Should I upgrade from a Mac Mini to a dedicated server or should I upgrade my dac?

I've not read all the reply's, but i went through this and still going through this.

-I started with a PC based custom computer for dedicated streaming. I thought I'd try a Roon nucleus and it was not an upgrade if anything it was a down grade in sound, i sold it and lost $600 in one month.

-I thought i'd buy a much better streamer so i bought an Aurender A 10 ($5000 later) and still its not really any better than the PC I was using prior if anything its more difficult to use, nice DAC in it i suppose. I find its good but its a pain to use in comparison to the PC.

I've tried the Blue sound node prior to the Aurender and it wasn't better then the Roon Nucleus. 

Sound wise I'd try a good DAC first. in my experience the streamer in some cases sound worse then a computer based system, well lets face it they are all computer based systems.

I'd try optimizing your computer first for streaming before a new streamer. Then make the decision about upgrading the computer. 

The streamers can give you easier interface though depending on how you got your mac mini set up i.e. tablet control etc. 

@verdantaudio 

I have had customers have tons of issues with Mac Minis.  Literally, it created a network issue for a customer so his DAC could not get an IP address.  The mini had to be off whenever he turned on the DAC.  It is not my favorite device. 

Was this with a Bricasti DAC? And was it with Roon?

@audphile1 it was definitely with Roon.  It has happened with Bricasti and Weiss.  I discovered it was a problem with the Mac Mini when I saw people complaining about not getting IP addresses on TVs and Printers in other types of forums. This is not just an audio problem.  The Mac Mini creates problems in lots of applications.
 

the weirdest part is it is only the Mac Mini.  Other apple laptops and desktops do not create the same issue.  It is very bizarre.   

@verdantaudio Interesting, I've never heard of such issues. I'm in IT and I've got lots of Mac endpoints out there. First option should be static IP addresses, next...dhcp reservations.

It's unfortunate that Apple ditched the SP/DIF optical output years ago. We're now forced to deal with USB/C and all the baggage that comes with it.

The new Mini M1 is an amazing computer in of itself. I've played around with it to explore its potential as a streamer. I enjoyed using Audirvana Studio and a trial of Roon. Ultimately I didn't spend too much time on it to wring out its best sound quality.....but it did sound good, not great. 

As an office streamer I think it has great potential with USB conditioning. What I tried to do was dead-head it (no monitor, keyboard or mouse) in my stereo rack. I'd remote into it to launch the mentioned software and use the IOS app to control it. That's what I found frustrating. Roon was pretty good, Audirvana not so much. 

@treynolds155 I hope Apple has improved the Mini and these weird issues go away with it. That said, when I have a customer who tells me a network device doesn’t work, first question is do they have a Mac Mini on the network? If the answer is yes, whether part of audio chain or not, turn it off and then start the device.