[PaulFolbrecht]

I have recently "downsized" my system substantially, including selling off my [excellent] vinyl front-end and moving to a Mac Mini->Moore DAC-41 as my primary source.

All & all I'm quite thrilled as the sound is excellent - the best digital I've heard, better even than my previous digital reference, the Marantz SA-7.

My Mini has a hybrid SSD, 8 Gb of RAM, Pure Music, and all the software tweaks.

While I'm committed to staying quite practical (my new philosophy for the hobby is *excellent sound at a pricepoint* instead of *best sound possible*), I do think addressing the Mac's noisy switching PS is a good idea.

I'm thinking of a couple possibilities:

- And aftermarket power cord + a passive conditioner - such as the BPT Power Center.

- A linear power supply such as the Core Tech offering.  (Batteries are not totally out of the question but probably something I don't want to mess with.)

I thought it would be good perhaps to have a thread dedicated to the general topic of Mac Mini conditioning/power supplies.  Can people who have experience in this area share experiences?

[jrebman]

Paul,

Nice new philosophy .  I've tried the Mach2 mini with the basic and Plus versions of the mini power cable from Pi Audio, both direct into the wall and into the Rev B Buss.  IMO, the buss really didn't do anything much for the mini -- maybe even a slight negative effect (thhough the Rev B did great things for the system as a whole.) By far the best things for the mini were the Mach2 mods, the Pi cables, and the MacSandwich in that order, and the Plus version of the PC was a nice improvement over the basic.

Now this same mini has been modified for the Pi Battery buss, and I'm just waiting for a longer usb cable to arrive before I hear that setup.  Of course it will have been some time since hearing the AC powered version, plus the dac is different now (Metrum Octave with Audiophilleo AP2), so it won't be apples to apples so to speak, but I'm expecting even more goodness from this setup.

Now you can send me all your vinyl .  I recently got a Clearaudio Concept (killer table for the money) and have an Ortofon 2M black on the way, and will be building a Bottlehead Eros, but have a Bellari VP130 to tide me over until then.

Of course the rest of the system is also totally different now too -- new speakers, cables, rack, DAC and amp -- lots of breaking in to do.

BTW, this is a 2010 mini with 40 gb ssd, 8 gb ram and running PureMusic/PV.  Supposedly the 2011 minis are even quieter.

-- Jim

[PaulFolbrecht]

Jim -- didn't you get rid of your vinyl front-end in favor of the Tranquility?!  As a matter of fact, you were one of my two inspirations in that endeavor (the other being a guy with initials GR who did the same thing).

[I find it slightly amusing that you bought a Concept - because that was my re-entry point the last time I "gave up vinyl"!   I found the bass definition and punch and speed stability lacking, causing me to upgrade to a far more expensive Basis table and TriPlanar.  See what you've done? ]

THIS time, however, I think I HAVE really given it up, because the tweaked Mini + DAC-41 is so darn good.  No, it's NOT as good as my 5x as expensive vinyl setup, but it's VERY close on most material.  And so much less hassle.  I find letting my brain fill in the missing 10% works fine.

And you are telling me you got rid of your Tonians?  For what?  (Not to take the thread totally off-topic...)

As a matter of fact I spent the last week slowly reading through that 46-page Tranquility DAC thread so I'd read a lot of your comments.  I'm definitely wondering what the new DAC is too...

I had a PS Audio Premier (power regenerator) not long ago.  I got rid of it because - with my vinyl-based system - the changes it brought were minimal.  But of course digital is a whole nother animal when it comes to clean power.

Maybe I should wait for your report on the battery buss, although I'm not sure I can stand the site of a car/motorcycle battery on my rack.

It's so good now I'm not in any hurry.

[mikeeastman]

The battery can go into a cute box, you won't have look at it. Go for PI battery Buss and battery.

  Mike

[jrebman]

Hi Paul,

Yeah, that was me, and if I had not come into a small windfall, I'd probably still be digital only.  As for selling the Tranquility, don't read too much into it -- I still stand by every statement I made about it and it was not easy to part with it, like the Leben CS300 X I also just sold -- both superb audio gear, and admittedly what I'm doing now is somewhat exprimental.  The new dac is the Metrum Octave, which will either be fed from an Audiophilleo AP2 or perhaps toslink -- whichever ends up sounding better.

The basic impetus for the move is that the hi-res NOS dacs are now showing up and at affordable prices -- the Metrum being one good example, but others are out there and more are coming.  I heard a prototype 24/192 NOS dac at RMAF, and even with a toslink connection and redbook source material, it was, well, it got my attention, which is about all I can honestly say about it now.  It's still not available, but when it comes out, that's where I'll be headed -- probably

New speakers are the Blumenstein Ultra Fi Nagas and matching BUF subs -- they will end up being the most expensive speakers I've owned, but not outrageous, and built by a true artisan.  In fact I just bought his other speaker system -- Orcas and BUF subs for our living room... and they are absolutely beautiful.

This is definitely music first type stuff, but I'm told that I will be shocked at how well these play all kinds of music.  I should know very, very soon -- in fact I had planned on having the system playing today but wrenched my back moving the rack.

BTW, regarding the Concept, it is supposedly much more stable with a beefy psu, so I've started building one for it, and CA just sent me the documents on how to fine tune the speeds.  Rumor also has it that there will be a ceramic-magnetic bearing upgrade for it, but that is unconfirmed.

And finally, my listening room is now a dedicated space for listening and my office has moved to another room.  Also had a dedicated 20 amp service installed and wired with JPS labs in-wall "romex".  I'm actually thinking this will allow me to move the Pi Rev B buss upstairs and just go direct into the Jena Labs 20 amp outlets for even fewer connections in the path.

So, the new TT, selling the Tranquility and the new speakers are all experiments for sure, but a calculated risk to take what was a really nice system and maybe take it up a notch or three -- still don't know.

It's all good, and my audio nervosa has almost completely left the building -- I'm not in it for the gear as much as the music primarily -- which should sound obvious, but isn't always so.

-- Jim

[PaulFolbrecht]

Hey Jim,

So, did you sell your Tonians yet?  And - refresh my memory - did I sell you your TL-D1s?  I have had three pairs of them, one bought new.  I still regard them as quite magical - amazing for jazz.  However, the Living Voice IBX-R2s I have had for 3-4 months now I have determined will be last speaker... I think/hope.  They are also amazing, with slightly different strengths.  But if a nice pair (esp. the gorgeous maple pair I bought new) of TL-D1s came available, I don't know. 

(But I am trying to divest myself of all my 'extra' amps - mainly my 845 SETs that are impractical with my small children and kinda go against the grain of my simplification goal.  And I will not buy anything else until at least selling that equipment.)

I didn't mean to dis your new TT - it's quite good.  My point was just that upgraditis [inevitably] sets in and when you add vinyl too you've got table, arm, cart, and phono pre to worry about!  Argh.  I'm just so happy to be nice & simple now.  And boy the sound is plenty good.

[jrebman]

Hey Paul,

No worries, I know you weren't dissing the TT, and yes, I bought the tonians from you and sold them this past August -- that was a record for me to have had a speaker for so long, which says an awful lot about them.  Back to the pure single-driver thing, but this time with an actively amped 2 way setup, and not so much as a cap or inductor, or anything but wire between the amp and drivers.

I looked at the Living Voices too, as well as Sonist, Vaughn loudspeakers and a few others and for many reasons settled on the Nagas.  Tomorrow I hope to actually hear them .

The mini and battery buss thing will have to wait probably until monday or tuesday as I don't have a long enough usb cable -- but it's in the mail.

I'm still cleaning house too but will be settig up another mini for the living room system, though that will be setup with the Pi power cable and maybe the MacSandwich too, and not sure yet about Mach2 mods -- it all depends on how well the music is delivered.

-- Jim

[kbuzz3]

Hi Paul,

Yeah, that was me, and if I had not come into a small windfall, I'd probably still be digital only.  As for selling the Tranquility, don't read too much into it -- I still stand by every statement I made about it and it was not easy to part with it, like the Leben CS300 X I also just sold -- both superb audio gear, and admittedly what I'm doing now is somewhat exprimental.  The new dac is the Metrum Octave, which will either be fed from an Audiophilleo AP2 or perhaps toslink -- whichever ends up sounding better.

The basic impetus for the move is that the hi-res NOS dacs are now showing up and at affordable prices -- the Metrum being one good example, but others are out there and more are coming.  I heard a prototype 24/192 NOS dac at RMAF, and even with a toslink connection and redbook source material, it was, well, it got my attention, which is about all I can honestly say about it now.  It's still not available, but when it comes out, that's where I'll be headed -- probably

New speakers are the Blumenstein Ultra Fi Nagas and matching BUF subs -- they will end up being the most expensive speakers I've owned, but not outrageous, and built by a true artisan.  In fact I just bought his other speaker system -- Orcas and BUF subs for our living room... and they are absolutely beautiful.

This is definitely music first type stuff, but I'm told that I will be shocked at how well these play all kinds of music.  I should know very, very soon -- in fact I had planned on having the system playing today but wrenched my back moving the rack.

BTW, regarding the Concept, it is supposedly much more stable with a beefy psu, so I've started building one for it, and CA just sent me the documents on how to fine tune the speeds.  Rumor also has it that there will be a ceramic-magnetic bearing upgrade for it, but that is unconfirmed.

And finally, my listening room is now a dedicated space for listening and my office has moved to another room.  Also had a dedicated 20 amp service installed and wired with JPS labs in-wall "romex".  I'm actually thinking this will allow me to move the Pi Rev B buss upstairs and just go direct into the Jena Labs 20 amp outlets for even fewer connections in the path.

So, the new TT, selling the Tranquility and the new speakers are all experiments for sure, but a calculated risk to take what was a really nice system and maybe take it up a notch or three -- still don't know.

It's all good, and my audio nervosa has almost completely left the building -- I'm not in it for the gear as much as the music primarily -- which should sound obvious, but isn't always so.

-- Jim

I have looked at the bluensein site a few times and been rather intrigued. Can you post some thoughts on them when they arrive?

[jrebman]

Yes, I will, but in a separate thread -- probably in the speaker reviews circle.  Got the Nagas hooked up and playing sans subs yesterday and in short, I'm thrilledd.  We really should get this thread back on track, and as soon as I get the battery powered mach2 mini up and running I'll report back on that.

-- Jim

[ted_b]

Paul, I have the very large very new Paul Hynes SR7-18 in the new EHD configuration (See thread below).  It was built for me to power my late 2009 Mac Mini.  Prior to this ps, I decided easily that the stock switching supply liked a directw all connection rather than my Audience Adept AR12 power conditioner.  For this PH ps I also bypass the Audience power conditioner and go to my Uberbuss, which then connects to the wall.  The differences between the stock apple smps and Paul's ps are amazing.  Noise floor, bass response, leading edge, reducing of glare, etc.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=100343.msg1017999#msg1017999