There's a whole section at AudioAsylum devoted to PC Audio you might want to check out. I'll make the answers brief and simple.
1. For better reproduction you will need a USB DAC and likely an external hard drive to store your music. DAC's are available in a wide range of budget.
2. You get a CD into your computer using a software interface like iTunes which should come with the operating system on your MiniMac. That software will give you access to all your music. You insert a CD into your computer and instruct the software to "import" (some say "rip") the CD onto the hard drive in either a bit-for-bit format like WAV, or one of several various compressed formats which are generally not as desirable if you are going for the best audio quality (AppleLossless is a compressed format that does retain a bit-for-bit quality taking up half the space of a WAV). You should probably try ripping the same music in several different formats and see where your own preferences/discrimination lies. Uncompressed files take up much more hard disc space.
3. As above; you need a USB DAC (the simple approach), and the transport in your MacMini. No additional transport would be necessary unless you wanted to play CD's outside of your Mini.
4. This depends on how much music you want to store and which format you choose to store it in. I have about 800 CD's ripped in both WAV and Apple Lossless and they fit on a 400gb drive. Storage is very cheap. A backup drive is a very good idea (identical to your main drive) in case of failure you won't have to rip your entire library a second time. You can find 500gb drives for around $130 these days.
5. The newer MacMinis do come with a remote that you can use with iTunes. You'll need a screen as well.
6. You can use the system as the core of a music server. You'll need more components to form a network around your house though.
7. Given a good USB DAC and Lossless files, I have a very difficult time telling the difference myself.
8. I really like the Paradisea+ USB DAC which sells on eBay for around $600 from the designer in Taiwan. Occasionally they show up used here for less. Make sure it is the USB version though or you will need an additional interface. There are many other options as well. A respected friend just recommended the April Music DA100 which is also available direct for around the same price. No experience there myself.
Good luck!
Marco
1. For better reproduction you will need a USB DAC and likely an external hard drive to store your music. DAC's are available in a wide range of budget.
2. You get a CD into your computer using a software interface like iTunes which should come with the operating system on your MiniMac. That software will give you access to all your music. You insert a CD into your computer and instruct the software to "import" (some say "rip") the CD onto the hard drive in either a bit-for-bit format like WAV, or one of several various compressed formats which are generally not as desirable if you are going for the best audio quality (AppleLossless is a compressed format that does retain a bit-for-bit quality taking up half the space of a WAV). You should probably try ripping the same music in several different formats and see where your own preferences/discrimination lies. Uncompressed files take up much more hard disc space.
3. As above; you need a USB DAC (the simple approach), and the transport in your MacMini. No additional transport would be necessary unless you wanted to play CD's outside of your Mini.
4. This depends on how much music you want to store and which format you choose to store it in. I have about 800 CD's ripped in both WAV and Apple Lossless and they fit on a 400gb drive. Storage is very cheap. A backup drive is a very good idea (identical to your main drive) in case of failure you won't have to rip your entire library a second time. You can find 500gb drives for around $130 these days.
5. The newer MacMinis do come with a remote that you can use with iTunes. You'll need a screen as well.
6. You can use the system as the core of a music server. You'll need more components to form a network around your house though.
7. Given a good USB DAC and Lossless files, I have a very difficult time telling the difference myself.
8. I really like the Paradisea+ USB DAC which sells on eBay for around $600 from the designer in Taiwan. Occasionally they show up used here for less. Make sure it is the USB version though or you will need an additional interface. There are many other options as well. A respected friend just recommended the April Music DA100 which is also available direct for around the same price. No experience there myself.
Good luck!
Marco