[lextek]

I'm looking at building a starter Mini system.  The 2009 Mini seems like a good deal on the used market.  I figure max out the ram.  OWC SSD drive for system OS and an external Firewire drive for media.  Or would it be OK to use the OWC Data Doubler kit with a SSD drive and regular drive internally?  I've been using Bitperfect and Pure Music.  I would control it with iPad or iPhone.  With a HDMI adapter I should be able to hook the Mini up to a TV for initial set-up right?
   Is the 2009 a good choice or is there a better year?

[Atlplasma]

I have an early 2009 Mini with a 120 gb SSD and 8 gb of ram. It has the more compact enclosure, which is a PITA to disassemble. I understand that the newer, larger enclosure is easier to mod but have no experience with this unit. I think most audio users would advise against putting a regular hard drive in the enclosure. It's better to us externals in a RAID configuration for music storage. You should be able to use your tv as a monitor buy may need an adapter to make the connection. Screen sharing is another option if you have multiple macs.

I've also been reading great thing about the CAPS servers. If you don't mind moving to the dark side, check out Ted-b's threat and see the write ups at computer audio.com.

[srb]

I think most audio users would advise against putting a regular hard drive in the enclosure. It's better to us externals in a RAID configuration for music storage.

I don't think I would use RAID for music storage.  It's not a backup solution, and is often an unnecessary expense as well as an additional source of potential problems, particularly in consumer hardware/software implementations.
 
Steve

[Crimson]

I don't think I would use RAID for music storage.

I agree. And for all the reasons mentioned.

[lextek]

So a small SSD for the OS and USB or Firewire external drive.  Thinking the Firewire would be a better choice for the external?

[srb]

So a small SSD for the OS and USB or Firewire external drive.  Thinking the Firewire would be a better choice for the external?

Never a bad idea to have the DAC and storage drive on different busses, USB DAC + FireWire drive or FireWire DAC + USB drive.  Less chance of one causing a hiccup in the other.
 
Steve

[HPower]

Hey lextech,

This is the route that I have just taken, which I am happy with so far...

   •   Mac Mini, 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
   •   4GB memory
   •   500GB hard drive1
   •   Intel HD Graphics 3000
   •   OS X Mountain Lion
   •   iTunes 11

Upgrades and add ons:

   • Apple Super Drive
   • Mercury Extreme Pro 6G, 120gb… added to OEM drive via "data doubler" kit.
   • 16GB RAM
   • 2 External HDs… 2TB Mercury Elite Pro Firewire 800
   • 20" Acer monitor… will be used just for a service monitor, will be using iPhone or iPad with the "Remote" app to run things.

I have still to decide on a DAC or Music Player yet and I am in the prooooocess of ripping my CD collection to the Mac (AIFF).
Just finished the "E"'s which makes a little over 600 albums... this is taking longer than I was hoping.

Playing back via analog out of the headphone jack does not sound bad, but I am looking forward to having a decent USB DAC to up the sonics.

I wish I had done this a year ago when I first started thinking about a server.

OH, booting with the SSD installed takes maybe 5 seconds, super fast.

Good luck with your build.

[Alan UK]

You can do a lot with a 2009 Mini. I also use one, with 8GB RAM and SSD. My music library is on a NAS drive, everything is connected with network cable. I copied the following from a post in the Paul Hynes circle:

My stripped down Mini is now in a similar place to Bob Lloyd's. Following the advice of Mark, of ItemAudio, this is what has been done:

Small SSD
SOtM SATA filter
Optical drive removed
All Wireless/Bluetooth antennae removed
Bluetooth board removed
Fan removed
Large heat-sink with fins mounted to CPU (Mini now recased)
(GPU has standard heatsink only, Mini is used headlessly)

According to the readout on my Belkin PF40 the Mini draws almost no current. So far, using a VNC programme and SMC fan controller, the operating temp hovers around 33C. If I connect the monitor and mouse to research something on the web for a while, the temp sticks at 42C. I'm pretty happy with these results.

I am even happier that each modification (I did it in stages) has bought about very recognisable changes, with a most definite cumulative improvement (There was one stage where I thought I had a retrograde step, but some experimentation and the completion of the next stage showed it did add to the overall improvements). Given the above I have made arrangements to buy Bob's SR3, once Paul makes Bob's SR5. Having laid the groundwork, I am excited to see what the SR3 brings to the system.

Thank you Bob, and Paul, for introducing a new and productive train of thought that has improved my system significantly.

So the '09 Mini is fine, but for a fresh start I would go with a unibody Mini (2010 - onwards), although a power supply upograde is slightly dearer (as it's internal).

All the above may seem a bit of an odyssey, and some will say it's a waste of time modifying any computer for audio use, and they put up perfectly convincing reasons for this to be so. I haven't had cause to agree, but I will say that even a standard Mini, with Audirvana+ and a decent USB DAC can significantly outperform most CD players/transports up to a certain (pretty high) price point. So it's worth starting with whatever Mini you want, and changing stuff bit by bit (see what I did there?).

Best of luck!

[lokie]

All the above may seem a bit of an odyssey, and will say it's a waste of time modifying any computer for audio use, and they put up perfectly convincing reasons for this to be so. I haven't had cause to agree, but I will say that even a standard Mini, with Audirvana+ and a decent USB DAC can significantly outperform most CD players/transports up to a certain (pretty high) price point. So it's worth starting with whatever Mini you want, and changing stuff bit by bit (see what I did there?).

Well said and very good advice.

[lextek]

Looks like I might just get a new Mini.  I likee the HDMI so I can use a TV as a monitor for initial set up.  I missed out on a couple 09s on ebay.

I'm really enjoying Macbook/DacMagic/Pure Music/Modded T-amp and Paradigm Atoms (original version).  Controlled by iPad running Remote app.  Good sound on the less expensive end....

[jarcher]

I'm looking at building a starter Mini system.  The 2009 Mini seems like a good deal on the used market.  I figure max out the ram.  OWC SSD drive for system OS and an external Firewire drive for media.  Or would it be OK to use the OWC Data Doubler kit with a SSD drive and regular drive internally?  I've been using Bitperfect and Pure Music.  I would control it with iPad or iPhone.  With a HDMI adapter I should be able to hook the Mini up to a TV for initial set-up right?
   Is the 2009 a good choice or is there a better year?

I think the owc kit is only for 2011 and later Mac minis (because it allows you to use the space of the removed optical drive).

I've tried to shop used Mac minis and it just seems that the price gap is not significant enough vs a new entry level one to justify it.

If I were starting again I would be tempted to get a new mac mini, have dual internal hard drives - one a ssd for the OS & programs, the other a large regular drive for the media. Then I would send it to some one like mojo audio to do the power supply conversion so I could run his or someone's upgraded power supply. Or just send it all to the guy and have him do it all for me. He's willing to do that as he has to crack open the thing to do the power supply conversion anyway. 

[poseidonsvoice]

I'm looking at building a starter Mini system.  The 2009 Mini seems like a good deal on the used market.  I figure max out the ram.  OWC SSD drive for system OS and an external Firewire drive for media.  Or would it be OK to use the OWC Data Doubler kit with a SSD drive and regular drive internally?  I've been using Bitperfect and Pure Music.  I would control it with iPad or iPhone.  With a HDMI adapter I should be able to hook the Mini up to a TV for initial set-up right?
   Is the 2009 a good choice or is there a better year?

If you end up with a 2009 model, you can go crazy like I did and build a separate supply, makes a very large sonic improvement:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=65332.msg1106694#msg1106694

Best,
Anand.