2. pc-audio
  3. 1147876638

PC/Squeezebox v Mac Mini

O.K. I've got two options for a music server setup. Since I'll be using the DAC in my Rotel tuner, my goal is simply to get the music data cleanly from the HD to the Rotel, and to control the music jukebox in the living room (where the stereo equipment is) with a nice GUI ("graphical user interface" or "menu" for non computer geeks).

Option 1: PC/Squeezebox - Purchase a Slim Devices Squeezebox 3 for my living room (where the audio equipment is) and an additional HD for my existing PC in my den. Communicate wirelessly between the two and connect the SB to the Rotel via toslink (optical cable).

This option is about $400. From what I've read, sound quality should be excellent, but computer in the den will always need to be on and the door of the desk it is in will always need to be open. GUI (menus) on the SB may be small on the couch (18 feet away).

Option 2: Mac Mini - Purchase a Mac Mini and place in the living room with the Rotel. Connect the mini to the rotel with a "mini optical-to-toslink" cable, and to the Plasma display via DVI.

This option is about $700 (with cable). Better GUI for music selection plus DVD and photo capability. There is some question as to the quality of the digital out (which I'm not sure if that is a legitimate question or not). "Always on" should not be a problem as the box will not be in a closed environment, and should be quiet in the living room). The question here is really sound quality and price.

Option 3: Other devices. Are there other network wireless devices with toslink out that have a GUI that can control the player in the living room?

Any opinions and/or experience using the above equipment would be appreciated.
baylorgator
baylorgator OP
4 posts
 
The new intel based mac mini comes with a remote and has its own interface called front row. It basically looks and feels like the ipod menu system and allows you to chose DVD, Music, Video, or Pictures, and then control each with simple up, down, right and left on your remote.

(Since all my audio and HT components are run by my harmony remote, I'd prefer not to have to use an extra remote like a PDA. The harmony will handle the mac or squeezebox flawlessly.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
drubin
3,274 posts
 
Thanks, makes sense. So you'll hook the Mini up to your TV I guess.
ehart
215 posts
 
Hi Baylorgator,

I have been looking at the Squeezebox or the Opus Musica as my main options. I ruled out having a computer in the stereo cabinet because it was too hard to figure out how to do a remote. Your Mac Mini option sounds intriguing. Questions:

1. Is the remote infrared, or RF?

2. How noisy is the Mac Mini? Note that the Squeezebox is completely silent (no moving parts). The Musica is said to be pretty quiet (no fan, and hard drive chosen for low volume). If the Mini has a fan, it may be considerably noisier than the other two options.

Finally, comments on the network piece of the squeezebox. First, why do you think you'd need to leave the door where your computer is stored open? Second, can you run wire and skip the wireless part?

Cordially,

Eric
herman
2,256 posts
 
Mini facts:

* remote is IR
* no fan and a quiet hard drive but can be a bit noisy playing a CD, but not a problem if they're on a hard drive.
* you have to have a mouse and keyboard hooked up whether you use them or not or it won't past self test
* the Front Row is pretty slick but you will have to have the display on to navigate it. Once you make a selection you can put it in the background and use the display for other stuff, surf the net, display pictures, whatever.
* if you use the internal drive to rip your CDs the Mini gets pretty hot after a little while but runs pretty cool otherwise. I am using an external Plextor drive to rip.

I am using mine with a USB DAC so I don't know anything about the optical output.

I'm using a series of external firewire hard drives right now but I think I'm going with something like this http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1338702&CatId=0
baylorgator OP
4 posts
 
Eric:

Herman answered the remote question. As for the fan, it does have one (note the vent holes on the back), but it is virtually silent, so most people think it doesn't. Either way, there is no ambient noise produced by the mini, so it becomes a moot point. As for the networking/door issue, my computer is stored in a computer desk which has no ventilation; when I use the computer I must open the door of the desk in order to vent the fan exhaust. It's not a networking issue, it's a "keep the chip cool" issue. If there was some cheap easy way to put the computer in the closet and run both monitors wirelessly with two GUIs (one for the media center and one for the computer), I'd do it, but frankly, it's cheaper and easier to buy a second computer at that point.

The bottom line is that if the squeezebox had a video out option so that I could control it from the TV (i.e. see it across the room), I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Is there anything that does this?
More to discover