[ratso]

there probably is already a million threads on this, so if it's easier just point me there. also if this is better suited to the apple circle again, let me know.

anyways, after months of twisting in the wind trying to figure out my "perfect" media server, i have finally stumbled across the obvious     i need a mac mini.
 
basic plan:
1. used 2010 mini off ebay, preferably with snow leopard (better as a server i think)?
2. pure music from channel d for flac files kept on my NAS
3. usb out to schitt dac
4. trash all unneeded programs (is this advisable/necessary)?
5. upgrade to SSD?

would this basically do it? comments, concerns, call me an idiot?

[roscoeiii]

ultrafi recently posted a link on his webpage on optimizing a Mac Mini for music. And you have a huge number of software playback program possibilities. Most have 2 week or so trial periods. Computer Audiophile and Audio Asylum both have pretty active threads discussing the different programs.

[sts9fan]

Are you going to get the data wirelessly? I am thinking of doing the same thing.

[wgscott]

there probably is already a million threads on this, so if it's easier just point me there. also if this is better suited to the apple circle again, let me know.

anyways, after months of twisting in the wind trying to figure out my "perfect" media server, i have finally stumbled across the obvious     i need a mac mini.
 
basic plan:
1. used 2010 mini off ebay, preferably with snow leopard (better as a server i think)?
2. pure music from channel d for flac files kept on my NAS
3. usb out to schitt dac
4. trash all unneeded programs (is this advisable/necessary)?
5. upgrade to SSD?

would this basically do it? comments, concerns, call me an idiot?

I have a 2010 mini with 10.6.8 (runs better than 10.7, which I backed out of).  I have 8 gig of memory (a must) and conventional HD which someday I may replace if I feel like it, but didn't feel a compelling need.  I primarily use iTunes, Audirvana, Decibel and BitPerfect, all of which are cheap or free.

You don't need to trash any software.  I did however turn off spotlight, dashboard, metadata indexing, the iTunes thingie that looks for plugged in iPods, and Time Machine (I do manual backups). Since I use a USB to coax converter (Halide Bridge), I use firewire 800 for my external hard drive (bus powered, Owen Digital 1TB).

[ratso]

^^^^ excellent advice, thanx! i take it you don't find the drive noise intrusive, i've heard it's very quiet. i owned the old style mini and it was pretty loud. sorry roscoe i'm not finding it, do you have a link?

i will not be wireless, but i use a powerline.

[roscoeiii]

Running out the door now. PM me a reminder if I or someone else hasn't posted it by tomorrow.

[ted_b]

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=98931.0

[ratso]

thank you both! i thought of another question. as long as i am building an audio server, might as well make it a video server too. can you have it set up to output video/5.1 surround by HDMI when i click on a video and 2 channel audio output by USB when i click on an audio file? or do you have to go in and change settings?

[ratso]

posted the above question in several places and wgscott was kind enough to give me the answer at computer audiophile. here is what he told me if anyone else is wondering this:

"Yes, you can.

You do have to change interfaces.

However, what I do is this:

I play movies via iTunes or Front Row, and have them use my "default" audio out, which I set to HDMI.

Then I play music via Audirvana or Decibel or BitPerfect, and set their preferred audio out to the USB (in my case Halide Bridge). Then it is fairly seamless.

If you option-click the little speaker icon thingie in the menu bar, you can easily toggle between audio output interfaces that way."

thanx so much, i think you just sold me on a new mini   

[newzooreview]

I've been using a Mac Mini server for a while now, so here are my 2 cents:

1. I posted some Mac Mini system software tweaks here http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=74816.msg810025#msg810025

2. I got a firewire cable from Mach 2 Music that eliminates the power transmission over the cable, and it definitely improved detail, openness.

3. I recently (last week) got a PI Audio BatteryBUSS to power the MacMini and hard drive from battery power, and it was a night and day difference. Strongly recommended!

4. The Tranquility SE DAC is terrific with the Mac Mini. dB Audio has a new 24/192 asynchronous USB DAC (assuming you saw it at RMAF) that supposedly improves further on things.

5. I've been using Decibel from sbooth.org and it sounds very obviously better than iTunes. I'm hesitant to bother with Pure Vinyl and would never consider Amarra since it's over priced, doesn't reveal what signal processing is used, and requires a punish-the-honest-customer dongle that installs a rootkit on your computer.

Have fun with the Mac Mini. In my experience it can be the foundation of system evolution and great sound.