Changes in DAC Presentation - Need Advice

@yyzsantabarbara ​​​​, if I'm only using the Mac for the core with no playback issues, wouldn't the separate streamer remove any of the sound quality issues? 

I was also only using my MacMini for CORE. My issue was not sound quality. It was that ROON would have performance issues on the Mac. It would crash, stop playing, the MacMini would update the OS and then not reboot. I had to restore this machine close to a dozen times with a backup OS copy. That was also a PIA to do. Just a piece of crap software.

I am a software developer myself and I get frustrated to no end when I have to use the Mac. I am too old now to deal with stuff like this. I just need a machine that just works all the time. 

BTW - I am one of those heretics that say that by using Fibre Optical wire just before the DAC. It does not matter about the quality of the machine hosting the music server (ROON Core in my case) as long as the machine is located before the FIbre Optic cable. Fibre cannot carry analog noise.

Server matters in terms of sound quality even when not used as a renderer. You would be amazed home much noise the garbage power supplies and other bad parts can introduce. The core is also the more power intense function as it needs to tame a very volatile internet. The least expensive audio server will be a step up compared to a Mac Mini. Look at SGC or Roon for moderately priced options.

i can’t speak about the impact of a fiber output from a server to render.

I obviously don’t sell small green, I do sell Roon. I have never had a Nucleus returned unless someone upgraded to a better server within the 30 days.

@topside3 any update?