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Setting up a Mac mini as a music server, and other digital music questions

Hi All,

I'm sure this topic has been covered a bazillion times before, but thought I'd ask the Audiogon community as I don't see much up-to-date info on the web. I just purchased a DAC (Ares II) and my old Macbook Air that has been serving as my music server won't run the latest Mac OS, so probably time for a replacement. I'd like to set up a computer to store my music files on SSD, and probably handle some high-res streaming down the line. I'm currently subscribed to Apple Music, and seems hard to get out of the Apple ecosystem.

What does everyone recommend to get the best sound? Mac Mini + some kind of music software/service into the DAC?

Thanks for your help!
Josh
128x128joshindc
antigrunge2
1,418 posts
 
Get a proper server: I changed from a tricked out Mac Mini (mach2music) to an Innuos Zenith Mk3 and there is no comparison. The Mini suffers from too much noise and vibration everywhere and all the tweaks (isolation platform, LPS et al) can’t do enough to clean it up.
vegasears
1,173 posts
 
I use a Mac Mini as a server with a DAC and have for years.  I started with a Windows based machine and a wazoo sound card back when streaming was in it's infancy.  My first DAC was a Audio Alchemy Digital Decoding Engine V1.1 and I've changed/upgraded DAC's many times. Since going to Apple my interface has remained pretty much the same, iTunes in Gird now Swinsian in grid mode. By staying with the combination of a Computer & DAC  and avoiding the single box upgrade game  and I've been able to reach into the lower end Esoteric DAC. That said, I'm done with Apple Products and their Eco system. My next computer will have Ubuntu on it.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
dbphd
1,630 posts
 
Mac Mini on Google MESH runs Roon with Qobuz & Tidal.  UpTone LPS 1.2 powers Senore ultraRendu with USB through an Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC and balanced analog to an Ayre A7e integrated amp driving KEF LS50s.  Sounds very good to me.

db
hbarrel's avatar
hbarrel
342 posts
 
I have used a Mac-mini for a long time as my music server. And is old enough (HighSierra) it will not support the newer IOS. 
I run the music through a toslink connection to a Cary Xciter DAC.
Audirvana software to my ears is the bomb.
I see no reason to change.

hbarrel's avatar
hbarrel
342 posts
 
I did upgrade the mini to a SSD hard drive. Took like ten minutes.
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