mac mini into uniti 2

thanks for your reply

What about not using wifi and just ethernet?

Use a cross-over cable and manually set the IP addresses on both.  Done.  Not sure if either can use wi-fi to get to the Internet at the same time, though, in this configuration.  This was answered in some detail on this forum a few days ago.

Better would be to add an inexpensive Ethernet switch between the Mac and Uniti, add a Apple Airport Express to that same switch and use it to connect the switch wirelessly to your original router.  

If you ever decide to hard-wire the wireless leg, the Express has other interesting possible uses.  

Nick

+1 to Nick's advice. 

> Use a cross-over cable and manually set the IP addresses on both.  Done.  Not sure if either can use wi-fi to get to the Internet at the same time, 

The Mac can. 

All the best, Guy 

So. If I may ask for my own education, as I don't understand any of this !  What does this set up give you that just running an optical cable from your Mac to uniti2 doesn't.  I assume if you can run an ethernet cable the units are close and you could run a toslink 

Hi Greg,

The choice you describe determines whether you use the Mac or the Uniti to control what is playing.  Everyone has his/her own preference here.

After that, if you think one or the other approach sounds any better, whatever the reason, that might be a factor too.

Ethernet allows you to put the Mac and its power supply further away from the Unity, preferably on a different circuit, which should be a goal, if one has the choice, IMHO.

Nick

All that said, because I do not yet have a Naim streamer, my Mini is currently connected optically to a Naim DAC and sitting in the Fraim, under the NAC.  It sounds very good!  But, I could probably do better by moving the Mini out of the Fraim to the limit of the 3 meter WireWorld optical cable I am using -- I'll get there; or if I get an NDx first, I will banish the Mini from the room (after an A/B test).

ATB,

Nick

Thanks for the explanation Nick

Just to play devil's advocate...Bluetoo I think is looking for a wired connection for SQ reasons (not saying wired is better but that's his question)   So using ethernet cable from mac to uniti, you still have the wireless connection from router to mac, as with mac mini to dac by optical it's purely wired, at least for everything on the hard drive.

Hi All and thanks for your replies

I think I'm getting a bit clearer , but the last comment from Greg is closest.  I am assuming that the best SQ option is a wired one - rather than a wireless signal. As my MAC Mini is 2007, the output that it has is a 3.5 jack, which currently I connect to the Uniti with a RCA cable. 

What I want to ascertain is would a bridged Ethernet connection be superior to this (and also what all of your opinion is on the 3.5 jacks for optical TOS link cables while I'm at it!)?

i can already play files wirelessly and they sound pretty good - so maybe I'm gilding the lilly a bit - but wanted to know for my own understanding of networking more. Would a bridged connection between the MAC and Uniti (with a fixed IP) prevent it from accessing other UPnPs on my network? 

 I am currently at the limit of my understanding - so appreciate all the input  I'm getting (Please excuse the pun)

with thanks 

Mike

Hi, Mike,

Your original question was "is it possible to wire the Mini directly to the Uniti with an Ethernet cable".  There are many good reasons to want to do this, not the least of which is Internet phobia.  (There are lots of different kinds of folk here on the Forum!)

If you are looking for a best SQ solution with a 2007 Mini, that is different.  I stand by my original suggestion.  Popular wisdom is older Minis like yours sound better via USB to an intermediary interface, and into optical or coax on the Naim DAC, or RCA IN on the preamp, rather than straight in.  But, with a Uniti, or any Naim streamer, I would expect Ethernet alone to give the best result.  

How you connect back to the router, wired or wireless, should not matter, as long as the Mini and Uniti share a Switch or are wired together with a crossover Ethernet cable.  Honestly, the switch is easier.  Let us know your findings, either way.

All the best,

Nick

With a 2007 MM, I would not connect it directly to a Uniti 2 through an optical connection because of the relatively high jitter on this interface. It was only when Apple brought out the newer model without CD drive that they upgraded the optical output. The result was an extremely low jitter output and an ideal partner for the Naim DAC with a decent cable (Supernova 6 or Mark Grant, for instance). 

With this older Mac, you could connect it using a Halide bridge which is a USB to S/PDIF cable and it will be every bit as good as optical from the latest Mac Mini. 

The advantage of the direct connect is in functionality. Everything a Mac can play will be output through your Uniti 2 ... the Mac will send it PCM (music data) .... no junk. The Mac does the work and leaves the Uniti to act as a DAC and amplifier. It doesn't matter what format the data starts in. However, you then get in to the what's the best player software debate ... I use iTunes/BP ... but some say this, that or the other is better. They all send the same PCM ... you can prove this, it is not conjecture on my part. So if some folk can hear differences then something is happening that I'm unable to explain. I can't hear the differences, but that doesn't mean they are not there.

So Ethernet - here you are relegating the Mac Mini to the role of a NAS. You are not using any of its playing functions. Unfortunately, out of the box a Mac uses DAAP to stream and the Naim only understands UPnP. So you need to add UPnP software to your Mac Mini. Playback from Yazsoft is the best I've used. The Uniti 2 will now see the Mac Mini and it is a case of let the streaming begin. Control is through nStream on your iPad. The Naim player in the Uniti 2 now plays whatever you stream to it ... MP3, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, WAV ... now this is another player to add to those we could use on the Mac. Naim is a very good and writing such things, so you are now using a top notch player (does it sound better ... up to you to decide). The debate with the Naim player is around it being in your Uniti 2 - it means the Uniti 2 has to do more work than when we load it with PCM - FLAC and ALAC are harder work than AIFF and WAV. Some folk report they can hear a difference and WAV sounds best. [I can't hear this difference on my UQ between FLAC and WAV, it won't play the others 'cos it's the original model]. So the Mac Mini is not the best option as a NAS, if you agree that WAV is the best format, but .....

Asset is now in beta, and you can replace Playback with it. When the full Asset is out, you can load it on your Mac and it will convert  FLAC, ALAC, AIFF to WAV before streaming to your Uniti 2. So if there is an improvement to be had then you'll have it. 

My subjective view is whether you use the Halide Bridge (hiFace is an alternative) or you go the Ethernet route, doesn't really matter. You'll get superb sound quality from from Uniti 2. It is the quality of its DAC and amplification that makes this an absolute certainty. 

All the best, Guy

Mike and Guy,

Sorry if my replies were needlessly complex or "over the top".  I should have said I would pursue the Ethernet solution and left it at that.

Regards,

Nick

I actually thought about the halide for my MBP a bit ago but ended up just getting MM   The halide has RCA or BNC, you get to chose