[dcktr]

Ready to dive into mac land.
I am currently using a squeezebox 3 server, networked to my main PC. Purchasing a refurb mac mini 2010. I want to move all my music to the mini so I can leave my main computer off. Bought my wife a macbook pro and I have been converted.
All of my audio gear is "behind the WAF wall", I use my iPAD to control the squeezebox. Using the SB3 DAC and volume control. My pre-amp does not have remote volume control. The mini will also be behind the WAF wall.
Will be selling the squeezebox and purchase external DAC. There are soooo many dacs out there in the ~~ $1000 range. not sure where I will end up. Going to venture into higher rez .
I will not have line of site to my mac mini so any direct IR remote will not work, but I will be near enough to hard wire into a router.
Simplest and most reliable way to get iPad to control the music and volume? mucho options
Just read about iTeleport, Apple TV, remote ap? There seems to be many choices. I am tired of the SB3 serving as a server. Glitchy.
Currently I have been using I-tunes, but like the look of decibel and audirvana
Thanks for your help. Look forward to joining your group.

[skunark]

If the mac mini is close to the new dac, you can use your iPad with the remote app to control it.

If you had the dac you can try this out now with your PC or Wife's MBP and get a feel of it.   While you shop for a good DAC, you might pick up a super inexpensive toslink DAC online (i.e. $30ish at monoprice with mini-toslink to toslink cable $10ish).  Most if not all Macs have optical outputs as part of headphone jack.   It's a cheap way to see if you like the set up before spending big bucks on DAC.

If you have a TV behind your WAF wall I would recommend an Apple TV so you can easily navigate the music not to mention the internet radio,  netflix/video an airplay features. 

The iPad remote app can change the volume but this might only be for the analog outputs on your  mac mini.   For the Apple TV the volume on the remote app has annoyed me, so I know that works.

[ultrafi]

OK, here goes.  Still foggy and without coffee.

You'll be limited by the toslink connection when it comes to hirez.  Frankly, toslink kinda suxs.  Generally, people have found using the mini with a miniplat2 is superior to the toslink output with a crappy dec as suggested.  YMMV.  Basically the question become what's better the dec in the mini or the one in the cheap toslink dac?  At $30, this is a no brainer.

The iPad controls over the network, not via ir.

iTunes sounds excellent when setup correctly and with a well developed system.  Plus, it is trouble free compared to other sw apps.

Look at the free guide on my we bite and if you have questions feel free to gimme a call.

LDM
www.ultrafi.biz

[dcktr]

Nice article on the ultrafi website, not 100% sure I understand about the miniplate2 Stabilizing the mini to improve digital output?

Here is where I prove my ignorance,
Why am I limited to toslink? I Can't go from mac mini usb to usb DAC and still output hi-rez??
or an item like the halide bridge if the dac does not have a usb input?
Thanks, and bear with me. I'll get this figured out
Ron

[skunark]

Halide bridge or a USB DAC is fine.   

[dcktr]

Picked up my new mac mini today. Going to go through the tweaks on the ultra-fi website. I purchased with 2gb RAM, will order 8gb.
Now for the hard part. a USB to spdif bridge and the DAC.
Want to keep it under 1300 for the 2.
Audiophillia, halide, modified hiface, audio-gd are some of the bridges considered.
DAC - Rein, schiit, audio-gd, so many DAC types and choices. Starting to go through paralysis by analysis. Have not checked the trading post here or head-fi yet.
Pure Music catches my eye for playback
I need to go back and read more posts.


 

[chrisby]

dcktr:

have you decided yet about interface format for outboard file storage?  IINM, one area of consensus is on use of separate bus formats for the DAC and storage

I'm in much the same stage of paralysis myself - so far I'm thinking of acquiring one of the Lacie with triple or quad inputs - which somewhat simplifies the decision re DAC

http://www.lacie.com/ca/products/product.htm?id=10554

[dcktr]

OK,
Could you elaborate on the separate bus formats, or point me in the right direction. not sure I know I know what you mean! (usb 2.0 versus 3.0)?
I did not think the mac mini had a 3.0 usb, but it looks like you can download a driver and improve transfer speeds by 30%?
I am just reinforcing my status as rookie.
Ron
What dacs +/- usb to spdif bridge are you considering? Price range?
thanks
Ron

[srb]

I believe he is referring to the USB and FireWire buses.  If you use a USB DAC then connect your hard drive via FireWire.  If you use a FireWire DAC then connect your hard drive via USB.
 
Steve

[chrisby]

I believe he is referring to the USB and FireWire buses.  If you use a USB DAC then connect your hard drive via FireWire.  If you use a FireWire DAC then connect your hard drive via USB.
 
Steve

exactly, and no doubt there will be strong proponents of either format as superior for the digital audio stream to DAC - and perhaps even some remaining in favor of Toslink?

The addition of Thunderbolt on latest gen of Macs (such as my 2011 Mini with Lion) certainly helps to further confuse things - at least no-one jumped on the TB DAC bandwagon to extract yet more iBucks from our iWallets, or have they?

[dcktr]

This  drive ok?
http://www.amazon.com/Iomega-FireWire-Desktop-External-Drive/dp/B003HIXOOQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1326990584&sr=1-1

[chrisby]

can't see why not - but so far the only external drive I've used is a little WD mini Passport type


and extra $30 or so for the second 1TB is a helluva deal, is the price higher when actually in stock?