[John151]

I was kicking around the idea of purchasing a Mac Mini. I am a PC guy, so this would be a new experience for me.  Anyway, I noticed that the Mac Mini has Optical inputs and outputs for audio.  This got me thinking, it is small enough to fit in my rack, is supposed to be very quiet, so there could be some really neat possibilities.  Anyone have any experience with these little wonders? 

[IronLion]

I forget on what thread exactly that I've read this, but I recall people here saying that the digital outs directly out of Macs are a bit grainy and not very pleasant sounding.  I'm not sure if this is true, but its something worth looking into. 

[Rashiki]

I use a first generation Mac Mini (G4 PowerPC, not Intel) as a server for four SqueezeBoxes and it's been great. It's not the fastest computer, but very small and quiet and more than powerful enough to run all four SqueezeBoxes. The newer Intel based Mac Minis are probably much faster.

You could get the Mini and if you're not satisfied with the digital out, get a good firewire to S/PDIF converter or head down the SqueezeBox path.

 -Rob

[sammie]

I use a first generation Mac Mini (G4 PowerPC, not Intel) as a server for four SqueezeBoxes and it's been great. It's not the fastest computer, but very small and quiet and more than powerful enough to run all four SqueezeBoxes. The newer Intel based Mac Minis are probably much faster.

You could get the Mini and if you're not satisfied with the digital out, get a good firewire to S/PDIF converter or head down the SqueezeBox path.

 -Rob

Hi Rob,

Would you please give details about your system?  How you have it set up....what software config for server duties, etc.  I want to build a similar set-up (Apple/multiple squeezeboxes). Thanks, Fred

[Rashiki]

Would you please give details about your system?  How you have it set up....what software config for server duties, etc.  I want to build a similar set-up (Apple/multiple squeezeboxes). Thanks, Fred

Sure. There really isn't anything special...

• Base-model first generation Mac Mini (G4 1.2GHz), upgraded to 1GB RAM.
• Running MacOS 10.3.9 (latest version without paying for upgrade)
• Running latest version of SlimServer (6.5.4 today -- upgrade as updates are available)
• Music stored on 250GB hard drive in an external hard drive enclosure with firewire interface.
• Using two SqueezeBox v3s, one 1G SqueezeBox, one 2G SqueezeBox
• SqueezeBoxes and Mac are connected via 100 Mbit/s network through an ethernet switch. Several other devices are also connected through the same switch.
  

I use a second external hard drive for backing up my music. It's just a complete copy of all the files.

Anything else you'd like to know?

 -Rob

[Bemopti123]

I jumped into the Mac Mini bandwagon two years and half ago when I purchased it for myself, I student I knew, two more for some other people from Church and a loaded Generation 2 model for my mother. 

My Mac Mini is used for Audio through a Headroom Micro DAC USB DAC into either a Heed CanAmp into AKG 701K or out to my regular stereo set up.  I doubt mine has the hybrid optical out from the headphone output.

The sound is very good, perhaps not SOTA, but pretty close for almost everything else.  I boot it out of a 500 GB external Firewire which has enough space for almost anything that I have had so far, a library ripped with mostly Apple Lossless files of almost entire CDs I have or selected tracks from some others.  I also have tons of video files that I downloaded from Veoh, to watch and trash.  I mean large GBs worth of both Audio and Video media.  I also loaded it with 3500 decent resolution pictures of all my travels since 2004.

Mine does not have the 1GB option, but just the 512 and still beats my old P4 1.66 GHZ, 512 MB DELL with expensive video card. 

The Mini's forte is not graphics, although for most stuff I do it is fine.  I once swore I was going to use it exclusively for photos and music while I used the PC for games or other things, but the Mini has been used 98% of the times for most things I have been doing lately. 

BTW, it does not freeze or need to force rebooted as often as Windows based PC.  Which in itself is heaven sent.  Great BANG for the money, especially for audio and other things. 

[Brad]

I really like the Mini too.

The form factor is great.
And it's QUIET!
Wakes/sleeps seamlessly.

[John151]

I really like the Mini too.
....
Wakes/sleeps seamlessly.

That is my biggest complaint about my IBM Laptop running XP - waking it up is slower than rebooting.  And, after each reboot or wakeup, all of the apps call home to check for updates, which seems to lock up the computer.  I basically wake it up, and then go out back and BBQ a full slab of ribs, and them come back and start working on the laptop.    

[spudco]

I bought a mac mini this spring.  Upgrading the memory to 1G was easy.  I have 500G WD drives for music and backup.  They are attached via a wireless network using Apple's Airport Express Extreme base station. 

I use Itunes to load/manage my music.  I have 2 libraries - one is lossless and very large.  The other supports our Ipod and is compressed.  I run Slimserver for listening to music.  I never have to reboot the Mac. 

On the main system, I have a squeezebox playing through an Audiomeca Dac and it is really close to the quality using an Audiomeca Transport.  On my basement system, I just use the squeezebox.  It sounds OK, but nothing spectacular.

The only shortcomming I have found is the logitech wireless keyboard/mouse that I use.  It stinks!

Having instant access to all my disks is great, but random play is the most amazing experience.  It is like having a weird soundtrack of my life playing all day long.

I haven't played a disk in my transport in 3 months or more...  I'll never go back.

[sammie]

I really like the Mini too.

The form factor is great.
And it's QUIET!
Wakes/sleeps seamlessly.

Brad,

What is your interface?  How do you wake/sleep the mac? 

[Brad]

The mini is running both Slimserver for an SB2 and also Itunes locally
Wake/sleep are just the automatic power settings for OSX
Click the keyboard to wake

The power light blinks on/off slowly, like the machine is breathing...

[sammie]

Would you please give details about your system?  How you have it set up....what software config for server duties, etc.  I want to build a similar set-up (Apple/multiple squeezeboxes). Thanks, Fred

Sure. There really isn't anything special...

• Base-model first generation Mac Mini (G4 1.2GHz), upgraded to 1GB RAM.
• Running MacOS 10.3.9 (latest version without paying for upgrade)
• Running latest version of SlimServer (6.5.4 today -- upgrade as updates are available)
• Music stored on 250GB hard drive in an external hard drive enclosure with firewire interface.
• Using two SqueezeBox v3s, one 1G SqueezeBox, one 2G SqueezeBox
• SqueezeBoxes and Mac are connected via 100 Mbit/s network through an ethernet switch. Several other devices are also connected through the same switch.
  

I use a second external hard drive for backing up my music. It's just a complete copy of all the files.

Anything else you'd like to know?

 -Rob

Rob,

Thanks for the breakdown of your system....a few questions for you: your ethernet switch, does this mean all of your squeezeboxes are wired to your router, or is your network wireless?  And, since you use squeezeboxes, is your Mac tucked away somewhere and therefore, does not require input from you?  If so, can it be set to run all the time?  If not, then is wake done via wired or wireless commands from the squeezeboxes?  Thanks!

[Rashiki]

Thanks for the breakdown of your system....a few questions for you: your ethernet switch, does this mean all of your squeezeboxes are wired to your router, or is your network wireless?  And, since you use squeezeboxes, is your Mac tucked away somewhere and therefore, does not require input from you?  If so, can it be set to run all the time?  If not, then is wake done via wired or wireless commands from the squeezeboxes?  Thanks!

All of my SqueezeBoxes are wired. I don't even own a single wireless version. I have a wireless router in the attic connected to an ethernet switch. One of these: http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1115416900111&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper&lid=0011122279B09

The Mac is in my TV room and set up to use my TV as a monitor. It's quiet enough that I can leave it on all the time. I use it to check my email and for occasional web surfing. I have not attempted to configure it to sleep when not being used. I like to use my SqueezeBoxes as clocks when not being used for music, so I leave the Mac/SlimServer running at all times.

I hope that helps.

 -Rob