Mac Mini vs. CDP?

I've been planning to get the Mac Mini for my Eastern Electric Minimax DAC+. Until then, I'll be running it coax with my Krell cdp. I'll be watching this thread with interest for responses to this SQ issue. From all my reading, for computer audio to achieve good to excellent results, configuring the Mac Mini, tweaks, and add-on software are prerequisites. (all of which I know nothing) I've read great feedback regarding Amarra with the Mac Mini as compared against ITunes. The software is expensive however, and I'm only willing to go so far with expense for good sound quality in a computer audio setup. In fact, I don't think great expense should be necessary for computer, DAC and everything; $1-2k should be enough. (sorry, that's a different thread!)

Buconero, I've never read anything on the web with that account. I also experimented with my big Imac and results are identical. But I stayed up late and did some research and tweaking....here are the results.

I re-ripped the files with error correction set to ON. I have a fancy looking no-name USB cable which I swapped out for the Belkin Pro Gold. I then repositioned the Merlin Speakers so I could switch sources more easily without changing my position in the room to do so. And finally....I tried some different filter settings and found that Filter 1 was best for the Mini while Filter 4 was suited to the CDP.

The result now was I preferred the MacMini sound. I don't know if this was due to the error correction or the USB cable. The difference was very small, but the Mini/rega now sounded smoother at the top end and the Opp/rega just a tad harsh. Again....very subtle and you'd have to be listening like a maniac for the differences. Bottom line: Very pleased with the Mini now. I can control it perfectly with the Ipad without a screen as well....very cool. Next I'll be adding the new Rega Apollo R to the DAC and that may turn the tables yet again.

The Mac mini will also be getting a memory bump, which according to 6Moons will do more for the Mini.

Cheers,

Rob

Error correction when ripping is critical.

Computer cabling is as, if not more, important than analog cabling.

The orientation of your power cable on your mini matters.

There's a OS X software optimization guide on my website - it is free.

There's more to this but this should make a substantial difference. Basically everything matters, just like analog.

Larry D. Moore
Ultra Fi
http://www.ultrafi.biz

I use the Pure Music app and a decent usb cable and find the sound exceeds any of the expensive cdp's I owned in the past.

Larry, much thanks!

Next week I'll boost the memory of the Mac and try the guide's suggestions. At this point I'm glad I spent some time with the tweaks as I was initially surprised and unhappy with how the Mac Mini sounded. Now it's another ballgame! I spent an hour this morning listening and the Minimac is indeed besting the CD transport by a small margin. Most of the time you can't really tell the difference...only on top notch recordings. It's interesting that the filter settings were such a help as well.
Next up I will also be trying a better USB cable among other things.

So for Mac Mini users....don't expect perfection right off. The Mini needs some tweaking like any other audio component.

Rob