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In Reply to: RE: Considering Mac Mini Music Server - have some questions posted by bryan on November 06, 2009 at 06:28:46
Bryan,
I can provide more detailed responses to your questions later, but will say for now, that after much consideration, I recently bought a Mac Mini as a dedicated music server. I use dedicated external drive (MyBook) connected directly. I went with 4Gb, which I purchased pre-installed so I can't speak for possible sound improvement. I purchased a relatively small SSD (120GB OCZ Agility series) to use for OS and favorite songs, relying on the external drive for majority of music files. I would not purchase the two drive Mac Mini server, preferring to keep SSD only on the computer itself, and isolating the HD noise elsewhere. Two SSDs in a Mac Mini Server model would be quite expensive, but that's the only way I would implement the two drive Mini.I use Firewire - which I highly recommend - for the interface. I do NOT recommend purchase of new 'legacy' DACs for computer audio setups, as they require a Lynx (or similar) soundcard or a converter (fire-wire to AES/EBU, etc.), at considerable additional expense. By 'Legacy' Dacs, I mean those that are a legacy of the transport-to-DAC era and do not provide interfaces common to most modern computers (Firewire & USB) except for rather less well regarded Toslink (aka Optical S/PDIF).
The additional significance of avoiding purchase of new legacy DACs is that Asynchronous Firewire and USB DACs offer superior potential jitter reduction (due to use of fixed frequency clocks IN THE DAC) than the S/PDIF variants offered by the 'legacy' DAC manufacturers.
My highest value recommendation for a DAC is the Metric Halo ULN-2, if you want high resolution, transparent sound (as opposed to the type you singled out - lean and mean, 'false' detail, etc.). Neither will it sound like a Tube DAC, for that there is Gordon's Brick, etc. The ULN-2 $1495 for 14 day trial from B&H Photo. For 2/3rds of that price, I can recommend Gordon's Proton - Async USB for $900.
cheers,
clayPS, I did take delivery of a PowerMac G5 last night to evaluate for possible better sound quality, but just looking at it (and listening to its fan noise) next to the Mac Mini, it would need to be a 'night and day' difference, IMO, to warrant a recommendation to anyone but the most dedicated (read masochistic) of audiophiles as opposed to the Mac Mini.
Edits: 11/06/09Follow Ups:
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