Why Not A Mac Mini Music Server ?

[1KW]

I already own a macbook pro (battery power) with pure music software and all my music in itunes. Maybe I'll buy the halide bridge today with the 10 foot usb extension cord they sell to get started .

[BearCubinNY]

Originally Posted by 1KW

I already own a macbook pro (battery power) with pure music software and all my music in itunes. Maybe I'll buy the halide bridge today with the 10 foot usb extension cord they sell to get started .

David, that's a darn good start. In order to extract the max from the laptop it should be optimized (see below). I believe you can have a practicle compromise between a daily use laptop and music server.

dCS wrote an excellent primer for computer audio (pdf)
http://www.dcsltd.co.uk/page/assets/...uter_Audio.pdf

dCS: Digital Audio Overview

Sonic Studios (maker of Amarra) has a 'How To'
Amarra Computer Music Player

Reg

[80B]

David,
It's cheap, not white plastic but brushed aluminum (sorry Dan), and fits well in my rack. While it's not for everyone, the benefits your OP mentions are quite real. When you consider the versatility of a full-fledged computer combined with the musical capabilities with the right connections, it's very powerful. Do vinyl and my MVP-871 sound better? Arguably yes, but there's time for those sources as well.

My time's primarily in a 'one size fits all' room where a 5.1 setup is primarily used for listening to the Mac Mini in stereo and surfing or hanging out here with you guys. There's lots of possibilities for improving the sound with better cabling, Amarra, etc. It will only get better with time. The addition of HDMI with the current version of the Mac Mini (June '10) was a relatively big step in the right direction. Now all I've got to do is get a MX150.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by 80B

It's cheap, not white plastic but brushed aluminum (sorry Dan), and fits well in my rack.

Do vinyl and my MVP-871 sound better? Arguably yes, but there's time for those sources as well.

Paul.......No problem. You can tell I have yet to embrace computer based audio beyond my MS750 feeding the DACs in my MCD500. I prefer to listen to the best sources I have. The only reason I even own a Sonos is to audition new music to purchase. The presently available online catalog of Hi-rez material hasn't wet my appetite enough to go through the effort of purchasing, downloading, and manipulating through software and computers.

[80B]

Dan, You know I secretly lust for a MS750 body into which I could put that Mac Mini...

[Still-One]

A couple of reasons I have not considered the mini are: 1) the looks do not fit into my room 2) I don't like the iTunes GUI. It is fine for managing the music on my iPhone or iPod but not for my server.

Jim

[Supercronopio]

I have been utilizing a Mac Mini or macbook in my system for about 4 years now. Yesterday I just picked up a new black Ayre QB-9 to use as the DAC. THe HD Traks 24/96 and 24/192 recordings are amazing. My dealer had let me borrow a silver model until the black came in. The QB-9 is everything the magazines say it is.

I use Pure Music, AyreWav, and Audiorvana (sp?). kind of have a love hate relationship with Pure Music, and I havent yet used it to play the 24 bit FLAC stuff. All my music ripped from CDs is in AIFF, although one should determine which format works best for them. I have 2 1TB WD firewire drives storing the music. The drives are in a cabinet 10 ft away from the system. I'd consider moving the Mac Mini away from the system as well, but I use the Mac Mini to watch TV instead of cable, and I don't want to run a long hDMI cable to the TV.


I still lust for a SooLos though.

[BearCubinNY]

Originally Posted by Gaucho1

I have been utilizing a Mac Mini or macbook in my system for about 4 years now. Yesterday I just picked up a new black Ayre QB-9 to use as the DAC. THe HD Traks 24/96 and 24/192 recordings are amazing. My dealer had let me borrow a silver model until the black came in. The QB-9 is everything the magazines say it is.

I use Pure Music, AyreWav, and Audiorvana (sp?). kind of have a love hate relationship with Pure Music, and I havent yet used it to play the 24 bit FLAC stuff. All my music ripped from CDs is in AIFF, although one should determine which format works best for them. I have 2 1TB WD firewire drives storing the music. The drives are in a cabinet 10 ft away from the system. I'd consider moving the Mac Mini away from the system as well, but I use the Mac Mini to watch TV instead of cable, and I don't want to run a long hDMI cable to the TV.


I still lust for a SooLos though.

I own the QB-9 as well. It is a fine DAC with a wonderful dynamic range. When I had it in my system it took a good 200 hours to fully open. My only issue was that with only USB as an input (and only one of them!), you are limited in your choices. Ultimately I needed a few more inputs with my current setup.

Enjoy your DAC!

Reg

[Pyro]

Originally Posted by BearCubinNY

David, that's a darn good start. In order to extract the max from the laptop it should be optimized (see below). I believe you can have a practicle compromise between a daily use laptop and music server.

dCS wrote an excellent primer for computer audio (pdf)
http://www.dcsltd.co.uk/page/assets/...uter_Audio.pdf

dCS: Digital Audio Overview

Sonic Studios (maker of Amarra) has a 'How To'
Amarra Computer Music Player

Reg

Good info, Thanks!

[1KW]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Paul.......No problem. You can tell I have yet to embrace computer based audio beyond my MS750 feeding the DACs in my MCD500. I prefer to listen to the best sources I have. The only reason I even own a Sonos is to audition new music to purchase. The presently available online catalog of Hi-rez material hasn't wet my appetite enough to go through the effort of purchasing, downloading, and manipulating through software and computers.

Dan,

You can't listen to HD music with the MS750. My other reason for going in this direction is so I can have the the 3 D Bach filters installed in the pure stereo software so I can listen to music in 3 D. Once you experience 3 D music you will never want to go back to stereo with crosstalk.