Mac Mini as Music Server

[Brandon B]

How does Rip differ from Max? Is it a subset?

[JonMarsh]

I'm going to switch from my current (WAV) setup to AIFF or Apple lossless.

Another rookie question... Should I use iTunes to import my CDs? Does iTunes ignore disc read errors or something else bad? Should I use different software to make sure the data integrity is retained during import?

Thanks!

Max, Rip, and XLD all work fine. So does iTunes, especially if you turn-on error correction/checking. Prowl around the preferences in iTunes sometimes- might be interesting what you come across. All four of these can generate bit accurate rips, as compared with EAC, for example, on the PC.

iTunes ripping can be setup for the format you wish. If you want really detailed reporting on problematic CDs, XLD gives you the most information by far. OTOH, CD's in good shape shouldn't be a problem with any of these.

Some feel that AIFF is a better format to rip to for playback, as less decoding work is needed- but for late model Mac Mini with 4GB of RAM, I doubt you'll hear a difference between AIFF and ALAC (Apple Lossless). I usually use the latter. And since Apple lossless is doing the equivalent of zipping the file, it takes about 40% less disk space on average.

[littlesaint]

Rip uses a better engine and has more granularity than Max for bit-perfect ripping. Same for XLD. As Jon indicated, unless you have problematic CDs, iTunes does a fine job. I like XLD for generating True VBR AAC conversions for my laptop and iPhone. iTunes doesn't support this format for encoding, though it will play it back just fine since the format is in the Core Audio libraries (at least in 10.6). For my media server, I prefer FLAC, so I use that for my rips. FLAC also supports tagging with replaygain values, whereas ALAC does not. You can use iVolume ($) to inject replaygain values into the iTunes sound check metadata. If I ever move to a Mac-based media server, I may go that route.

[mb225]

Hi all,

I just wanted to let you know that I have my music server up and running. I ended up getting a Mac Mini with 4gb of memory, I know it's overkill but I thought it gives me more flexibility for future applications. I also ended up with an iPad as the remote.

My overall opinion is... Awesome! It's so easy to use and all of my music is available at the touch of a finger! Sound quality is great. I did an A/B between my CD player (hooked up to my DAC) and the Mac Mini (hooked up to my DAC via optical) and I couldn't hear the difference. I'm very very happy.

Since this is for a dedicated listening room, I don't have a television and I'm running the mac mini without a display, keyboard or a mouse. I use the iPad for everything; I only needed 3 apps to make it all work:
1) Remote to control iTunes
2) Remote off app; to power off the mac mini from the iPad
3) Logmein to remote desktop if I need to do any administrative tasks.

My apple store didn't stock any mini to optical cables to I had to get one on amazon.

I would like to thank everyone for your help. This forum rocks! :-y

[dknightd]

Hi all,

I just wanted to let you know that I have my music server up and running. I ended up getting a Mac Mini with 4gb of memory, I know it's overkill but I thought it gives me more flexibility for future applications. I also ended up with an iPad as the remote.

My overall opinion is... Awesome! It's so easy to use and all of my music is available at the touch of a finger! Sound quality is great. I did an A/B between my CD player (hooked up to my DAC) and the Mac Mini (hooked up to my DAC via optical) and I couldn't hear the difference. I'm very very happy.

Since this is for a dedicated listening room, I don't have a television and I'm running the mac mini without a display, keyboard or a mouse. I use the iPad for everything; I only needed 3 apps to make it all work:
1) Remote to control iTunes
2) Remote off app; to power off the mac mini from the iPad
3) Logmein to remote desktop if I need to do any administrative tasks.

My apple store didn't stock any mini to optical cables to I had to get one on amazon.

I would like to thank everyone for your help. This forum rocks! :-y

Nice! Once you get used to that point and click interface to your music it is hard to go back

[theblue]

thanks for the update! glad it's all working out.

[famoej]

which mac mini

Now that you have accomplished the conversion you need to check out some hi rez files. I started doing that to stream to my squeeze box after converting flac to apple lossless as I have not bought the mini yet.

I guess my question is can I buy an older mac mini 1.25 ghz. Ill beef up the ram and use an external drive. I found an old MSB link dac (in the basement) and via toslink from the mini. oes the processing speed matter if I am just using it to serve music and maybe video files???
Anyone have thoughts on that one...would appreciate it.

mcintosh mx132
muse 160
sony ns9100es sacd
ap tempo III
squeeze box

[wettou]

The new Mac Mini has HDMi :T so it can send everything in High Def Sound :B

[famoej]

that sounds great but my spare DAC only has toslink and I have not seen many dacs with hdmi. My mcintosh mx132 is pre hdmi as well

i just want to know it processor speed when operating as a music server matters. if not them buying a used mac mini makes great sense.

[Brandon B]

I guess my question is can I buy an older mac mini 1.25 ghz. Ill beef up the ram and use an external drive.

Noooooooo no no no. The old 1.25GHz minis were the G4 powerPC machines and did NOT have stereo minijack/mini TOSLINK combo audio ports. They were stereo mini jack analog only. Only way to get a TOSLINK signal with one would be to pair it with an airport express.

You want an intel mini. They all had the new port.

BB

[famoej]

Noooooooo no no no. The old 1.25GHz minis were the G4 powerPC machines and did NOT have stereo minijack/mini TOSLINK combo audio ports. They were stereo mini jack analog only. Only way to get a TOSLINK signal with one would be to pair it with an airport express.

You want an intel mini. They all had the new port.

BB

thx for the info- then i will only grab a duo core version and maybe an rdac.

[Briz vegas]

With computer audio you get a number of interesting options for improving your sound quality. One consideration in my experience is the quality of power coming in from outside. I have invested a great deal in my power (see my profile) but I like to keep my Macbook separate, which means that it does not have a dedicated line etc. I had heard about people investing in batteries to run their hifi for power quality reasons. You might live near a pumping station, or in a mining town or even just in a particular spot on the grid that gives you dodgy power.

What I find is that my music sounds better by simply unplugging my Macbook and running on batteries. I have a USB bard drive for my music and I play out of RAM memory, not directly off the disk. In a well tuned system the benefits are quite clear to the point where I always unplug for critical listening. This is not a problem for Macs as in my experience they will run for hours off battery (unlike my PC laptops).

Of course some may say this is rubbish for this reason of that (bits are bits etc or the differences are too small to hear). All I can say is that this is something that you can try for free if you are running a Macbook, and what you hear WILL BE system and room dependant. For example, you would be surprised how much you are missing if you have not invested some effort in sorting out your room acoustics.

[Freddie40]

I added a music server to my system and I thought I would share a pic and description with you.

The hard drive is a Fantom 1TB Quad interface connected to the Mac Mini with by 800 Firewire. The Mac Mini is heavily tweaked. It is a 2.53GHZ Core 2 Duo with 6GB of RAM a 40GB SSD, partitioned so that a tweaked version of the system software resides on 10GB. I use Pure Music (Amarra Blows) and the signal is sent down a USB cable (From DB Audio) to an Ayre QB9 and listen in Measure Mode. All of the music files are saved in AIFF format.

So, how does the sound from the QB9 compare to that from the Ayre D1-xe. The QB9 sounds so much better If you have never heard a music server before go out and try one

[Chris D]

Mmmmmmm.... HT porn. Always love it.

[wettou]

I added a music server to my system and I thought I would share a pic and description with you.

The speakers make the rest of the system look

[Freddie40]

The speakers make the rest of the system look

Are you Jealous?

[wettou]

Are you Jealous?

Not quite I have five 802 (three 802D & 2 802) :T with Classé Electronics so I am doing well thank you

[Hammie]

I use a Mac Mini as my Media Server feeding my iTunes and Apple TV.

All music has been ripped in ALAC. Any mp3's that I have are slowly being converted to ALAC when I get access to the disc they came from.

I am also slowly ripping my old DVD's that I will probably never own (or they will never be offered on) blu-ray. I am looking at getting the Iomega 2TB iDisc to plug into my Mac Mini via Firewire 800. I will then transfer my library to the iDisc.

[mb225]

I added a music server to my system and I thought I would share a pic and description with you.

The hard drive is a Fantom 1TB Quad interface connected to the Mac Mini with by 800 Firewire. The Mac Mini is heavily tweaked. It is a 2.53GHZ Core 2 Duo with 6GB of RAM a 40GB SSD, partitioned so that a tweaked version of the system software resides on 10GB. I use Pure Music (Amarra Blows) and the signal is sent down a USB cable (From DB Audio) to an Ayre QB9 and listen in Measure Mode. All of the music files are saved in AIFF format.

So, how does the sound from the QB9 compare to that from the Ayre D1-xe. The QB9 sounds so much better If you have never heard a music server before go out and try one

Hi Freddie40,

Thanks for sharing! I'm curious if you compared your QB9 to any other DACs? I've been looking at upgrading my DAC and was looking at the Ayre QB9.

[wettou]

How can I upgrade the hard drive with a SD on the mac mini I heard it is supposed to be better since there are no moving parts?

[Freddie40]

How can I upgrade the hard drive with a SD on the mac mini I heard it is supposed to be better since there are no moving parts?

The basics are: I bought a ssd drive from the local store, popped out the 320GB HD and the SSD fit right into it. It really is that easy. With the SSD the computer should last much longer (less heat and the drive should last a long time), and you "should" get better sound.

I was wrong about the partitions. There is only 1 totaling 39.68GB and the system and applications are on it. It was stripped so only the needed functions are there. I do not have a mouse, keyboard or monitor hooked up to it and use Apple Remote desktop to access it. iTunes is good Pure Music is the best. Amarra BLOWS.

Dave

[Freddie40]

Hi Freddie40,

Thanks for sharing! I'm curious if you compared your QB9 to any other DACs? I've been looking at upgrading my DAC and was looking at the Ayre QB9.

I am in a small group here in Denver (about 9 of us) and the main users spent many months tweaking the Mini. I paid one of the members to tweak mine, although I could easily do it myself.

After they tweaked the computer they (and I) tested many different DACs among those are the:
Antelope Audio DAC
Weiss Minerva
PS Audio Digital Link III
Ayre QB9
a few others that I don't have the names of at this time.

The Weiss was a tiny bit better than the QB9, but for twice the price it probably is not worth it. The Ayre otherwise is the winner. For the money the PS Audio DAC is very good.

We also tested a few USB cables (Transparent, DB Audio and Cardiss (SP)). We liked the DB Audio USB cable the best. I also use a Absolute Power Cord for the Ayre and Vibrapods for the Ayre and the Mac Mini The Mac Mini and the Fantom Drive are plugged in the PS Audio Power Plant and the Ayre directly into the wall. Dang this sounds complicated

Dave

[Freddie40]

I use a Mac Mini as my Media Server feeding my iTunes and Apple TV.

All music has been ripped in ALAC. Any mp3's that I have are slowly being converted to ALAC when I get access to the disc they came from.

I am also slowly ripping my old DVD's that I will probably never own (or they will never be offered on) blu-ray. I am looking at getting the Iomega 2TB iDisc to plug into my Mac Mini via Firewire 800. I will then transfer my library to the iDisc.

The 2 most important things are a) Firewire 800 and B) a fanless drive. I have found that the Fantom Quad interface drives work the best for me

ALAC is good, AIFF is the best because it is uncompressed Lossless. It is easy to switch between different formats of lossless. I am trying to get the absolute best sound so I use AIFF.

Dave

[mb225]

After they tweaked the computer they (and I) tested many different DACs among those are the:
Antelope Audio DAC
Weiss Minerva
PS Audio Digital Link III
Ayre QB9
a few others that I don't have the names of at this time.

The Weiss was a tiny bit better than the QB9, but for twice the price it probably is not worth it. The Ayre otherwise is the winner. For the money the PS Audio DAC is very good.
Dave

Thanks Dave,

I see you own some Bryston gear. Did you by any chance also try out the BDA-1 (Bryston's External DAC)?

[Freddie40]

Thanks Dave,

I see you own some Bryston gear. Did you by any chance also try out the BDA-1 (Bryston's External DAC)?

I have the Bryston DAC in my Pre-Amp, not the external. Since it only accepts a SPDIF (RCA) input and it was hard to hook up a good DAC to it, so I never tried the internal DAC with the Mac mini. I did try the internal DAC with the Ayre Dq1-XE and found that it was superior when compared to the DAC in the Ayre.


That being said I never did try an external Bryston DAC. I have a good source who said that the Bryston was inferior to the QB(.

Dave

[Freddie40]

Not quite I have five 802 (three 802D & 2 802) :T with Classé Electronics so I am doing well thank you

I thought you had 3 803D and 2 802D. Don't you in fact have:

(2) Nautilus 802 – Cherry
(2) Nautilus 803 – Cherry
(1) Nautilus HTM1 – Cherry


It makes you look bad when you say you have one thing, yet have something else . Or do you have the have 5 802 on top of this??

[wettou]

I thought you had 3 803D and 2 802D. Don't you in fact have:

(2) Nautilus 802 – Cherry
(2) Nautilus 803 – Cherry
(1) Nautilus HTM1 – Cherry

It makes you look bad when you say you have one thing, yet have something else . Or do you have the have 5 802 on top of this??

I still have 3 802D that I am not selling :B I want to get 800Di which is why I am selling the rest :T

[Freddie40]

I still have 3 802D that I am not selling :B I want to get 800Di which is why I am selling the rest :T

Nice