[jrebman]

Just curious if anybody has tried a MBA with their dacs -- optical or usb, and how it compared to other options like the mini?

Also would be great to know if anybody has had any experience with a thunderbolt music storage drive in this same system.

Thanks,

Jim

[WC]

The MBA doesn't have an optical out, so it would have to be over USB or a with a USB/SPDIF converter.

[jrebman]

Ok, didn't know that.  Thanks for letting me know.  I have an audiophilleo AP-2, so I'm covered there.

-- Jim

[HAITIMAN]

Just curious if anybody has tried a MBA with their dacs -- optical or usb, and how it compared to other options like the mini?

Also would be great to know if anybody has had any experience with a thunderbolt music storage drive in this same system.

Thanks,

Jim

I am using a MBA with the free version of Audirvana - USB to W4S Dac-1 - Rogue Cronus Magnum - Salk SongTowers. In comparison to my Squeezebox Touch, I am getting a more defined soundstage and more weight to the bass. Overall a more "in the room" presentation compared to the Touch through the W4S Dac-1. I have a 24/96 of Patricia Barber's Modern Cool. I only really like one cut...."Company", however, it is really mindblowing with the MBA. The drum workout really shines, with great PRAT and incredible realism. On battery, the Mac is obviously quiet and the Audirvana software is extremely good.

[HAITIMAN]

Don't know how that just happened, but you get my drift!

[srb]

Don't know how that just happened, but you get my drift!

Just move the ending {/quote} tag (which is currently at the end of your reply) to the end of the actual quote.  (actual quote tags are enclosed in square brackets, not curly brackets, of course).

Steve

[jqp]

Wow that's an expensive music server (I have a Macbook Air)

[HAITIMAN]

Wow that's an expensive music server (I have a Macbook Air)

Ya figure?

[jrebman]

Guysm,

It's not a dedicated music server -- it sits by my bedside and is for general purpose use as well as soon to be servihg tunes to the Halide DAC HD.  I also bought a refurb unit so got the top level 11" model with the processor and memory upgrade for only $100 more than the base price.

So far it's a rocking machine, and hope to bring the thunderbolt drive online today and then load PM and some tunes.

Just basically wondered if there were any noise or other issues (electrical, that is as this thing is just silent.)

-- Jim

[oneinthepipe]

I use a MacBook Air connected to a USB drive (Western Digital Caviar) for music storage with output from a John Keny battery-powered HiFace USB adapter with a BNC connector that feeds into whichever DAC I am using at the time.  I use Pure Music over iTunes as the music engine.  In my opinion, the HiFace adapter is far superior to a Mac's optical output, particularly in terms of quietness.

The MacBook Air isn't a dedicated server, but I have disabled the features, to the best of my ability, that might interfere with the music server function.  I have an external Dell UltraSharp monitor connected through the MiniDisplay port.  I have two dedicated 20 amp AC lines and haven't noticed a difference running the MacBook Air on battery.  I also use -16db attentuation on the 20' long digital cable, which reduces perceived jitter.  The attenuators seem to improve every source connection that I have tried, including the digital output from a Marantz CDP.  I purchased the attenuators from MiniCircuits, per John Keny's advice. 

Previously, I was using a 27" iMac i5, with the external drive connected through the firewire port.

[jrebman]

So, a related question -- since I have the 256 gb model, is it possible to set aside a smaller second partition, install another instance of Lion, and do the typical OS minimalizaation tweaks to the second instance of Lion for music only use?

For some of the programs I want to use on the "other side" of this machine, I really do want to keep spotlight, dashboard and other things running as normal though would love to turn them off for the music side of the machine.

Anyway, the basic question is: is it ok to install two instances of Lion on one machine and configure them differently?

Thanks,

Jim