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In Reply to: RE: Benchmark DAC2 posted by Jian on March 11, 2023 at 18:02:18
What Streaming Service are you running?"I am reluctant to use it as a streamer because I am not willing to modify the Mac mini."
- ZERO modification necessary. I've run Mac Minis as music servers or streamers over the past 15 years or so. I've modified some and left some completely stock [as is my current Mac Mini M1]. Sounds wonderful with the right player software or streaming app. You should give it a try.
"My logic is that the streamer should be as simple as possible."
- It can be if you want but it doesn't have to be. I have a few DIY Raspberry Pi streamers.
My Mac Mini Music Server about 2009-ish + iPhone as remote control:
More Mac Minis for music over the years:
iPhone or iPad as portable Remote Control:
Some of my DIY Raspberry Pi based streamers:Before you get the impression that the Raspberry Pi board is just a toy consider this. Some audiophile brands including Bryston use the Raspberry Pi as the core streaming technology in some of their pricey $$$ streaming products.
Edits: 03/12/23Follow Ups:
I am using Apple music. One day, I may try the mac mini. Perhaps, I am out of date and didn't pay attention to the latest developments in streaming. I got the impression that people modified the Mac mini.
Do you use USB to connect the mac mini to a DAC? Do you need third party software to control mac mini from iphone?
- On what device are you using / controlling Apple Music?Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone/tablet? Windows PC?
What operating system version is running on said device?
- On what device are you outputting Apple Music?
Dedicated Streamer? I assume its the WiiM streamer to your DAC?
Apple now supports lossless CD quality and even higher resolution audio but you may have to adjust settings within Apple Music and how you do that depends on what device you're on and the operating system version it is running.
It's not clear to me if the Apple Music player offers a bit-perfect signal path and automatic sample rate switching as do audiophile players like Audirvana, Amarra, Roon, JRiver, LMS/piCorePlayer, etc.
[EDIT]: I found out that you will need something like the BitPerfect App [from the App Store] to run Apple Music in bit-perfect mode with automatic sample rate switching. This applies if you're running Apple Music on the Mac. Not sure how this is achieved on other devices like iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, etc.
Yes, there's an App based remote control for Apple Music / iTunes
P.S. Additionally, AirPlay2 is will not pass 'hi-res' audio. I believe it is limited to 48-kHz. In other words, it's much easier to get high quality audio from an 'audiophile player' and an 'audiophile streaming service' like Tidal / Qobuz over a better protocol vs AirPlay2 - However, AirPlay2 is still a much better choice than Bluetooth by a wide margin.
Edits: 03/13/23 03/13/23 03/13/23 03/13/23 03/13/23 03/13/23
I am using iPhone to control Apple Music.I just downloaded the iTunes Remote control and connected the iPhone with my iMac and Mac mini via home sharing. This is a wonderful little app. Thanks for letting me know that! I am a diehard Mac fan and have been using Mac since the first generation of Power Mac, but I don't know there is a such wonderful little app at all.
At this point, I am using WiiM. But I just finished setting up iFi Zen Streamer and will give the Zen Streamer a try tomorrow to see if the Zen streamer is worth $400 compared with WiiM, $149.00. The first thing I am kind of disappointed with about the Zen streamer is it doesn't have optical input.
I believe Apple Music player does switch sample rates automatically. In the setting for Apple Music, there are three options I chose. Cellular Streaming--> Hi-Res Lossless. Wi-fi Streaming--> Hi-Res Lossless. Downloads--> Hi-Res Lossless.
Edits: 03/13/23
"I believe Apple Music player does switch sample rates automatically. In the setting for Apple Music, there are three options I chose. Cellular Streaming--> Hi-Res Lossless. Wi-fi Streaming--> Hi-Res Lossless. Downloads--> Hi-Res Lossless."This is good with regard to the source material but if you're streaming over Wifi using AirPlay2 from an iPhone I don't think it will truly send 'hi-res' audio greater than "CD Quality" but even so, it should sound pretty good.
The article linked below explains it but I wouldn't be too concerned. Once you get your feet wet with streaming you will discover other methods and streaming services. Only in recent years did Apple decide to stream lossless audio. Prior to that they streamed 256kbps AAC which is much better than MP3 but still lossy.
Tidal and Qobuz are geared more toward audiophiles and have been streaming CD quality lossless and 'hi-res' lossless for quite some time now.
Enjoy!
Edits: 03/14/23 03/14/23
I spent a whole day comparing WiiM pro, Zen Streamer, and Mac Mini.
You are right. Mac mini has very good sound. It is my most favorable-sounding device among these three. Its sound is very natural and not fragile. However, its sound stage is compressed.
Wiim pro has the most fragile sound. But it has the most fragile sound and high resolution. I can hear a lot of details in the sound. It has the best sound stage among all three. For the right DAC, it can sound wonderful.
Zen streamer has a soft and less fragile sound. Its sound stage is the worst among the three. Its sound doesn't have a lot of details.
I think I will stick with the Mac mini for now.
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