[TJHUB]

I'm going to be that idiot that's asking all of the questions that have been asked before.  I'm sorry, but I looked around at many threads for a couple of hours without finding what I needed.  So now I need to ask...

I'm currently running a SB Touch with a DIY linear power supply.  My music server computer just died last night.  It was an old PC running 24/7 in my basement.  So it crossed my mind to maybe look at another source prior to just replacing the server computer. 

I have an Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Plus.  I was thinking about moving to a Mac Mini last year, but decided not to.  Now I'm rethinking the whole idea.  I figure the sale of my Touch, linear PS, and digital IC combined with the money I'd spend on a new server computer will basically pay for a $600 Mac Mini.  The question is, should I?

I gather I need the Mini, and likely an 8Gb memory upgrade from somewhere.  I'd also need to invest in an external firewire drive to hold my music collection.  However, the external drive could wait until I have more funds down the road.

My main concern is how to control the Mini.  I was reading that it is possible to control the Mini via a VNC connection to my Windows 7 netbook, is that right?  My kids both have iPod Touches, but I don't think I want to go that route.  I like to surf the internet while listening to music, and using my little netbook to do both that and control my music is perfect.  Do I have any other options that don't require the purchase of yet another Apple product?

Is there anything else I need to know as a complete Apple noob?  I know I need a player for my FLAC files, and I have experience with good USB cables for audio.  I'm also aware of some of the tweak guides for the Mini. 

I'd like to start out as cheaply as possible, and upgrade things as time goes. 

Thanks.

[JLM]

Terry, I'll be keeping an eye on this thread (in similar boat).

[toddbagwell]

I assume on a mac mini you'd use itunes with some third party output application?
If so, there is an apple app caled remote that can be used to control itunes.

I don't use a mac, so I'm no help on the netbook VNC use.

Another thing to consider when switching platforms or playback programs is that metadata might not cross over smoothly. Every time I'd try to use foobar or j.river, i'd test a few albums, and it seemed that there was always more re-tagging than I wanted to mess with.

Todd

[Crimson]

This thread might be of interest, as it describes numerous members Mac Mini systems.

[wilsynet]

My unreserved recommendation for controlling iTunes (the Mac Mini) is either an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad.  I know you said you didn't want to buy another Apple product, but, well, I just couldn't resist making what I think is the best recommendation.

[TJHUB]

I'm quickly getting reminded why I didn't go the Mac Mini route last time.  I just don't want to buy another $200-$500 device to control it.  I'm not one to find any use for an iPod Touch or iPad.  I certainly don't want to spend that much money for a remote.  This is unfortunate...

By the time I buy everything for a Mac Mini as a dedicated music server, I could just buy a Bryston BDP-1 and likely have better sound quality.

I was looking for a solution that I could grow and expand on.  But this seems like a $1,000 minimum startup.  By the time I buy a "good" USB cable, I'm within $500 of the Bryston.

[rpf]

I use VNC  (sorry, Screen Share) via a Macbook Pro to control my Mini and I find it convenient. I don't see why VNC wouldn't work with a netbook.

[timind]

I tried going the VNC route with my laptop (pc) and never got it to work. Keep in mind computers aren't my strong suit. My iphone works great as a remote though so no problem here..

[wilsynet]

You don't need to buy a "good" USB cable.  Async USB makes the cable largely irrelevant.

[rpf]

I'm quickly getting reminded why I didn't go the Mac Mini route last time.  I just don't want to buy another $200-$500 device to control it.  I'm not one to find any use for an iPod Touch or iPad.  I certainly don't want to spend that much money for a remote.  This is unfortunate...

By the time I buy everything for a Mac Mini as a dedicated music server, I could just buy a Bryston BDP-1 and likely have better sound quality.

I was looking for a solution that I could grow and expand on.  But this seems like a $1,000 minimum startup.  By the time I buy a "good" USB cable, I'm within $500 of the Bryston.

I've heard differences between USB cables but you can get a good one for a couple of hundred.

Don't forget that the Bryston remote adds $350 to the cost of the unit.

[moboman]

If you were happy with your old setup, is there a reason you couldn't just get another old computer to stream music to the Squeezebox? The logitech system requirements are extremely low and then you don't have a learning curve or any hassles.

[poseidonsvoice]

I've heard differences between USB cables but you can get a good one for a couple of hundred.

Don't forget that the Bryston remote adds $350 to the cost of the unit.

From a quick websearch, the Bryston BDP-1 lists at $2200 + $350 for the remote as rpf said. But that's a list price. Maybe you can find one used and be happy! For example:

I have a late 2009 Mac Mini (with the ps external), along with 8GB of ram, a 120 GB SSD, the latest Pure Music software. My Mac Mini I purchased refurbished. So including my external OWC drives (a pair of them, one for music, the other for backup), I spent right at around $1100. If you want a 'new mac mini' just add $300 to that price. Still about $1K less than the Bryston.

Now, TJHUB does bring up a good point. I already have an Ipad. I love it. It's my remote. But if you don't want that, then I am not sure what the options are with a Mac Mini for control. I bought my Ipad refurbished as well ~ $300 (actually it was an Xmas present).

I am building a custom power supply using an electrostatically shielded, magnetically shielded, enclosed toroidal transformer, Paul Hynes regulator, and Bybee Music Rail + a nice enclosure for about ~ $500.

So I have $1.9K invested including my uber power supply & Ipad. Take that for what its worth.

I don't know how my entire enchilada would compare to a Bryston BDP-1 w/remote sonically. But I doubt it would suck!

TJHUB, you have a lot to think about my friend, good luck to you. When I had my Itouch (modded by Bolder) along with my Katalyst PS, I was a very happy guy. It's a great unit, and now it has an app for 192Khz/24bit. You might get your Touch modded (digitally), max out on your power supply and then call it a day.

Anand.

[TJHUB]

You don't need to buy a "good" USB cable.  Async USB makes the cable largely irrelevant.

I strongly disagree.  This is not my first time down the Async USB road.  I found USB cables to make a rather large difference, and frankly I never found one I liked.  I left USB before pulling the trigger on a Wywires USB cable.

[TJHUB]

From a quick websearch, the Bryston BDP-1 lists at $2200 + $350 for the remote as rpf said. But that's a list price. Maybe you can find one used and be happy! For example:

I have a late 2009 Mac Mini (with the ps external), along with 8GB of ram, a 120 GB SSD, the latest Pure Music software. My Mac Mini I purchased refurbished. So including my external OWC drives (a pair of them, one for music, the other for backup), I spent right at around $1100. If you want a 'new mac mini' just add $300 to that price. Still about $1K less than the Bryston.

Now, TJHUB does bring up a good point. I already have an Ipad. I love it. It's my remote. But if you don't want that, then I am not sure what the options are with a Mac Mini for control. I bought my Ipad refurbished as well ~ $300 (actually it was an Xmas present).

I am building a custom power supply using an electrostatically shielded, magnetically shielded, enclosed toroidal transformer, Paul Hynes regulator, and Bybee Music Rail + a nice enclosure for about ~ $500.

So I have $1.9K invested including my uber power supply & Ipad. Take that for what its worth.

I don't know how my entire enchilada would compare to a Bryston BDP-1 w/remote sonically. But I doubt it would suck!

TJHUB, you have a lot to think about my friend, good luck to you. When I had my Itouch (modded by Bolder) along with my Katalyst PS, I was a very happy guy. It's a great unit, and now it has an app for 192Khz/24bit. You might get your Touch modded (digitally), max out on your power supply and then call it a day.

Anand.

I don't know that I'm all that happy with the Touch.  It is stock, but I usually run the TT3.0 mods.  I have a DIY linear PS that uses a Bybee Music Rail that did give the Touch a nice improvement over the cheap linear PS I was using.  I've listened to the EDO mod for 24/192 playback, but I didn't find it sounded all that great.  I tried combining the two mods, and that was even worse.  I'm back to the TT3.0 mods. 

I've considered getting the Touch modded by Bolder, but then I'd feel committed to the Touch.  Of course from what I can see here, maybe that's a better idea for me.  I liked the idea of taking the money I'd spend on getting another server computer up and running, selling my Touch and linear PS, and buying a Mac Mini that I could grow with over a period of time.  I guess upgrading things along the way is less painful then trying to come up with around $2,000 all at once.  I just don't have the funds to do it.

My kids both have 32Gb iPod Touches from this past Christmas.  I don't want to buy something like that just to control my music server.  I also just don't need another thing to have to keep charged.  I have absolutely no interest in an iPad either.  Just from this standpoint alone, the Mac Mini sounds like a terrible idea for me. 

I guess I'll contact Wayne at Bolder.

Thanks for the info and feedback guys.  I really do appreciate it. 

[maxwalrath]

My kids both have 32Gb iPod Touches from this past Christmas.  I don't want to buy something like that just to control my music server. 

Buy them a new generation Touch this year and commandeer the old one? 

Extra Gb as a gift: awful. Remote cost for you: $0.

[planet10]

the latest Pure Music software

You may not have the latest version. Rob made me a new one on Monday to squash a bug with my DAC.

My DAC is Firewire so i haven't mucked with USB cables, but a modest (~$130) audio oriented Firewire cable made the same kinds of improvements as PureMusic did over just iTunes but with a smaller magnitude. Money well spent.

If VNC works like Screen Share does, then it is an excellent way to control the mini. Before that i was using remote and i found it quite limiting,

dave

[mwheelerk]

I'm quickly getting reminded why I didn't go the Mac Mini route last time.  I just don't want to buy another $200-$500 device to control it.  I'm not one to find any use for an iPod Touch or iPad.  I certainly don't want to spend that much money for a remote.  This is unfortunate...

By the time I buy everything for a Mac Mini as a dedicated music server, I could just buy a Bryston BDP-1 and likely have better sound quality.

I was looking for a solution that I could grow and expand on.  But this seems like a $1,000 minimum startup.  By the time I buy a "good" USB cable, I'm within $500 of the Bryston.

Having tried the Bryston I can attest to a good sound quality followed closely by the most frustrating and non-user friendly interfaces.  At $2195 the BDP-1 is far more expensive than an iPad, Mac Mini and external HDD. With the iPad you can use the Apple Remote or Screens VNC to control the library and the Mini,you can surf the Internet and email, read books and magazines and do a gazillion other things while listening to your music.  All the tweaks people talk about seem overly hyped to me.  You have an iTunes library (no cost), but a Mac Mini ($699), add 8GB memory from third part ($75),  buy an external HDD ($100), an iPad ($499), download the Apple Remote (no cost), download the Screens VNC app ($29.95), buy a third party playback software (anywhere from $5 to $189). So that's about $1400 bucks and much more functional, diverse and user friendly.

[TJHUB]

I'm back! 

I still haven't done anything.  I was talking to my wife today about cell phones.  She said she'd be willing to take my Android phone, which would allow me to get an iPhone.  So now I may have solved the control issue.  So I'm back to considering the Mac Mini. 

I trust a new model is not a bad choice.  I also see I'll need to upgrade the RAM to 8GB, and pick a playback software for my FLAC library. 

I plan to take the HD out of my old PC, put it into an enclosure, and format it for the Mac Mini. 

Anyone have any comments for me?  Links I should read? 

[wilsynet]

FLAC files are not playable by iTunes, so you'll need some add-on player software, perhaps Audirvana Plus will do the trick, as it lets you add proxy files to iTunes, you can use the iTunes Remote program to control iTunes, and iTunes will proxy the playing of the FLAC file to Audirvana.

Don't buy the 8GB upgrade from Apple.  It's too expensive.  Crucial will sell you 8GB of memory for your Mac Mini for $50.

[genjamon]

I used an old NetBook as a remote for a couple years until the hard drive failed. You would just need to access your Mac mini through the built in remote desktop feature. This was really easy through Ubuntu Linux, which I was running on the netbook. Haven't ever done a remote desktop connection to a Mac from a windows machine, though, so not sure how one would do that. But I'd say if you have an extra old laptop anywhere, just load Linux as dual boot to your existing operating system, and you're pretty set.

Remote desktop in this approach fully emulates the Mac mini on the remote laptop through your household wifi connection. The settings are pretty intuitive to set up.