Best Mods for a Mac-mini used as a Music Server

The power supply is a big deal. If you can get a linear supply, do so. Regardless, put it on a separate conditioner outside your main power conditioner. The inexpensive Furman or PS Audio strips work really well, with LiFT and SMP, like this one:

https://amzn.to/2XsjjEY

It adds filtering between your Mac and your audio. Another similar but not quite as good alternative is the PS Audio power strip, and they run 2x the price.

Best,

E

@sbank 

While I strongly suspect that your assessments & prediction [that I will eventually jump into the deep end of the pool] are absolutely correct, I am refraining from doing so at this point in time.  My nature is to be pretty fastidious with purchases, so I tend to dabble in the more shallow end of the pool until I decided whether or not to expend the capital to get serious.  In my mind, going Mac-mini is precisely that.  I know going into it that it is not THE way to go, but I do not have enough experience with the whole music server/streaming experience to justify, in my mind, going for broke.  I would be totally pissed at myself were I to drop $10~15k on a set up & then decide it was not the right choice for me.  Does that make sense?
@n80 

Thanks for article!

@erik_squires 

Upgraded power supply makes totally good sense!  Any recommendations on where I could acquire a high-quality, linear power supply?  Honestly, I do not even know what a Mac-mini requires nor how much it can tolerate.

OldManDave

Hi OP,
I don't know much about your particular Mac, but here's' one interesting place to get you started.
You can find a lot of info just by googling "Mac Mini Linear Power Supply"

@erik_squires 

2018 Mac-mini w/ 6-core I-5 chip, 8gig RAM & 512gig of flash SSD - "brand new" Apple refurbished model!  In fact, I am leaving in the next 5min to go pick it up from the Apple Store.

Forgot the link

https://uptoneaudio.com/products/mac-mini-dc-conversion-linear-fan-controller-kit-mmk