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streamer vs mac mini

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Posted on January 31, 2016 at 14:58:07
gsb
Audiophile

Posts: 311
Location: CHARLOTTE, NC
Joined: March 11, 2003
 just wondering if anyone has compared the sound quality from a high quality streamer such as the aurender or naim streaming tidal vs mac mini streaming tidal going to a high quality da converter? i have found many conflicting opinions on this setup from the 'so called" professionals. opinions appreciated if knowledgeable on the subject- happy listening! gsb

 

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RE: streamer vs mac mini, posted on January 31, 2016 at 16:09:49
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 Had an Auralic Aries for mainly streaming Tidal. Sounded very good but had lots of problems with it. Auralic finally took it back. I now stream Tidal and Classicsonlinehd-ll from a MacBook Pro. Sounds as good as the Aries and no problems. I would recommend the Mac Mini
Alan

 

RE: streamer vs mac mini, posted on January 31, 2016 at 16:14:40
navman
Audiophile

Posts: 1264
Location: U.S.A.
Joined: January 26, 2009
 In my system the Aurender sounds way better than my Mac Mini.
navman

 

Depends..., posted on January 31, 2016 at 16:23:34
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 I've decided on a Mac Mini, modified for audio only use (no wifi, BlueTooth or video out) and controlled by a MacBook Air using Screen Sharing or an iPad using SCREENS, which makes no sense at all to most folks here but...

YMMV.

Why?

I stream TIDAL, QOBUZ as well as ClassicsOnline HD and may decide to stream using some other service in the future (QOBUZ is available only outside the US and may be going bust anyway).

The OS-X player software programs provided by the streaming services of the above are better suited, IMO, to streaming than the plug-ins that are used by some of the streaming boxes. They allow user setup of ample Cache and Buffer sizes in the program preferences section. Also hooking the Mac Mini via Ethernet only, no WiFi, helps on the stability of the system.

I've even been experimenting with the optical TOSLINK port of the Mac Mini directly to my Audio-GD Master 11 DAC and with great results using a TOSLINK/MINIPLUG Premium Silflex Glass Cable by Lifatec. It's rated at a minimum of 15M and should do 25M easily. Get the cable with a miniplug at one end rather than using an adapter on the Mac Mini end. Every bit as good as USB and the Master 11 uses a licensed version of the AMANERO technology to convert USB to I2S which is very good. TOSLINK out of the Mac Mini works up to 24/193.

That said, my DAC is an R2-R ladder DAC and does not do DSD.

If you already have a Mac Mini, it probably makes sense as the streaming boxed GOT to get better, more memory, more cache, more buffering of the hit or miss streams you get at night when everyone else in the neighborhood is downloading Netflix and porn.

OK, mostly porn. =:-0








First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: streamer vs mac mini, posted on January 31, 2016 at 20:05:50
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 I have only heard the top Aurender once and it sounded really good. Not cheap however
Alan

 

RE: streamer vs mac mini, posted on February 1, 2016 at 06:35:43
navman
Audiophile

Posts: 1264
Location: U.S.A.
Joined: January 26, 2009
 The 100H that I have sounds pretty good. The Mac mini with Audirvana was good but didn't match the Aurender. Having said that, I certainly could have tweaked the Mac more than I did.
navman

 

New mac mini coming soon?, posted on February 2, 2016 at 05:19:03
Charlie8521
Audiophile

Posts: 914
Location: South East Michigan
Joined: October 2, 2004
 I run a Mac Mini dedicated solely for streaming audio to my home 2-channel system. Rumbling is that Apple should be updating the unit with new chips this year. I'm waiting for that.

 

I'm hearing rumbling that we've seen the last update to the Mac Mini..., posted on February 2, 2016 at 07:42:12
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 I hope I'm wrong and you are right.

Are you using a monitor and keyboard, or controlling it through ethernet via remote screen share applications?

Mine has both Bluetooth and Wifi disabled in hardware.


First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: I'm hearing rumbling that we've seen the last update to the Mac Mini..., posted on February 2, 2016 at 09:37:50
Charlie8521
Audiophile

Posts: 914
Location: South East Michigan
Joined: October 2, 2004
 Running a 2014 Mini for music. I get my signal through WiFi from my router in my home office, and use a wireless keyboard and track pad. Have a 23" Dell monitor hardwired up to do my search and selection. I simply like the big screen, key and track pad for navigation, as opposed to running off my iPhone if doable. Only question I've had is can I get the same audio results with the Apple TV and I guess the iPhone for a controller. Than I would save the cost of a new Mini. It seems there have been rumors before of Apple discontinuing the Mini - hope not.

 

Thinking the new Apple TV has NO TOSLINK output for music?, posted on February 2, 2016 at 11:17:31
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 That said, the Airport Express DOES have TOSLINK out as well as Airplay functionality.





First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: Thinking the new Apple TV has NO TOSLINK output for music?, posted on February 3, 2016 at 07:45:58
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46302
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 If "CD quality" is sufficient for internet streaming applications, then the Apple TV and AirPort Express will do just fine. However, none of these devices support 'hi-res' audio.

As for the Apple TV, the newest slightly larger model no longer offers Optical TOSLINK out, just HDMI. But, the previous model is still considered to be a current product and remains available for $69 from Apple or other online stores.

As for the Mac Mini, your guess is as good as mine. They were talking about the demise of the Mini several years ago yet it's still around. We'll just have to wait and see.



 

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