Contra Tube — My Handcrafted Audiophile Music Player (AIMP-based)

[zagor]

Every audiophile eventually realizes that silence is not the absence of sound — it’s an essential part of it.



Contra Tube I - Audiophile Music Player

After years of experimenting with DACs, audio streamers, and players that are often far from affordable — especially those that proudly carry the word “audiophile” in their name but still lack features I find essential — I decided to build my own audiophile music player, focused solely on delivering pure digital sound quality.

That’s how Contra Tube was born — my personal series of handcrafted, completely silent audiophile music players, designed for AIMP and Daphile, and dedicated to high-resolution playback formats such as FLAC.

A key element of this project has been the careful selection of each component. Nothing was chosen randomly — every part serves a single purpose: achieving absolute silence and maximum sonic purity.

I selected the ASUS Xonar Essence STX II sound card not for its brand name, but for its remarkable technical balance.
The card offers a 124 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for line outputs and around 120 dB for headphone output. It features a TCXO (temperature-compensated crystal oscillator) as an ultra-precise clock source, and its integrated amplifier can drive headphones up to 600 Ω.
It also employs high-quality LDO voltage regulators and WIMA capacitors for stable, noise-free power delivery. Within the audio community, this card has long been regarded as a “legitimate hi-fi component” — far beyond what typical integrated sound cards can deliver.

For the power supply, I chose the SilverStone Nightjar ST50NF (500 W) — a fully fanless PSU.
As reviews confirm, it operates at 0 dBA, has no moving parts, and provides a stable 500 W continuous output with ±3% voltage regulation.
Tom’s Hardware noted that this model rivals other premium passive PSUs, offering a strong +12V rail (38A) for system stability. Overclocking forums often praise its robustness, reliability, and build quality, noting it feels “appropriately heavy and built to last.”
This PSU allows my system to operate under high loads (multiple HDDs, DAC, GPU) without introducing any electrical noise or mechanical hum.

For CPU cooling, I use the Arctic Cooling Alpine 12 Passive, a completely fanless cooler that efficiently dissipates heat from Intel CPUs up to 47 W TDP.
Its surface is black-anodized for improved thermal radiation, while the micro-porous structure enhances heat transfer.
It comes pre-applied with MX-2 thermal paste and features simple, tool-free installation compatible with Intel LGA-115x sockets.
Reviews confirm that with minimal airflow inside the chassis, the Alpine 12 Passive maintains stable temperatures in complete silence and requires zero maintenance — since there’s no fan to attract dust.

Although the concept behind Contra Tube was absolute silence, the case includes two 80 mm Arctic Cooling P8 Max fans, added purely as a safety measure.
These fans use dual NMB ball bearings, operate between 400 – 5000 RPM, and can completely stop (0 RPM mode) when PWM duty falls below 5%.
At around 400 RPM, they are effectively inaudible. I configured them in BIOS to run continuously at low speed as a preventive measure — not because the components require extra cooling, but simply to maintain a steady internal air circulation under all conditions.

The first Contra Tube was built as a proof of concept — to demonstrate that a carefully assembled, completely silent computer can perform like a true high-end music component.
No fans, no mechanical noise, no unnecessary background processes — just a stable, bit-perfect source focused entirely on playback quality.

The result is a remarkably natural and open sound, almost analog in its presentation, with a pitch-black background and zero electronic interference.
Playback is controlled via the MonkeyMote app on a tablet, so the device remains sealed and untouched during use — just like a dedicated high-end player.
Optionally, it can also be controlled via a Bluetooth/Wi-Fi remote.


Contra Tube – First Generation

Component                    Description

Case	SilverStone GD02 – aluminum front panel (silver finish)
Motherboard	ASUS H110M-R
Processor	Intel i3-7100
Cooling	Arctic Cooling Alpine 12 Passive
RAM	Crucial 2×4 GB
System Drive	256 GB Patriot SSD
Music Library Storage	2×2 TB Western Digital HDD in RAID 1
Sound Card	ASUS Xonar Essence STX II
Power Supply	SilverStone Nightjar ST50NF 500 W – fanless
Fans	2 × Arctic Cooling P8 MAX (dual ball bearing, BIOS-controlled ~400 RPM)
Operating System	Windows 10 IoT
Audio Software	AIMP (exclusive WASAPI mode)
Remote Control	ICANING G20S PRO BT remote + Samsung Tab 4 (Android 9) with MonkeyMote app

[zagor]

Contra Tube II — Audiophile Music Player with Integrated 4.3” Display

During the development of the first version, the idea for the next step naturally emerged — an integrated display that would not only serve an aesthetic purpose but also show VU meters, playback information, and the album cover currently being played.

The second generation brings a series of improvements over the original model:

- Integrated 4.3-inch LCD display — a visually appealing and functional addition that gives the impression of a genuine hi-fi component.

- PCIe Wi-Fi and Bluetooth card TP-Link Archer T5E (AC1200) — provides dual-band wireless connectivity (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) and Bluetooth 5.0, making the device far more flexible and modern in terms of connectivity.

- MSI GeForce GT 1030 2 GB (fanless) — offloads the processor and contributes to overall system stability.

- 2×8 GB RAM — enhances system speed and responsiveness.

- 2×12TB HDDs in RAID 1 mode — for reliable storage of large collections of audiophile-grade audio files (Seagate Iron Wolf)

Thus, Contra Tube II was created — a device built on an improved hardware platform and housed in a SilverStone GD02MT chassis with an integrated 4.3-inch LCD screen.
Using the remote control, the user can choose between twenty different VU meter designs or display the album cover currently playing.

This feature gives the unit a distinctive visual identity and the impression of a true, standalone audiophile component — rather than a conventional computer.

To date, two Contra Tube II units have been produced, successfully combining refined design, technical stability, and practical everyday usability.

[zagor]

Contra Tube III – A New Step in Evolution


As time went by, the need arose to create a new device — one that would surpass the previous two generations in performance, refinement, and visual appeal.
My first goal was to find a case of top-tier quality, with solid construction and a stronger visual presence. Among the shortlisted options were models such as the SilverStone LC18B-V64, SilverStone LC18, and Thermaltake DH202, but the final decision was the OrigenAE S16T.





Like its competitors, it features a 7-inch screen — but this case stood out as the most elegant and best built.
The front panel, side walls, covers, and drive mounts are all made of aluminum, anodized in a silver finish.
The material thickness of 5 mm gives the entire chassis a sense of solidity and premium craftsmanship.








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Two Displays – A Double Challenge

The case originally came with a single 7-inch screen. However, I wanted to take it further — by adding a second identical display, both for symmetry and enhanced functionality. That’s when the real challenges began.

The front panel where the second display was to be installed didn’t have a thinned 1 mm section (intended for screen mounting), but instead was a solid 5 mm thick aluminum block.
CNC machining was not an option, since the front panel and side walls form a single U-shaped piece, preventing the machine from reaching the inner surface.
Of course, I realized this only after purchasing both the case and the additional screen.

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Handcrafted Precision and a Bit of Courage

The solution — a handheld milling machine.
I found a small new unit online for just €20 and bought a high-quality aluminum milling bit for the same price.
To reach the inner corner, I had to trim part of the milling base using a grinder. I also made a manual guide and carefully removed the material layer by layer — exactly 4 mm out of the total 5 mm thickness, in two passes of 2 mm each.

An error of even half a millimeter would have resulted in visible damage or irreversible ruin of the case.
Each step therefore required precision, patience, and complete focus.
In the end — success.
After drilling four mounting holes for the screen, the metalwork was done. The result looks perfect — as if the case came that way from the factory.




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Two Screens – Two Worlds

In the new configuration, the left screen displays the album artwork currently being played, while the right screen allows selection among over 30 different VU meter designs or a spectral frequency analyzer.
This creates a powerful visual impression and gives the device the distinctive presence of a true standalone hi-fi component.








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Contra Tube III — Upgrades Compared to Generation II

•   Chassis: OrigenAE S16T – fully made of 5 mm anodized aluminum (silver finish)
•   Displays: 2 × 7” high-resolution LCDs (instead of one 4.3”)
•   Display functions: Left – album cover; Right – choice of 30+ VU meters or spectral analyzer
•   Wi-Fi / Bluetooth: TP-Link Archer TX50E – faster and more stable wireless connectivity
•   Other components: identical to Contra Tube II
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Contra Tube III brings premium craftsmanship, a modern aesthetic, and dual-display functionality — while staying true to its original philosophy: pure sound and refined elegance.










Contra Tube III – Cost Specification

   
1.   Sound card ASUS Essence STX II (used) ......................................................150.00€
2.   DIY audiophile power cable 1.25m + shipping ................................................45.00€
3.   PC case OrigenAE S16T (used) ...................................................................120.00€
4.   Enclosure for 2 HDDs (not included in the PC case) + shipping .........................11.90€
5.   LCD screen for integration into the case ........................................................39.10€
6.   IR receiver for PC on/off + shipping ..............................................................11.30€
7.   2x24pin (male + female) with 5Vsb output ....................................................12.90€
8.   Screws and rubber mounts for HDD ...............................................................2.00€
9.   Micro USB to USB A cable .............................................................................2.10€
10.   Rear I/O shield ...........................................................................................1.00€
11.   HDMI – HDMI cable .....................................................................................3.90€
12.   DVI – HDMI adapter ....................................................................................5.20€
13.   VGA male to VGA female 50cm .....................................................................3.50€
14.   HDMI to HDMI 90° adapter ...........................................................................2.10€
15.   USB 2.0 adapter (motherboard to USB A 2.0 female) .......................................2.90€
16.   HDMI cable with M/F connectors for rear panel mount ......................................4.60€
17.   Fabric cover for OrigenAE S16T .....................................................................7.00€
18.   Case fans Arctic Cooling 8cm (2 pcs) + shipping ...........................................15.40€
19.   Remote control .........................................................................................14.90€
20.   Plastic primer .............................................................................................9.10€
21.   Silver aluminum spray ................................................................................9.00€
22.   AutoCAD preparation and 3D printing of display masks (4 pcs) .......................50.00€
23.   Nameplate “Contra Tube” .............................................................................5.00€
24.   Motherboard, CPU, memory (used) + shipping ..............................................78.00€
25.   Passive power supply SilverStone (used) + shipping .......................................60.00€
26.   Graphics card (used) + shipping ..................................................................63.00€
27.   SSD 240GB + shipping ...............................................................................25.30€
28.   Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card + shipping ...................................................................43.30€
29.   2 x 12TB HDD Seagate IronWolf Pro ...........................................................627.00€
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                                                                                                             TOTAL: 1,429.50€




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