[lextek]

Wondering how the latest Mini would be for a server, the $499 one. I know you can't upgrade memory , but I feel better buying new when it comes to computers. Right now I'm using an old 13" MacBook, Airport Express, AppleTV, Tidal or Marantaz CD. I am running Audivarna on the laptop. Very, pleased with the sound.

[srb]

I'm sure there are those that will tell you that 8GB "sounds better" than 4GB, but even with memory playback my largest song is ~ 1GB, and that's 5.1 DSD.  If you're not going to be multitasking and will only be music serving, I think you'll be just fine.

If there's going to be an ongoing "what-if" question nagging you, then adding another 4GB for $100 is probably worth it just for peace of mind.

Steve

[JLM]

Apple pricing strategy is very tempting to move up to the next model ($699, 8 GB Ram, 1 TB HD, latest graphics).  If you have any idea of using it for something else down the road, the extra $200 would buy flexibility, future proofing, and longevity.

[lextek]

Well Santa must have been following this thread.  The was a Mini under the tree yesterday.


I guess my wife/Santa does listen when I talk about audio.........

[JLM]

Nice!  Wifey told me that for retirement she'd put $200 towards the purchase of a iPad.  So we went shopping (she knew much more about them than I) and kept pushing me towards the top of the line, which with cover/keypad was $800.  But next to it was a MacBook Air, with twice the RAM, 4 times the flash memory, bigger screen, and a "real" computer" for only $200 more.  So guess what I got for around the house, my future consulting work, and audio source?

Current DAC lacks USB input, so with my near-field setup the plan is to buy a new DAC and run a longer USB cable.

My small music library (in ALAC) and everything else fits in the flash drive and a Halide Design DAC HD ($510, 2014 Stereophile Class A) can be ordered with a 5 meter USB (is powered through USB).  So it looks like I've got a very serviceable, rather low cost solution that will serve on all counts.  Of course an external HD could be added.


Now, wifey was the $200 "promise" just an approval to get an iPad/computer?

[timind]

Lextek, that's a great story. Your wife is a keeper.

[lextek]

Well the Mini is up and running.  I just wanted to transfer my music to the new machine.  Didn't go as smooth as expected, but it all worked out.  Gott Audivarna up and running. Remotix to control it from iPad.  Pick up a Pardigm subwoofer on Craig's list cheap (damaged power cable from dog). Easy fix.  Blends very, nice with my vintage Atoms.  NAD 316BEE (Craigslist too) and Cambridge Audio DACMagic.
     It really, turned out great.  Sounds much better than I anticipated.  I'm really impressed the way fills out the sound.  Trying to decide if it's better to stream Tidal from the Mini or through the AppleTV.

[lextek]

Lextek, that's a great story. Your wife is a keeper.

Maybe another 26 years.......

[brooklyn]

I’ve been using a Mac Mini for a while now as a computer and music
server for home use, it works great. Mine is two years old and has 4 GB
of memory. The on board Dac is also a keeper.. Enjoy it..
 

[JLM]

OK, wifey just gave me the $200 she promised.  Now I feel like a creep.   

[jarcher]

Well the Mini is up and running.  I just wanted to transfer my music to the new machine.  Didn't go as smooth as expected, but it all worked out.  Gott Audivarna up and running. Remotix to control it from iPad.  Pick up a Pardigm subwoofer on Craig's list cheap (damaged power cable from dog). Easy fix.  Blends very, nice with my vintage Atoms.  NAD 316BEE (Craigslist too) and Cambridge Audio DACMagic.
     It really, turned out great.  Sounds much better than I anticipated.  I'm really impressed the way fills out the sound.  Trying to decide if it's better to stream Tidal from the Mini or through the AppleTV.

Congrats! Sounds like a nice step up.

I'd do USB out of the mini vs the apple TV, which upsamples all to 48 and is not bit perfect.  The upsampler must not be very good because it muddies the sound in my personal experience.  Or perhaps its the inferiority of the the toslink digital audio implementation.  In any case - the USB w/ a decent USB cable is going to sound a lot better.

Remember w/ Tidal that you have to use Google Chrome browser if you want CD quality - the other browsers top out at 320KBPS.