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Streamer vs. new mac mini for 2 channel system

Hi audio friends,

I LOVE the functionality of my mac mini with my 2 channel system: Exasound 62e DAC, Modwright ls100 pre, Coda continuum 8 power amp and Wilson Sabrina speakers.  Being able to navigate with mouse and keyboard from my listening position is infinitely better than using a tablet or some mickey mouse app with my phone.  

The issue is the mac mini.  Clearly this is not the best transport, however I want to use my 2 channel system for more than just streaming roon.  I listen to soundcloud a lot to learn about new music and when I watch tv I want to utilize the stereo for netflix, crave etc.  My Dac has only 1 usb in and obviously an optical + s/pdif, but the fidelity is just not as good with the other inputs.  

I almost pulled the trigger on a Lumin U1 mini, but again I do not see how this transport will improve fidelity, without limiting overall functionality.  How do I bring a new mac mini to a place where it can compete with a dedicated transport like the lumin, or is this even a reasonable suggestion?  

Looking to optimize the system in the most efficient way.
Confused - any suggestions would be much appreciated.

cshadow
bartolo
11 posts
 
In his post, the OP wishes to access URL’s that are not available on dedicated streamers - such as Soundcloud. Yet, seeking to improve the SQ as much as possible - within those parameters.
For me the trade-off would probably have me use AirPlay or similar for 'streaming' that platform to my dedicated streamer.  Soundcloud appears to accept a wide variety of files; for lossy files my solution is better than for lossless. It would come down to how important a lossless non-supported platform was to me.
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,624 posts
 
@mr_m
You got it right. AND a $100 worth of Ras Pi and a good DAC leaves leaves the BluNode behind.
At least I left mine. 
Paul McGowan uses a Mac because he’s an Apple head, he’s had it for years and there’s no money in cheap superior solutions.
Any one who thinks streamers are "big bucks" while Apple is not is non credible.
adasdad's avatar
adasdad
142 posts
 
I was streaming music via Tidal and Qobuz while using my MacBook Pro as my ROON Core. And when I told my hi-fi guy that he asked if I was crazy, or did I just enjoy listening to music whose sound was exceedingly poor. So I bought a ROON Nucleus Rev B, put a 2TB storage card in it, and got an Sbooster 19v LPS to power it. The sound quality is really quite good. Now I can pick up my iPad or iPhone and play music anywhere in my house. 
jwillox
188 posts
 
Lumin D2 user here. 
I’m a retiring IT consultant and hardware person. I have several notebooks around that could be used as a transport feeding a DAC. 
The D2 frees me from messing with a computer tied to my audio system, and the maintenance, updates, and configuration of same. 
I messed with 5 different streamers before I finally bought the D2. 
Pros:
One small box
Decent app (far from perfect)
Excellent sound quality - easily surpassing what can be stored in a digital file. Upsamples most anything to DSD
Plays most file formats (except for WMA)
Decent price point. 
Cons:
Requires some sort of UPNP server. I have a Synology NAS which has a basic UPNP server, and the free version of Lumin’s recommendation of MinimServer is available as a “package” from Synology. Takes some messing - especially with a few TB of poorly tagged and mixed file formats. 
As I have cleaned up my music library, I’ve gotten used to the shuffle: UPNP rescan, reload music library, check app for proper tagging, album art, etc. 

Pull the trigger! Open box prices are 10-15% below retail. 
unsound
7,329 posts
 
@fuzztone, McGowan uses a Mac Mini until his long promised streamer comes to market.
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