Mac Mini As A Streaming Source
I have been looking to add a digital streaming source to my sound system and so am VERY new to this process. But, from what I see the variety is mind boggling and there is no complete device out there that would do CD/SACD playback, plus all available music streaming apps, plus Roon.
I use apple music for high res/lossless streaming on my phone, especially their new classical service as that is my primary listening, so compatibility with this app is mandatory. This, however, seems to eliminate every single digital streamer out there. But, am I missing something?
So, what are the thoughts on using a mac mini for a dedicated source, linked to a DAC? I can put all of the streaming apps there, and install Roon there, and put my existing CD ripped files on the hard drive. Connect to the internet over wifi.
What output cable would I use to connect to the internal DAC on my Mark Levinsion 585.5?
Could everything be operated with an Ipad running Roon, without the need for keyboards?
The only thing missing would be CD playback, but could that be accomplished using a DVD/Blu Ray reader attached to the Mac?
Any help on this would be appreciated!
That’s the thing, how much are we comfortable spending in order to gain an increase in sound quality? I spent about $8k the Aqua Formula DAC and love it. It really sounds great. Now, people tell me I should not stream from a Mac Mini but have a dedicated streamer. Maybe they’re right, I don’t know. I’d like to be able to trial the LinQ streamer. What do people think about the workaround for Roon using HQPlayer which is used in the LinQ? |
larrykell, I don't think anyone is telling you what you should do, I think we are sharing our experiences, the ultimate decision is what you think sounds best. Truthfully I could probably be happy with my current Node 130 set up for a long time, however I have the means to improve my system over time.....and am always searching for better sound. |
@vthokie83 Improving sound over time, is for me what this hobby is all about. It’s definitely a marathon and not a sprint. Given that we’re currently living in a digital renaissance and digital technology is changing so rapidly, we all have to adjust to change. I will say that price point seems to be all over the place. Good value is out there but in a sea of marketing where companies foremost strive to maximize their dividends. For this reason, I look for improvements that provide high end results at affordable prices given the possibility that what I buy today could become antiquated five years from now. I’m just surprised that no one has yet engineered a way to make personal computers compete with the best streamers/renderers when it comes to sound quality. |
Is there anyone here who has never watched a movie on a computer? Does computer "noise" ruin the movie-watching experience? Did you feel the need to install special power-conditioning components to clean up the signal? There are good reasons to prefer a TV over a computer for video. Avoiding electrical noise isn't one of them. Why would music be any different?
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I will say that digital audio is such a mess and I’m in tech. I’m amazed it works at all. I’d actually like to spend most of my time listening to music and not messing around configuring a device. Roon has worked well for me for years. It’s pretty easy to set up, the apps keep getting better, it streams from multiple providers and to multiple devices. It’s pretty cool. It is funny to hear so many different takes on streaming digital audio. I don’t expect anyone to tell me what to and everyone has a different opinion on what to do.
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