Mac Mini.

[shooter]

After some deliberation regarding getting a DAC with analog input(s) in to the system with all connectivity conceivable either from PC via Firewire or USB or wirelessly via an Airport Express through Toslink optical (CD quality playback) and every considerable short (to) connection possible i've resigned to the fact the only option i have left is to get a Mac Mini and have it as part of the system. To be honest this wasn't the ideal solution as it adds another box to the now seven box system to make it eight. [:|] Originally the idea was to get rid of the CDP and add a DAC with Digital pre amp (more on this later) and use my now Mac which is over 20 cable meters away. With this kind of length i had been ruled out with USB connections as 5 meters would be the ideal maximum distance though putting a booster in at 5 meters you could get 10 (not sure how this would bode, but..) even then that was to short, this left either Firewire or the AE optical. After searching the www. and reading umpteen professional reviews and end user views regarding Firewire DAC's it really only boiled down to one brand which i would consider (a bit snobbish i know) in the end it didn't have the analog input's i needed and though i summed this up i one sentence it took a far bit of time to come to some conclusion. This left the Airport Express. I must say now that this is a viable option to wirelessly stream 44.1-16bit (CD quality) audio to the system but trying to hunt down a decent male optical Toslink connector (to) a male USB connector with no luck has made the AE a no go. So the Mac Mini comes in and it makes the whole thing much easier to do as it will will have all the connection right there with no fuss, though cost's more to do but i will look at pre-owned 5gb Mini rather than new. So back to the DAC and this is were the pre amp comes in, i will eventually sell the amp [] and speakers, double [] and go active [] and this may be sooner rather than later as current prices for the gear i have are good and if all goes well should make a profit [] So the Mac Mini it is and to the question (sorry i fancied a ramble): as it stands i have ripped 50 odd CD's on the Mac i have and before i carry on with it would i be able to transfer the iTunes library as it stands onto the Mini or would i have to start from scratch, in which case i will stop now. Also can i connect the Mini to the Mac so i can use the screen or would i need a separate monitor or maybe i can use the TV as a screen? Short and sweet in the end! []

 

[Anonymous]

Hi shooter69

I hope this helps...If you have decided on a Mac Mini....As I have already gone down a similar route to what you are considering....See my gear here -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54602555@N08/sets/72157625768466824/detail/

Firstly I would recommend the newer version (2010 model) with the 320gb HDD (you can always add a external usb HDD later if you need the extra space and funds permit)...320Gb will easy cover your ripped 50 odd CD's that you already have + The fact that this model has a HDMI connection which the older version of the Mac Mini does not!...They pop up S/H on ebay regular enough.

The Mac Mini HDMI connection should hopefuly allow you then to connect to your iMac's HDMI connector so you can use the screen if that's what you want to do....Personally I would connect to your TV (if it has a spare HDMI connection) as I expect it has a larger screen which makes viewing your itunes selection so much easier from a distance.

It should be an easier enough matter to copy your existing 50 ripped CD's from your iMac to your new Mac Mini and just make up a new library....You could use a usb pen drive to transfer them from one computer to another.

 

[Helmut80]

you can also control iTunes on macmini with iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, rather than connect it to tv

 

[Paul.]

As HDMI is a repackaged/modified DVI, its pretty easy to connect older Mac Mini's to a tv with a HDMI-DVI cable or adapter. Which mac do you currently have? The newest iMacs can behave as an external monitor to a connected computer.

 

[shooter]

@Helmut80. I think the ideal solution would be to use an iTouch which i have and maybe get the iPad at a later date. As long as i can connect the Mini to something either TV or Mac so i can then get the music on to iTunes then it will be just another box sat there with no screen, that would be good.

@w2s. Good shout on the USB pen drive and there cheap so may carry on putting music on iTunes and sort that out later. I want to be up and running when it's done and not ripping bundles of CD's instead of listening.

 

[shooter]

Paul Hobbs:As HDMI is a repackaged/modified DVI, its pretty easy to connect older Mac Mini's to a tv with a HDMI-DVI cable or adapter. Which mac do you currently have? The newest iMacs can behave as an external monitor to a connected computer.

I've got an iMac running OS X 10.6.6. Is around 1.5 years old but there's no HDMI or DVI connection.

The TV has HDMI and may be DVI but need to check that and as it's a few meters away probably would be the better option.

 

[Anonymous]

You only need to put the monitor on the macmini to enable sharing, after which you can use the imac to control it, as in updating etc. The iphone/ipod are a bit small to do that sort of thing.

 

[Anonymous]

Check, but the current model has:

"Mini DisplayPort output with support for DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI (adapters sold separately); 27-inch models also support input from external DisplayPort sources (adapters sold separately) "

 

[shooter]

Grottyash:
Check, but the current model has:

"Mini DisplayPort output with support for DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI (adapters sold separately); 27-inch models also support input from external DisplayPort sources (adapters sold separately) "

It has the Mini Display port on the back of the iMac.

So i can add the Mac Mini via it'sMini Display port to the iMac?

That would be

so i'm not hogging the TV when ripping.

 

[Anonymous]

If its a 27 inch, then that would seem to be the case. Best check your manual, or with Apple support.

As I said, you don't need to use a monitor for the macmini once it has been setup, as you can see the screen remotely on another PC or Mac.

 

[shooter]

Grottyash:
If its a 27 inch, then that would seem to be the case. Best check your manual, or with Apple support.

As I said, you don't need to use a monitor for the macmini once it has been setup, as you can see the screen remotely on another PC or Mac.

 

[Anonymous]

Paul Hobbs:As HDMI is a repackaged/modified DVI, its pretty easy to connect older Mac Mini's to a tv with a HDMI-DVI cable or adapter. Which mac do you currently have? The newest iMacs can behave as an external monitor to a connected computer.

That's very true Paul, a very good and valid point I should of mentioned.

 

[Craig M.]

it's already been said, but another nod for enabling screensharing. i use my macbook to control the mini and never have to use the tv anymore, which is good as i have a plasma and was always a bit concerned about screen burn. you can also wake the mini from sleep this way, if you can't be bothered to get up and press the button.

the ipod touch is a great itunes remote.

 

[WishTree]

I am a big fan of screen sharing! I used to do it with my Dell Laptop to Mac Mini but it was always lagged few seconds and so was hard to do. But with My MBA it is almost real-time. I used to have older version of Mac Mini and now have the new slim version. If Mini is used only for playing music then it is the same quality / convenience with both versions!

 

[shooter]

Time to start thinking about a purchase

but which Mac Mini should i get?

Is it worth getting an older pre-owned version or the new, are there any differences i.e fan noise etc.

The unit won't be switched off and only used as a front end so RAM isn't an issue but i need memory at least 5gb, 1k odd CD's, Is it worth picking up a cheap older model (if you guy's think it's worth it) and get memory added or just get one with it in?

 

[Craig M.]

i assume you mean 500gb of hdd space?

if the price isn't an issue, personally i would go for the newer one purely for the hdmi output and internal power supply - the old one comes with seperate psu. the mini is a royal pain to change the hdd in it, so i would buy one with the size you want. i use an external drive for my itunes library and connect another external hdd every so often to back it all up.

can't comment on fan noise from the new one, but on my older one i have never heard the fan come on.

 

[shooter]

Craig M.:
i assume you mean 500gb of hdd space?

if the price isn't an issue, personally i would go for the newer one purely for the hdmi output and internal power supply - the old one comes with seperate psu. the mini is a royal pain to change the hdd in it, so i would buy one with the size you want. i use an external drive for my itunes library and connect another external hdd every so often to back it all up.

can't comment on fan noise from the new one, but on my older one i have never heard the fan come on.

Sorry yea 500gb, 5 wouldn't give me much..

I would like to keep the price down as much as possible and i'm happy to bye pre-owned if it's worth it, i might pop in to my local Apple dealer over the weekend and put me ear near the fan on the Mini.

It's okay there used to me in their...

 

[shooter]

Okay quick up date.

Popped into local Apple dealer and checked out the Mini's, very nice piece of kit, sleek and silent

Definitely a goer if needs be but will hang on a while yet as i've made no definite decision on what i'm doing as yet, will keep you posted as and when.

Thanks for the input so far

 

[pwiles1968]

You are talking about box reduction and active speakers have you looked at the Audiolab 8200 CDQ, CD Player DAC (USB in) and Pre Amp with balanced outputs, would go nice with a Mac Mini.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a Mac Mini connected direct to the tv using an dvi/hdmi cable and the audio connected by a monster optical cable direct
To my lx 82amp where it goes through some form of DAC the sound is not
Bad better than a cd in my blue ray but iTunes 256kb files are a bit limiting.
What I want to know before I rip my cd's in lossless to the mini is how limiting
Is the soundcard to the final sound, and if it is a limiting factor do I need to
Upgrade the older mini to something with a better soundcard or
Pass the signal through some other piece of kit first? And if I want to
Download 24bit songs is the mini any good at all. Note I am an apple
Fan so anything that still involves iTunes would help.

 

[DavieCee]

As far as I am aware, if you are using the optical out then the soundcard is bypassed so you don't need to get hung up on that. I ripped all my tracks to lossless no problem - except time.

On Wednesday, I downloaded the 176kHz/24bit version of Let It Bleed by The Stones from HDTracks and it plays fine through iTunes on my Macbook Pro. Okay, I had to convert it from FLAC to AIFF using xAct first but the software is free. It also streams through my ATV version 1. Note though that it won't play if stored on my ATV or iPhone so I had to do a 320 kbps copy for casual listening. Possibly not ideal that all hardware won't play it but you don't have to spend any extra cash and I just have to decide on the source based on serious or casual listening.

I could be wrong of course

 

[Anonymous]

. This left the Airport Express. I must say now that this is a viable option to wirelessly stream 44.1-16bit (CD quality) audio to the system but trying to hunt down a decent male optical Toslink connector (to) a male USB connector with no luck has made the AE a no go.

Hi shooter, whilst I can totally see the benefits if having a mac mini as your computer audio source, I'm not sure I understand why you needed the connector mentioned above? Surely AE optical minijack to optical toslink on the rDAC is all you need?

 

[shooter]

. This left the Airport Express. I must say now that this is a viable option to wirelessly stream 44.1-16bit (CD quality) audio to the system but trying to hunt down a decent male optical Toslink connector (to) a male USB connector with no luck has made the AE a no go.

Hi shooter, whilst I can totally see the benefits if having a mac mini as your computer audio source, I'm not sure I understand why you needed the connector mentioned above? Surely AE optical minijack to optical toslink on the rDAC is all you need?

The DAC i was thinking of using is the Burson HA-160D below, there are a few reason's i picked this one to do the job.

Firstly it had to be a pre DAC and be able to connect directly too active speaker's, which active's i'm not sure of yet but i'm currently in talks to get a home demo of some ATC's, just waiting on a date. The volume pot on this DAC is analog which i thought would act like any other analog pot and be smooth and not incremented but i was wrong to think this and in fact the pot is incremented and not subtle either so would need some modification's to it (which can be done) to make it a viable bye.

Secondly and just as important is the analog input's, though i'm thinking of going to a digital front end there is no way i'll part with the turntable for this reason alone i need analog in-put's and to be honest this feature restricted what DAC's i could use.

Thirdly the very complimentary review it received and how it was compared favourably to the very good Weiss DAC 202..

Though the last reason to contemplate this DAC is a bit feeble it must be taken seriously as the 202 by Weiss is up there with the best of them. None of this will be of any consequence though if the tonal quality's of the Burson don't match up with the ATC's and this is what i need to find out, unfortunately at the moment the only UK dealer for the Burson is out of stock and contacting Burson them self's via their e-bay shop have revealed them to be out of stock also with no date of UK shipping.

So at the moment the whole digital front end thing has come to a bit of a stop. I've got no date for the ATC demo as of yet and the one DAC i'm interested in isn't available at the moment.

Luckily though i'm in no particular rush and i love my system so i'm quite happy to wait..

 

[DavieCee]

Edit:- Forgot what I had here. Cross posts = wrong answer

 

[oldric_naubhoff]

hi shooter

I red your theread and thought I might add my 2p. you're after a DAC with preamp and analog ins. have you heard about Musical Fidelity M1 Clic? it's a DAC (with 4 ins: usb slave, toslink, 2*coax), streamer (wi-fi and RJ45 connectivity), USB host (i.e. for playback from external hard drive), internet radio receiver, preamp and also has 3 analog ins. that should limit the box count and you won't be needenig Mac Mini. you'll be able to stream directly from your iMac or a NAS provided you've got a LAN at home (and I think you do).

check this out (I hope bad men don't delete the link )

http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/Musical-Fidelity-M1-Clic-Music-Controller/product_4870