My View on Mac Mini (2011) / nDAC Combo

Hi mikapoh!

Glad you are happy with your system, it looks nice. I also use a mac mini (via firewire) into a Weiss DAC202, like you, I am getting fantastic results. A great product at a (by hifi standards) cheap cost.

Enjoy

Justin

Good to hear, many thanks!

Just to clarify: I think the 2011 MacMini is the latest one, right, or are you suggesting that the 2011 model is the one to go for, and later models (e.g., the imminent upgrade) might be less suitable for music? And are you using iTunes as player, please?

Best,

Stefan

May I ask the previous connection on the Mac Mini before the Wireworld Supernova 6 via toslink came into the picture? Good to hear the new cable/configuration has brought a massive improvement to the sound. The Mac Mini is definitely a superb piece of gear as many high quality DAC-based systems use the Mac Mini as a transport in a digital hub. Apart from the quality of the DAC that is used with the Mac Mini, the correct software and/or connection implementation will usually yield rewards in the highest order.

As a side note, a friend uses the Mac Mini with the Weiss Minerva DAC and his speakers are the intimidating Wilson Maxx 3 standing at 6 feet tall. The Mac Mini has his highest recommendation as the best value for money component in his system(it's still cheaper than the cheapest power cord in his system).

Enjoy~

Thanks Justin for your kind words. Based on cost/performance ratio, the Mac Mini is certainly worth every investment. Ok, I did not use firewire or thunderbolt so further lowering the cost. By using its optical cable, I am able to use USB 2.0 external hard drives. My music library is stored in that drive and transferred wireless from my PC via home network.

Hi Stefan,

I think mine is 2011 Mac Mini with Mountain Lion installed. According to Guido's findings, this model has excellent optical output with very low jitter, 20ps IIRC. Other older model optical jitter is very high and should use USB/SPDIF converter.

I am using iTunes running with Bit Perfect in the background. Sound great at the moment. My files are in AIFF format.

Cheers.

Yes Ryder, Mac Mini is definitely in the category of best bang for buck music server. The basic model (except maxed up 8Gb RAM) is all you ever need. I think we should reverse our praise to the magical piece of equipment, ie nDAC. Even partner with my CD5XS, the sound you get from the DAC is astonishing. The depth and dimension of the music it portrays is just an icing on the cake! Breathtaking I would say....

I do not experiment any sort of connections with my Mac Mini. After initial set-up on the new Mac Mini, I just placed order on Wireworld Supernova 6 (highly recommended by Guido). My initial plan is to use HiFace 2 Evo and that will most probably set me aside for another DC1, not to mention I will have to use Firewire or Thunderbolt as my music library connection.

Hi mikapoh, glad the mm is working out well for you. In your original post you were asking how the mm/ndac  would compare to your dc5xs/ndac . Well now its in place what are your findings?

Also ,how are you getting on with Bitperfect? I have foung it to be very good except I do get occasional mili-second drop outs and abrupt endings between the end of and start of the next tracks, for some reason this seems to happen almost exclusively with most Pink Floyd albums.

I have adjusted the settings in bp sound settings but cannot resolve this?

Also,I would highly recommend Spotify premium, I have just taken out the free months trial, some albums are of good quality,some not so good. I am currently listening to alot of the albums posted in  "what are you listening to and why.." in the music room. I find it a good way to find out what is good and if it is worth buying the cd. I often buy cds on the strength of a track heard on Radio Paradise only to find that the rest of the album is mediocre. It is a good way to determine whether these albums or new releases are worth getting!

By the way,if you haven't read this,its well worth a look..

http://www.co-bw.com/Audio_OSX_Optimal_Audio.htm

Andrew

Sorry Mikapoh, too carried away with the Mac Mini and have forgotten about the nDAC. Yes. the nDAC is truly excellent.

Enjoy~

Andrew, I will not draw a clear cut conclusion as to whether its performance is better than CD5XS/nDAC. I have not done apple to apple comparison using the same track. Sometimes an excitement of a new piece of equipment can takes over our mind, if you know what I mean.

All I can say is I am able to put a grin face listening to MM/nDAC combination. The usual expectation of compressed, thin and harsh sounding of computer system is not happening at all, at least in my system. And I think this is a very positive sign.

I have just started using Bitperfect with iTunes and so far so good. I am not sure the mili-sec drop out. Perhaps you could ask some experienced folks here, or you can email to Bitperfect support team on your problem. As I typed, Apple has released the latest iTunes 11.

I have also discovered number of new albums in the Music Room and end up buying albums from amazon. Not to forget check out Naim Label website too. Their recording quality is top notch. 

Thanks for the link. I have already read it many times prior to purchase my Mac Mini :-)

I completely agree regarding high praise for the Naim DAC. I run a Mac Mini the one just before they removed the optical drive. I like the fact that I can just pop a CD in the slot and it is ripped and ejected without having to use any other computer. My Mac Mini may not be the one with the lowest jitter optical output but this is where the magic of the Naim Dac comes into play. It removes the last bits of jitter and gives me a lovely analogue signal to feed my 282, 250.2 and Allae speakers. It sounds great.

The only thing I keep thinking about is what difference if any a change of optical cable will make. I currently use a Chord glass cable but having seen all the talk about the Wireworld Supernova 6 I am tempted to try one. The only problem is I want to try before I buy.

So if any of you know of a dealer who can lend me one or do a "sale or return" arrangement, please let me know.

There is (almost) universal acceptance of the benefits of adding a power supply to the Naim DAC.  I too have a Nait XS, and adding the XPS-2 to the Naim DAC was superb!  My opinion is that the better the source into the DAC is, the more a power supply will make a difference.  You seem to have your source sorted out now.

Yes agreed on the power supply. I started with the Naim DAC alone then swaped my XPS2 from my CDX to the Naim DAC. What a difference! Now I am looking to see what DR power supplies do to my set up, starting with the Hi Cap connected to the 282.

Yes it is a shame nDAC does not support USB connection from a computer. But I have read somewhere that claim USB to USB has potential to create electrical noise. You need a converter to cut down the noise. Optical will avoid that but has the bandwidth limitation if 24/192 format matters to you of course.

The intention of getting MM as opposed to MB Pro is to run it headless. The Remote app is used mainly for iTunes only. You will need another app to navigate the files and add to library. There are number of VNC apps that can do the job but I am using Teamviewer which is offering free usage (for private use) albeit a bit sluggish. With the combination of Remote and Teamviewer apps you will have a full control of the whole MM.

mikapoh, I have found,as above,the only problem using the mm headless, is when sharing the screen with my macbook pro ,it is clunky and slightly jerky, I tried Team viewer,but found this to be worse. I'm suprised in this day and age that this can't be sorted better. I rip and add album art on my mbp and use airdrop to send it to the mm and just use remote on iphone or iPad to control the mm.

I find the remote app very good and now that it has been updated to IOS 6 is even better.

The other problem? I find is that it is so easy to sit on the sofa using the remote app,flicking through various tracks and artists without listening to whole albums as I used to do with a cdp, and God forbid when my partner gets hold of the remote. Just as I'm getting into what's playing she will switch to something else mid track.I have to keep uninstalling the remote app on her iPad!

Hi,

Which player do you use on your MAC for playing music ? iTunes or something else ?

Dejan, not sure who your question is directed at but I use iTunes with bitperfect as does mikapoh.

Very worthwhile app for a few quid, only problem is that it doesn't work with airplay,but easier enough to disable it temporarily. Have just found out it doesn't stop Itunes streaming  internet radio stations as it just leaves it be.

Possibly a stupid question, surely out of topic :

do I get any benefit by using bitperfect if I'm using my iMac as server for a Squeezebox Touch (via their Logitech Media Server)?

Bit perfect only works within iTunes ,so no!

Andrew, I guess that's the problem with computer audio. Our hands just could not stop browsing the albums in our library or fiddling with the iPad or Mac Book Pro. I wonder we are really listening to the music, not to say the entire album.

Whereas playing CD using CDP we just sit down listening track after track. Maybe the inconvenience of getting up our comfort chair move around to swap the Cd is a blessing in disguise. (haha)

Have you tried other players such as Amarra, Pure Music or Audirvana? I have not done so at this moment as my iTunes/BP is sounding very good indeed.

mikapoh,I fiiddled around with the bp preferences and sorted out my very occasional drop out problems. Ive gone apple, mm,airport express,mcp,iPad,iphone etc simply because it just works and integrates without too much knowledge and messing about. This is what I liked about bp and to be honest the sound is so good I don't want to bother with Amarra,Pure music or Audiravana. Maybe in a few months I'll try them but at the moment I'm happy where I am!

I find it amusing that my missus is completely freaked out by all this streaming lark,she really doesnt understand whats going on and where the cd is and how we can listen to music in various rooms over the house with only a pair of speakers in view! And how it gets onto her iphone and iPad.

By the way what hdd are you using to store your music on, feeding the mac and how does it work?

Have you tried it in comparison to music on your mm hard drive? As I said before I use my mm hard drive with itunes and bp and back up to a little portable WD hard drive. I also rip to my macbook,so I have two backups. I am thinking about a time capsule but have heard that they don't last more than a couple of years.

ps whats that little white box on the floor in your pic?

Andrew, your opinions certainly echo mine on the iTunes/BP player. At the moment, they are playing very good music so good that other fancy players are not worth my concern. Like you, I will give it a go when the time is right. Today when I re-check I forgot to turn off some unused apps like Spotlight and Time Machine. Apart from that I have made some minor adjustments to the BP settings. More importantly, I have replaced its stock ac power cord with this converter and attached an audio grade power cord to it.

With all these tweaking, I am able to sense a subtle improvement to the sound quality. Playing Naim label, Charlie Haden album in 24/96 I just could not believe a computer based source can produce such great sound! Again, it is hard to believe...

Your partner's confusion on networking and streaming is understandable yet forgivable. I think you will be one to freak out if she knows everything!

On the ext HDD, I am using 1TB WD Mybook using USB 2.0 connection. The folder is assigned to share out in my wireless home network. Normally I will do my computer work, web browsing and downloading using my PC in the living hall. After downloaded, I saved them into my PC local drive as back-up instantly, and stream wireless to the ext HDD attached to the Mac Mini in my audio room. I don't rip CD at this moment.

The little white box standing in front of the HiFi rack is the analogue voltage reader. Main objective of course is to gauge the AC supplied to Naim gears. In my area I am able to get a consistent 235V. In the morning where everybody goes to work, the voltage get bump up to 250V. But I rarely listen at day time except weekend.

I spent some time trying to find somewhere online to purchase that - any tips? What's it called?