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Mac Mini vs. CDP?

So....finally got a new Mac Mini and got it all set up with some CD's ripped lossless to Itunes. The Mac is feeding a Rega DAC via USB. A Oppo 981 DVD player is also feeding the Rega via the RCA-coax (using Cardas).

Norah Jones "Come Away With Me" was used for this test.

I cued up the CD and Mac and switched between them. At first I thought it was identical, but with a few minutes I could hear that the MAC's presentation was decidedly dull and lifeless sounding. The CDP/Rega combo sounded more open and live. I tried a few more tracks and heard the same thing. So I called my buddy (he owns a big rig of ARC and Vandersteen stuff) and he echoed my findings using the W4S DAC 2.

So what's up here? I've heard people claim Mac via USB is a match for a CDP. It seems like it should be....Ideas?

Rob
robbob
ultra_fi
24 posts
 
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
larryken
537 posts
 
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.
robbob OP
273 posts
 
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
roscoeiii's avatar
roscoeiii
1,155 posts
 
IIRC, the Rega's USB implementation is not a strength of the unit. You may want to look into a USB to coax converter. This would also allow you to play hi-res from your Mini.
robbob OP
273 posts
 
After comparing hi-res files to standard CD's I'm not a convert. As far as I've been led to understand the only limitation of the Rega USB is the fact that it's held to redbook resolution, which is not a limitation at all.

I still may try a converter, but a good one will be a costly experiment. The next purchase will be in the Rega transport coming next month.

Why don't I believe in 24 bit? I've heard 24 bit on other systems and been highly unimpressed. Unless the actual engineering has been improved, this is why....

http://www.head-fi.org/t/415361/24bit-vs-16bit-the-myth-exploded

As a friend who owns an audio salon likes to say, "There are differences you can read about and those you can hear."

Rob
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