel
one fiber optic input LAN
one RJ45 input LAN
one USB 2.0 USB output (PCM760, DSD512)
one i2S 3xBNC output (PCM760, DSD512)
one i2S HDMI tubed output (PCM760, DSD512)
one AES/EBU output (PCM386)
one S/PDIF output (PCM192)
Power consumption 120 Watts
4 tube outputs with 8 triodes (E88CC)
Dual mains voltage
Dimensions 440 x 160 x 500 [mm] (deep)
Weight 28 kg netto, 45 kg boxed
Colors Charcoal Black or Sahara Silver
Music software: preinstalled ROON-CORE system
Display: none. Remote control: (not supplied) via TABLET with Roon Remote (or smartphone or iPad or laptop)