How quiet is a mini mac?

Occean Hi, yes of course the mac needs Amarra to automatically change sample rates , but you can change your dac whenever you choose.

I don't understand...

The Linn has a built in dac does it not, and should yu want to upgrade you need to buy a whole new machine?

I see what you are saying.

I am looking at the cheapest ds and using it as transport, so I can use any dac. Initally my supernait.

O I didn't realise the Linn has digital out, but wouldn't a mac mini be cheaper if you just wanted to use it as a transport.

Not once you include a memory upgrade and an emu 0404 to improve it's digital out. The macs digital out is not great quality, my sonos out performs my girlfriends MacBook my a margin.

quote:

The macs digital out is not great quality, my sonos out performs my girlfriends MacBook my a margin.

It depends also on how well the DAC deals with the the source quality - perhaps the SN isnt so good in this respect. I thought Sonos coax was better than the optical connection which gave it the edge over the Mac (this was into the Lavry)

This could well be the case, but since the sn is my dac and amp right now (and the foreseeable) I need to take this into consideration.

I am using the coax and I agree the results are good , very good indeed.

The macs output is bit perfect, certainly through firewire it provides the best digital I have heard.

See this is the problem I am having.

Firewire, EMU's, Almara, maudio transit, ALAC only.

I want the mac concept to work, but it is too complex for my requirements - its just not stright forward.

If the Sonos did 96/24 it'd be perfect!

Occ, the mac Weiss could hardly be more straightforward you need a mac firwire cable either 9 pin or 6 pin the dac and that is it,I would use AIFF myself.

quote:

Occ, the mac Weiss could hardly be more straightforward you need a mac firwire cable either 9 pin or 6 pin the dac and that is it,I would use AIFF myself.

Sounds interesting. Are you referring to the Vesta so i could use my Supernait or a full blown dac?

How does the mac/weiss combo treat a 96/24 flac file?

How does the price compare to £800 for a sneaky ds that I can feed into my supernait digitally?

O Hi, I use the Weiss DACII, which can be used both as dac or just firewire interface, the Vesta I believe is just firewire interface, you would have to compare the Weiss to the Linn and decide which dac you prefer.

I am very happy with the sound of my supernait already.

I am just looking for a suitable digital transport for it. Be it a mac/pc/linn ds or other.

A new dac is not on the cards and a amny £k audio interface (weiss vesta) is not really in my league.

Occean,

It sounds like we are in the exact same boat, only i don't have my Naim DAC yet.

The Linn option seems excessive if you are only wanting it to stream. But if money is no option...... perhaps an HDX?

Also, whats your problem with running an HTTP controller on your iPhone?

The Linn "Songbook" app is $85 and nothing special at all. The Naimnet app for the iPhone is identical to a particular HTTP controller, only considering its work for audio duties.

I am going to try it again, as I do like foobar a lot.

Money is an object - but a DS does not work out much more when I consider a mini mac + memory upgrade + EMU (maudio transit isn;t for me). Both are FAR less than a HDX

But I do have a PC already - and it only needs a few £100 spent on it to 100% conform to my requirements.

I will have another play with foobar http remote sometime soon. I may drop you an email

(btw plug player should also work with the HDX)

Occean,
Please do.

-p

pcstockon

when you have a chance can you drop me an email on ericemel at yahoo dot com

cheers

Eric